Lack of mosques in Mussaffah forces residents to pray in the streets

A shortage of mosques in Mussaffah Industrial Area of Abu Dhabi has forced thousands of worshippers on roads and footpaths, in 45ºC.

People performing Friday prayers outside a mosque in Mussaffah Industrial Area due to insufficient capacity inside. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // As Ramadan draws closer, a shortage of mosques in Mussaffah Industrial Area is forcing thousands of worshippers on to the streets to pray in the scorching heat.

As temperatures above 40°C continue across the emirate, many workers walk up to two kilometres to the Ahmed Salem Al Mahrami mosque on Fridays – only to find it at capacity.

Fazal Haque, a Pakistani who has been praying at the mosque for 10 years, said: “We are compelled to pray here as other mosques are very far and we can’t walk to them in this sweltering heat. We have to bring a prayer mat, too.”

Many people come from elsewhere too, the driver said.

“Our major concern is praying outside during the month of Ramadan, while we observe fast. Of late, the temperature rose to over 45°C.”

The mosque, in Mussaffah Industrial Area-37, has a capacity of about 1,000, scarcely enough for the thousands of worshippers living and working nearby.

The only other mosque in the area is a small private one.

Labourers expressed concern that during Ramadan, a combination of fasting and high temperatures could make life extremely difficult.

“We seek the mercy of Allah in Ramadan to give us strength to withstand the heat of the Sun and observe fast,” Mr Haque said.

He said that there should be more mosques in the area and authorities should arrange for shaded areas on Fridays during Ramadan.

Many workers go to Icad campus for prayers, said Indian Darood Ansari.

With the weather in mind and people praying outside in the Sun, the mosque imam often recited short verses from the Quran, the painter said.

He added people living near by were permitted by the imam to pray from their room if they could hear the sermon. On Fridays, roads and walkways around the mosque are packed with people until the prayer finishes. The sermon lasts between 30 to 40 minutes.

Mohammed Naseem, who comes from Mussaffah-40, can walk to the mosque in about 15 minutes.

“We are workers, we can’t do anything,” the Indian said. “Locals and rich expatriates collectively can donate for the construction of larger mosques.”

Worshippers are often seen covering their head with their prayer mat to protect themselves from direct sunlight.

Mohammed Mateen, who prayed under the Sun and was sweating profusely afterwards, said that “every area, at least, should have one spacious mosque” to accommodate worshippers.

Similar situations could be found at almost all mosques in Mussaffah on Fridays, the Bangladeshi painter said.

“Even if you stand on the prayer mat on the road it’s too hot. You can feel it in your feet and can’t stand for too long,” he said.

“This mosque is very old, it could be more than 15 or 20 years old. It’s not sufficient for such a huge population,” Mr Mateen said.

Neither the Mosque Development Committee of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council or the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments would comment on the situation.