• Following a prayer, a man walks out into the courtyard of the Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
    Following a prayer, a man walks out into the courtyard of the Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • One of the two watch towers that ‘guard’ the Al Bidya Mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 AD and the towers are thought to be just as old. Silvia Razgova / The National
    One of the two watch towers that ‘guard’ the Al Bidya Mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 AD and the towers are thought to be just as old. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • A man prays inside the Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
    A man prays inside the Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • Hafiz Ahmad originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 25 years, eight of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. Silvia Razgova / The National
    Hafiz Ahmad originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 25 years, eight of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • A detail in the interior of Al Bidya Mosque as seen on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Silvia Razgova / The National
    A detail in the interior of Al Bidya Mosque as seen on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, March 1, 2014: A detail in the interior of Al Bidya Mosque as seen on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Al Bidya Mosque, located about 35 km north from Fujairah, is also called the Othmanian mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 A.D. Ahmad, originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 15 years, 8 of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. (Silvia Razgova / The National)Reporter: Lindsay CarollUsage: March 7, 2014Section: National
    FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, March 1, 2014: A detail in the interior of Al Bidya Mosque as seen on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Al Bidya Mosque, located about 35 km north from Fujairah, is also called the Othmanian mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 A.D. Ahmad, originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 15 years, 8 of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. (Silvia Razgova / The National)Reporter: Lindsay CarollUsage: March 7, 2014Section: National
  • A man prays inside the Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
    A man prays inside the Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, March 1, 2014: A view of one of the two watch towers that 'guard' the Al Bidya Mosque on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Al Bidya Mosque, located about 35 km north from Fujairah, is also called the Othmanian mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 A.D., and the towers are thought to be jus as old. Ahmad, originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 15 years, 8 of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. (Silvia Razgova / The National)Reporter: Lindsay CarollUsage: March 7, 2014Section: National
    FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, March 1, 2014: A view of one of the two watch towers that 'guard' the Al Bidya Mosque on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Al Bidya Mosque, located about 35 km north from Fujairah, is also called the Othmanian mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 A.D., and the towers are thought to be jus as old. Ahmad, originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 15 years, 8 of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. (Silvia Razgova / The National)Reporter: Lindsay CarollUsage: March 7, 2014Section: National
  • A view of the top of one of the two watch towers that guard the Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
    A view of the top of one of the two watch towers that guard the Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • Mr Ahmed said he joined a madrasa at age 10, and learned the whole Quran in two years. Silvia Razgova / The National
    Mr Ahmed said he joined a madrasa at age 10, and learned the whole Quran in two years. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • Night view of one of the watch towers at Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
    Night view of one of the watch towers at Al Bidya Mosque. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, March 1, 2014: A sign announces the name and phone number for the Al Bidya Mosque's imam as seen on Sunday, March 2, 2014, on his home right next to mosque. Al Bidya Mosque, located about 35 km north from Fujairah, is also called the Othmanian mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 A.D. Ahmad, originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 15 years, 8 of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. (Silvia Razgova / The National)Reporter: Lindsay CarollUsage: March 7, 2014Section: National
    FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, March 1, 2014: A sign announces the name and phone number for the Al Bidya Mosque's imam as seen on Sunday, March 2, 2014, on his home right next to mosque. Al Bidya Mosque, located about 35 km north from Fujairah, is also called the Othmanian mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 A.D. Ahmad, originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 15 years, 8 of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. (Silvia Razgova / The National)Reporter: Lindsay CarollUsage: March 7, 2014Section: National
  • FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, March 1, 2014: Hafiz Ahmad, the Bidya Mosque imam, poses for a portrait on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in the courtyard of the famous mosque. Al Bidya Mosque, located about 35 km north from Fujairah, is also called the Othmanian mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 A.D. Ahmad, originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 15 years, 8 of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. (Silvia Razgova / The National)Reporter: Lindsay CarollUsage: March 7, 2014Section: National
    FUJAIRAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, March 1, 2014: Hafiz Ahmad, the Bidya Mosque imam, poses for a portrait on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in the courtyard of the famous mosque. Al Bidya Mosque, located about 35 km north from Fujairah, is also called the Othmanian mosque. It is the oldest UAE mosque, dating back to 1446 A.D. Ahmad, originally from Bangladesh, has lived in the UAE, working as imam for the past 15 years, 8 of which he's been the Al Bidya imam. He said that he's always dreamed of seeing the world, now, as the imam here, he has the world come to him, as the mosque gets visitors from around the world. (Silvia Razgova / The National)Reporter: Lindsay CarollUsage: March 7, 2014Section: National

UAE

In pictures: Al Bidya Mosque

Rob Gurdebeke

March 08, 2014

  • English
  • Arabic

Al Bidya Mosque, located about 35 km north from Fujairah, is also called the Othmanian mosque.

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