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3,000 attend sermon by imam of Grand Mosque

The best way to spend money is on mosques so as to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment to worshippers.

This was affirmed by Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Ghamdi, Imam of the Grand Mosque in holy city of Makkah, over the weekend in his Friday sermon at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque: “He who builds a house for God builds for him a house or a palace in heaven,” he said.

Dr Al Ghamdi told the over 3,000 men and women worshippers, gathered at the mosque, that it is of paramount importance to keep all mosques hygienic and clean.

Later in his preaching, he laid emphasis on reviving the role of the mosque in education and creating awareness and culture in societies through seminars, lessons and spreading the tolerance, fairness and forgiveness of Islam.

The visit by Dr Al Ghamdi coincided with the visit by the US Consulate staff in Dubai on Saturday. The group, led by Consul General Rob Waller, was welcomed to the mosque by Paul Rayner, advisor to the chairman, Al Habtoor Group; Abdul Salam Marzooqi, director of community relations, Al Habtoor Group and Abdul Malek, manager of the mosque.

The delegation was invited to the mosque by the Al Habtoor Group. The mosque was a personal donation to the UAE from its Chairman, Khalaf Al Habtoor.

Marzooqi said the mosque is one of the largest mosques in the UAE and is one of only three mosques in the country that opens its doors to non-Muslims. The Ottoman-inspired mosque is designed like the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey with an Andalusia touch.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com