Oman Mosque
Muslim Travel Guide Asia: Oman Muscat Ibadi Mosque, Namaz Differences and Local Muslim Worship
Articles • Hasan09 posted the article • 0 comments • 12 views • 1 hours ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide visits an Ibadi mosque and asks how Ibadi Muslim namaz differs from other Muslim practices. It keeps the travel route, Muscat transfer, mosque visit, and worship observations intact.
The title plays on Khomeini's famous line: neither East nor West, only Islam. When I booked my flight from Lanzhou to Tehran, I found I had to transfer in Beijing and then transfer again to a place called Muscat. Muscat?
I had never heard of it. I didn't pay much attention at the time, just assuming it was somewhere in Central Asia. I checked before leaving Beijing and found it is the capital of Oman, a Gulf country in the Middle East.
I have always been interested in religion. When I saw Oman, my first thought was to see an Ibadi mosque, which is different from Sunni and independent of Shia, and to see how Ibadi Muslims perform namaz. And how it differs from other branches.
But my time in Oman was tight on my first visit, so I didn't have a chance to go to a local mosque to see how the locals pray.
I asked locals at the airport how their way of praying differed from other places, but I only got the answer that Oman has both Ibadi and Sunni Muslims. That didn't answer my question at all, and it certainly wasn't the answer I wanted.
Luckily, I would pass through Oman again on my way back from Iran, so I took that opportunity to explore.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, has a landmark building. Tourists visiting Oman rarely miss a trip to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I went in, performed wudu, and entered the prayer hall. I was immediately stunned by the massive scale of the space inside.
This is the mosque with the largest indoor space I have ever visited, bar none. Children will definitely love running around here. Besides me, the only other visitors inside the hall were two people from either India or Pakistan.
There was also a group of Kazakhstani people sitting in a circle, listening quietly to an elder speaking. there was a family from Ningxia. I asked the South Asian elder in front of me if the way Ibadhi Muslims pray here is any different from the Sunni way. The elder replied:
1. During prayer, Ibadi Muslims just stand with their arms at their sides, not folded or crossed.
2. After finishing their prayer, Ibadi Muslims only turn to the right to say the salam, not to the left.
When it comes to prayer, the difference is not that big. Compared to the Shia prayer methods I saw in Iran before, the difference is very, very small. I have written about Shia prayer methods before, so if you are interested, you can check my homepage.
Soon, an imam dressed in typical Omani style walked out from the mihrab. Just as the old man said, they kept their hands hanging down at their sides during namaz instead of folding their arms. They also did not turn their heads to the left after finishing the namaz.
After the namaz, I walked around the courtyard. The floor was mopped very clean. Although the surrounding buildings had a simple design, they were built with solid materials and had plenty of details, so they did not look plain at all. There was also a garden outside the courtyard.
Walking here reminded me of the large white mosque in the UAE that I saw online. I should visit the UAE if I get the chance later. view all
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide visits an Ibadi mosque and asks how Ibadi Muslim namaz differs from other Muslim practices. It keeps the travel route, Muscat transfer, mosque visit, and worship observations intact.
The title plays on Khomeini's famous line: neither East nor West, only Islam. When I booked my flight from Lanzhou to Tehran, I found I had to transfer in Beijing and then transfer again to a place called Muscat. Muscat?
I had never heard of it. I didn't pay much attention at the time, just assuming it was somewhere in Central Asia. I checked before leaving Beijing and found it is the capital of Oman, a Gulf country in the Middle East.
I have always been interested in religion. When I saw Oman, my first thought was to see an Ibadi mosque, which is different from Sunni and independent of Shia, and to see how Ibadi Muslims perform namaz. And how it differs from other branches.
But my time in Oman was tight on my first visit, so I didn't have a chance to go to a local mosque to see how the locals pray.
I asked locals at the airport how their way of praying differed from other places, but I only got the answer that Oman has both Ibadi and Sunni Muslims. That didn't answer my question at all, and it certainly wasn't the answer I wanted.
Luckily, I would pass through Oman again on my way back from Iran, so I took that opportunity to explore.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, has a landmark building. Tourists visiting Oman rarely miss a trip to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I went in, performed wudu, and entered the prayer hall. I was immediately stunned by the massive scale of the space inside.
This is the mosque with the largest indoor space I have ever visited, bar none. Children will definitely love running around here. Besides me, the only other visitors inside the hall were two people from either India or Pakistan.
There was also a group of Kazakhstani people sitting in a circle, listening quietly to an elder speaking. there was a family from Ningxia. I asked the South Asian elder in front of me if the way Ibadhi Muslims pray here is any different from the Sunni way. The elder replied:
1. During prayer, Ibadi Muslims just stand with their arms at their sides, not folded or crossed.
2. After finishing their prayer, Ibadi Muslims only turn to the right to say the salam, not to the left.
When it comes to prayer, the difference is not that big. Compared to the Shia prayer methods I saw in Iran before, the difference is very, very small. I have written about Shia prayer methods before, so if you are interested, you can check my homepage.
Soon, an imam dressed in typical Omani style walked out from the mihrab. Just as the old man said, they kept their hands hanging down at their sides during namaz instead of folding their arms. They also did not turn their heads to the left after finishing the namaz.
After the namaz, I walked around the courtyard. The floor was mopped very clean. Although the surrounding buildings had a simple design, they were built with solid materials and had plenty of details, so they did not look plain at all. There was also a garden outside the courtyard.
Walking here reminded me of the large white mosque in the UAE that I saw online. I should visit the UAE if I get the chance later. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide visits an Ibadi mosque and asks how Ibadi Muslim namaz differs from other Muslim practices. It keeps the travel route, Muscat transfer, mosque visit, and worship observations intact.
The title plays on Khomeini's famous line: neither East nor West, only Islam. When I booked my flight from Lanzhou to Tehran, I found I had to transfer in Beijing and then transfer again to a place called Muscat. Muscat?
I had never heard of it. I didn't pay much attention at the time, just assuming it was somewhere in Central Asia. I checked before leaving Beijing and found it is the capital of Oman, a Gulf country in the Middle East.
I have always been interested in religion. When I saw Oman, my first thought was to see an Ibadi mosque, which is different from Sunni and independent of Shia, and to see how Ibadi Muslims perform namaz. And how it differs from other branches.
But my time in Oman was tight on my first visit, so I didn't have a chance to go to a local mosque to see how the locals pray.
I asked locals at the airport how their way of praying differed from other places, but I only got the answer that Oman has both Ibadi and Sunni Muslims. That didn't answer my question at all, and it certainly wasn't the answer I wanted.
Luckily, I would pass through Oman again on my way back from Iran, so I took that opportunity to explore.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, has a landmark building. Tourists visiting Oman rarely miss a trip to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I went in, performed wudu, and entered the prayer hall. I was immediately stunned by the massive scale of the space inside.
This is the mosque with the largest indoor space I have ever visited, bar none. Children will definitely love running around here. Besides me, the only other visitors inside the hall were two people from either India or Pakistan.
There was also a group of Kazakhstani people sitting in a circle, listening quietly to an elder speaking. there was a family from Ningxia. I asked the South Asian elder in front of me if the way Ibadhi Muslims pray here is any different from the Sunni way. The elder replied:
1. During prayer, Ibadi Muslims just stand with their arms at their sides, not folded or crossed.
2. After finishing their prayer, Ibadi Muslims only turn to the right to say the salam, not to the left.
When it comes to prayer, the difference is not that big. Compared to the Shia prayer methods I saw in Iran before, the difference is very, very small. I have written about Shia prayer methods before, so if you are interested, you can check my homepage.
Soon, an imam dressed in typical Omani style walked out from the mihrab. Just as the old man said, they kept their hands hanging down at their sides during namaz instead of folding their arms. They also did not turn their heads to the left after finishing the namaz.
After the namaz, I walked around the courtyard. The floor was mopped very clean. Although the surrounding buildings had a simple design, they were built with solid materials and had plenty of details, so they did not look plain at all. There was also a garden outside the courtyard.
Walking here reminded me of the large white mosque in the UAE that I saw online. I should visit the UAE if I get the chance later.
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide visits an Ibadi mosque and asks how Ibadi Muslim namaz differs from other Muslim practices. It keeps the travel route, Muscat transfer, mosque visit, and worship observations intact.
The title plays on Khomeini's famous line: neither East nor West, only Islam. When I booked my flight from Lanzhou to Tehran, I found I had to transfer in Beijing and then transfer again to a place called Muscat. Muscat?
I had never heard of it. I didn't pay much attention at the time, just assuming it was somewhere in Central Asia. I checked before leaving Beijing and found it is the capital of Oman, a Gulf country in the Middle East.
I have always been interested in religion. When I saw Oman, my first thought was to see an Ibadi mosque, which is different from Sunni and independent of Shia, and to see how Ibadi Muslims perform namaz. And how it differs from other branches.
But my time in Oman was tight on my first visit, so I didn't have a chance to go to a local mosque to see how the locals pray.
I asked locals at the airport how their way of praying differed from other places, but I only got the answer that Oman has both Ibadi and Sunni Muslims. That didn't answer my question at all, and it certainly wasn't the answer I wanted.
Luckily, I would pass through Oman again on my way back from Iran, so I took that opportunity to explore.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, has a landmark building. Tourists visiting Oman rarely miss a trip to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I went in, performed wudu, and entered the prayer hall. I was immediately stunned by the massive scale of the space inside.
This is the mosque with the largest indoor space I have ever visited, bar none. Children will definitely love running around here. Besides me, the only other visitors inside the hall were two people from either India or Pakistan.
There was also a group of Kazakhstani people sitting in a circle, listening quietly to an elder speaking. there was a family from Ningxia. I asked the South Asian elder in front of me if the way Ibadhi Muslims pray here is any different from the Sunni way. The elder replied:
1. During prayer, Ibadi Muslims just stand with their arms at their sides, not folded or crossed.
2. After finishing their prayer, Ibadi Muslims only turn to the right to say the salam, not to the left.
When it comes to prayer, the difference is not that big. Compared to the Shia prayer methods I saw in Iran before, the difference is very, very small. I have written about Shia prayer methods before, so if you are interested, you can check my homepage.
Soon, an imam dressed in typical Omani style walked out from the mihrab. Just as the old man said, they kept their hands hanging down at their sides during namaz instead of folding their arms. They also did not turn their heads to the left after finishing the namaz.
After the namaz, I walked around the courtyard. The floor was mopped very clean. Although the surrounding buildings had a simple design, they were built with solid materials and had plenty of details, so they did not look plain at all. There was also a garden outside the courtyard.
Walking here reminded me of the large white mosque in the UAE that I saw online. I should visit the UAE if I get the chance later.
Muslim Travel Guide Asia: Oman Muscat Mosque Visit, Local Worship and Travel Notes
Articles • Hasan09 posted the article • 0 comments • 15 views • 1 hours ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide follows a transfer through Muscat and a mosque visit during a short city stay. It keeps the author's route from Beijing, overnight stop, mosque observations, and local worship details in source order.
I left Beijing and transferred at Muscat International Airport in Oman. My flight left the next day, so I slept in Muscat city before having to rush off again. I had almost no chance to see Oman, only catching a few glimpses from a taxi.
I spent a few days in Iran, and when I returned, I had more time, so I finally got a chance to see a mosque in Oman.
I paid in cash and booked the room in person, so I don't remember what the place was called. I only remember that it was a Friday. The sun was shining, and many people came to the mosque because Friday is the day for congregational prayer. The prayer hall was full, so people stood out in the courtyard.
From what I saw, the prayer line included not only locals dressed in Omani style, but also many Indians and Pakistanis. They belong to different sects, as most Omanis are Ibadi. This is a sect independent of both the Shia and Sunni branches.
The Indians and Pakistanis are mostly Sunni, with a small number of Shia.
Before going to Iran, I noticed there were a lot of South Asians in Oman. I wanted to find some local specialties around my hotel, but there were none. It was all Indian restaurants—South Indian, North Indian—or Western fast-food joints. Do Omanis not open their own restaurants?
I finished by going to a restaurant called Istanbul to have some Turkish food, but the place was packed with Indian people. It is not that I dislike Indian food, but I have already eaten so much of it in other countries that I wanted a change.
Since I arrived at the mosque, I decided to go inside and take a look. I waited until there were fewer people and then went inside. It was truly beautiful, and its style, color scheme, and craftsmanship were completely different from the mosques in Iran.
On the walls, besides the small stained-glass windows, I also found the entire Quran carved into the surface (photos 11 and 12). We actually have this back home in China, too; the Great Mosque of Xi'an on Huajue Lane, located inside the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), has Quranic wood carvings in its prayer hall.
The mosque gate has signs in Arabic, English, and Hindi (photo 14), which shows just how many Indians work and do business here.
After the namaz ended, a young Indian man got busy again, handing out supermarket sale flyers to the people who had been praying. view all
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide follows a transfer through Muscat and a mosque visit during a short city stay. It keeps the author's route from Beijing, overnight stop, mosque observations, and local worship details in source order.
I left Beijing and transferred at Muscat International Airport in Oman. My flight left the next day, so I slept in Muscat city before having to rush off again. I had almost no chance to see Oman, only catching a few glimpses from a taxi.
I spent a few days in Iran, and when I returned, I had more time, so I finally got a chance to see a mosque in Oman.
I paid in cash and booked the room in person, so I don't remember what the place was called. I only remember that it was a Friday. The sun was shining, and many people came to the mosque because Friday is the day for congregational prayer. The prayer hall was full, so people stood out in the courtyard.
From what I saw, the prayer line included not only locals dressed in Omani style, but also many Indians and Pakistanis. They belong to different sects, as most Omanis are Ibadi. This is a sect independent of both the Shia and Sunni branches.
The Indians and Pakistanis are mostly Sunni, with a small number of Shia.
Before going to Iran, I noticed there were a lot of South Asians in Oman. I wanted to find some local specialties around my hotel, but there were none. It was all Indian restaurants—South Indian, North Indian—or Western fast-food joints. Do Omanis not open their own restaurants?
I finished by going to a restaurant called Istanbul to have some Turkish food, but the place was packed with Indian people. It is not that I dislike Indian food, but I have already eaten so much of it in other countries that I wanted a change.
Since I arrived at the mosque, I decided to go inside and take a look. I waited until there were fewer people and then went inside. It was truly beautiful, and its style, color scheme, and craftsmanship were completely different from the mosques in Iran.
On the walls, besides the small stained-glass windows, I also found the entire Quran carved into the surface (photos 11 and 12). We actually have this back home in China, too; the Great Mosque of Xi'an on Huajue Lane, located inside the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), has Quranic wood carvings in its prayer hall.
The mosque gate has signs in Arabic, English, and Hindi (photo 14), which shows just how many Indians work and do business here.
After the namaz ended, a young Indian man got busy again, handing out supermarket sale flyers to the people who had been praying. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide follows a transfer through Muscat and a mosque visit during a short city stay. It keeps the author's route from Beijing, overnight stop, mosque observations, and local worship details in source order.
I left Beijing and transferred at Muscat International Airport in Oman. My flight left the next day, so I slept in Muscat city before having to rush off again. I had almost no chance to see Oman, only catching a few glimpses from a taxi.
I spent a few days in Iran, and when I returned, I had more time, so I finally got a chance to see a mosque in Oman.
I paid in cash and booked the room in person, so I don't remember what the place was called. I only remember that it was a Friday. The sun was shining, and many people came to the mosque because Friday is the day for congregational prayer. The prayer hall was full, so people stood out in the courtyard.
From what I saw, the prayer line included not only locals dressed in Omani style, but also many Indians and Pakistanis. They belong to different sects, as most Omanis are Ibadi. This is a sect independent of both the Shia and Sunni branches.
The Indians and Pakistanis are mostly Sunni, with a small number of Shia.
Before going to Iran, I noticed there were a lot of South Asians in Oman. I wanted to find some local specialties around my hotel, but there were none. It was all Indian restaurants—South Indian, North Indian—or Western fast-food joints. Do Omanis not open their own restaurants?
I finished by going to a restaurant called Istanbul to have some Turkish food, but the place was packed with Indian people. It is not that I dislike Indian food, but I have already eaten so much of it in other countries that I wanted a change.
Since I arrived at the mosque, I decided to go inside and take a look. I waited until there were fewer people and then went inside. It was truly beautiful, and its style, color scheme, and craftsmanship were completely different from the mosques in Iran.
On the walls, besides the small stained-glass windows, I also found the entire Quran carved into the surface (photos 11 and 12). We actually have this back home in China, too; the Great Mosque of Xi'an on Huajue Lane, located inside the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), has Quranic wood carvings in its prayer hall.
The mosque gate has signs in Arabic, English, and Hindi (photo 14), which shows just how many Indians work and do business here.
After the namaz ended, a young Indian man got busy again, handing out supermarket sale flyers to the people who had been praying.
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide follows a transfer through Muscat and a mosque visit during a short city stay. It keeps the author's route from Beijing, overnight stop, mosque observations, and local worship details in source order.
I left Beijing and transferred at Muscat International Airport in Oman. My flight left the next day, so I slept in Muscat city before having to rush off again. I had almost no chance to see Oman, only catching a few glimpses from a taxi.
I spent a few days in Iran, and when I returned, I had more time, so I finally got a chance to see a mosque in Oman.
I paid in cash and booked the room in person, so I don't remember what the place was called. I only remember that it was a Friday. The sun was shining, and many people came to the mosque because Friday is the day for congregational prayer. The prayer hall was full, so people stood out in the courtyard.
From what I saw, the prayer line included not only locals dressed in Omani style, but also many Indians and Pakistanis. They belong to different sects, as most Omanis are Ibadi. This is a sect independent of both the Shia and Sunni branches.
The Indians and Pakistanis are mostly Sunni, with a small number of Shia.
Before going to Iran, I noticed there were a lot of South Asians in Oman. I wanted to find some local specialties around my hotel, but there were none. It was all Indian restaurants—South Indian, North Indian—or Western fast-food joints. Do Omanis not open their own restaurants?
I finished by going to a restaurant called Istanbul to have some Turkish food, but the place was packed with Indian people. It is not that I dislike Indian food, but I have already eaten so much of it in other countries that I wanted a change.
Since I arrived at the mosque, I decided to go inside and take a look. I waited until there were fewer people and then went inside. It was truly beautiful, and its style, color scheme, and craftsmanship were completely different from the mosques in Iran.
On the walls, besides the small stained-glass windows, I also found the entire Quran carved into the surface (photos 11 and 12). We actually have this back home in China, too; the Great Mosque of Xi'an on Huajue Lane, located inside the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), has Quranic wood carvings in its prayer hall.
The mosque gate has signs in Arabic, English, and Hindi (photo 14), which shows just how many Indians work and do business here.
After the namaz ended, a young Indian man got busy again, handing out supermarket sale flyers to the people who had been praying.
Muslim Travel Guide Asia: Oman Muscat Ibadi Mosque, Namaz Differences and Local Muslim Worship
Articles • Hasan09 posted the article • 0 comments • 12 views • 1 hours ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide visits an Ibadi mosque and asks how Ibadi Muslim namaz differs from other Muslim practices. It keeps the travel route, Muscat transfer, mosque visit, and worship observations intact.
The title plays on Khomeini's famous line: neither East nor West, only Islam. When I booked my flight from Lanzhou to Tehran, I found I had to transfer in Beijing and then transfer again to a place called Muscat. Muscat?
I had never heard of it. I didn't pay much attention at the time, just assuming it was somewhere in Central Asia. I checked before leaving Beijing and found it is the capital of Oman, a Gulf country in the Middle East.
I have always been interested in religion. When I saw Oman, my first thought was to see an Ibadi mosque, which is different from Sunni and independent of Shia, and to see how Ibadi Muslims perform namaz. And how it differs from other branches.
But my time in Oman was tight on my first visit, so I didn't have a chance to go to a local mosque to see how the locals pray.
I asked locals at the airport how their way of praying differed from other places, but I only got the answer that Oman has both Ibadi and Sunni Muslims. That didn't answer my question at all, and it certainly wasn't the answer I wanted.
Luckily, I would pass through Oman again on my way back from Iran, so I took that opportunity to explore.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, has a landmark building. Tourists visiting Oman rarely miss a trip to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I went in, performed wudu, and entered the prayer hall. I was immediately stunned by the massive scale of the space inside.
This is the mosque with the largest indoor space I have ever visited, bar none. Children will definitely love running around here. Besides me, the only other visitors inside the hall were two people from either India or Pakistan.
There was also a group of Kazakhstani people sitting in a circle, listening quietly to an elder speaking. there was a family from Ningxia. I asked the South Asian elder in front of me if the way Ibadhi Muslims pray here is any different from the Sunni way. The elder replied:
1. During prayer, Ibadi Muslims just stand with their arms at their sides, not folded or crossed.
2. After finishing their prayer, Ibadi Muslims only turn to the right to say the salam, not to the left.
When it comes to prayer, the difference is not that big. Compared to the Shia prayer methods I saw in Iran before, the difference is very, very small. I have written about Shia prayer methods before, so if you are interested, you can check my homepage.
Soon, an imam dressed in typical Omani style walked out from the mihrab. Just as the old man said, they kept their hands hanging down at their sides during namaz instead of folding their arms. They also did not turn their heads to the left after finishing the namaz.
After the namaz, I walked around the courtyard. The floor was mopped very clean. Although the surrounding buildings had a simple design, they were built with solid materials and had plenty of details, so they did not look plain at all. There was also a garden outside the courtyard.
Walking here reminded me of the large white mosque in the UAE that I saw online. I should visit the UAE if I get the chance later. view all
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide visits an Ibadi mosque and asks how Ibadi Muslim namaz differs from other Muslim practices. It keeps the travel route, Muscat transfer, mosque visit, and worship observations intact.
The title plays on Khomeini's famous line: neither East nor West, only Islam. When I booked my flight from Lanzhou to Tehran, I found I had to transfer in Beijing and then transfer again to a place called Muscat. Muscat?
I had never heard of it. I didn't pay much attention at the time, just assuming it was somewhere in Central Asia. I checked before leaving Beijing and found it is the capital of Oman, a Gulf country in the Middle East.
I have always been interested in religion. When I saw Oman, my first thought was to see an Ibadi mosque, which is different from Sunni and independent of Shia, and to see how Ibadi Muslims perform namaz. And how it differs from other branches.
But my time in Oman was tight on my first visit, so I didn't have a chance to go to a local mosque to see how the locals pray.
I asked locals at the airport how their way of praying differed from other places, but I only got the answer that Oman has both Ibadi and Sunni Muslims. That didn't answer my question at all, and it certainly wasn't the answer I wanted.
Luckily, I would pass through Oman again on my way back from Iran, so I took that opportunity to explore.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, has a landmark building. Tourists visiting Oman rarely miss a trip to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I went in, performed wudu, and entered the prayer hall. I was immediately stunned by the massive scale of the space inside.
This is the mosque with the largest indoor space I have ever visited, bar none. Children will definitely love running around here. Besides me, the only other visitors inside the hall were two people from either India or Pakistan.
There was also a group of Kazakhstani people sitting in a circle, listening quietly to an elder speaking. there was a family from Ningxia. I asked the South Asian elder in front of me if the way Ibadhi Muslims pray here is any different from the Sunni way. The elder replied:
1. During prayer, Ibadi Muslims just stand with their arms at their sides, not folded or crossed.
2. After finishing their prayer, Ibadi Muslims only turn to the right to say the salam, not to the left.
When it comes to prayer, the difference is not that big. Compared to the Shia prayer methods I saw in Iran before, the difference is very, very small. I have written about Shia prayer methods before, so if you are interested, you can check my homepage.
Soon, an imam dressed in typical Omani style walked out from the mihrab. Just as the old man said, they kept their hands hanging down at their sides during namaz instead of folding their arms. They also did not turn their heads to the left after finishing the namaz.
After the namaz, I walked around the courtyard. The floor was mopped very clean. Although the surrounding buildings had a simple design, they were built with solid materials and had plenty of details, so they did not look plain at all. There was also a garden outside the courtyard.
Walking here reminded me of the large white mosque in the UAE that I saw online. I should visit the UAE if I get the chance later. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide visits an Ibadi mosque and asks how Ibadi Muslim namaz differs from other Muslim practices. It keeps the travel route, Muscat transfer, mosque visit, and worship observations intact.
The title plays on Khomeini's famous line: neither East nor West, only Islam. When I booked my flight from Lanzhou to Tehran, I found I had to transfer in Beijing and then transfer again to a place called Muscat. Muscat?
I had never heard of it. I didn't pay much attention at the time, just assuming it was somewhere in Central Asia. I checked before leaving Beijing and found it is the capital of Oman, a Gulf country in the Middle East.
I have always been interested in religion. When I saw Oman, my first thought was to see an Ibadi mosque, which is different from Sunni and independent of Shia, and to see how Ibadi Muslims perform namaz. And how it differs from other branches.
But my time in Oman was tight on my first visit, so I didn't have a chance to go to a local mosque to see how the locals pray.
I asked locals at the airport how their way of praying differed from other places, but I only got the answer that Oman has both Ibadi and Sunni Muslims. That didn't answer my question at all, and it certainly wasn't the answer I wanted.
Luckily, I would pass through Oman again on my way back from Iran, so I took that opportunity to explore.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, has a landmark building. Tourists visiting Oman rarely miss a trip to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I went in, performed wudu, and entered the prayer hall. I was immediately stunned by the massive scale of the space inside.
This is the mosque with the largest indoor space I have ever visited, bar none. Children will definitely love running around here. Besides me, the only other visitors inside the hall were two people from either India or Pakistan.
There was also a group of Kazakhstani people sitting in a circle, listening quietly to an elder speaking. there was a family from Ningxia. I asked the South Asian elder in front of me if the way Ibadhi Muslims pray here is any different from the Sunni way. The elder replied:
1. During prayer, Ibadi Muslims just stand with their arms at their sides, not folded or crossed.
2. After finishing their prayer, Ibadi Muslims only turn to the right to say the salam, not to the left.
When it comes to prayer, the difference is not that big. Compared to the Shia prayer methods I saw in Iran before, the difference is very, very small. I have written about Shia prayer methods before, so if you are interested, you can check my homepage.
Soon, an imam dressed in typical Omani style walked out from the mihrab. Just as the old man said, they kept their hands hanging down at their sides during namaz instead of folding their arms. They also did not turn their heads to the left after finishing the namaz.
After the namaz, I walked around the courtyard. The floor was mopped very clean. Although the surrounding buildings had a simple design, they were built with solid materials and had plenty of details, so they did not look plain at all. There was also a garden outside the courtyard.
Walking here reminded me of the large white mosque in the UAE that I saw online. I should visit the UAE if I get the chance later.
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide visits an Ibadi mosque and asks how Ibadi Muslim namaz differs from other Muslim practices. It keeps the travel route, Muscat transfer, mosque visit, and worship observations intact.
The title plays on Khomeini's famous line: neither East nor West, only Islam. When I booked my flight from Lanzhou to Tehran, I found I had to transfer in Beijing and then transfer again to a place called Muscat. Muscat?
I had never heard of it. I didn't pay much attention at the time, just assuming it was somewhere in Central Asia. I checked before leaving Beijing and found it is the capital of Oman, a Gulf country in the Middle East.
I have always been interested in religion. When I saw Oman, my first thought was to see an Ibadi mosque, which is different from Sunni and independent of Shia, and to see how Ibadi Muslims perform namaz. And how it differs from other branches.
But my time in Oman was tight on my first visit, so I didn't have a chance to go to a local mosque to see how the locals pray.
I asked locals at the airport how their way of praying differed from other places, but I only got the answer that Oman has both Ibadi and Sunni Muslims. That didn't answer my question at all, and it certainly wasn't the answer I wanted.
Luckily, I would pass through Oman again on my way back from Iran, so I took that opportunity to explore.
Muscat, the capital of Oman, has a landmark building. Tourists visiting Oman rarely miss a trip to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. I went in, performed wudu, and entered the prayer hall. I was immediately stunned by the massive scale of the space inside.
This is the mosque with the largest indoor space I have ever visited, bar none. Children will definitely love running around here. Besides me, the only other visitors inside the hall were two people from either India or Pakistan.
There was also a group of Kazakhstani people sitting in a circle, listening quietly to an elder speaking. there was a family from Ningxia. I asked the South Asian elder in front of me if the way Ibadhi Muslims pray here is any different from the Sunni way. The elder replied:
1. During prayer, Ibadi Muslims just stand with their arms at their sides, not folded or crossed.
2. After finishing their prayer, Ibadi Muslims only turn to the right to say the salam, not to the left.
When it comes to prayer, the difference is not that big. Compared to the Shia prayer methods I saw in Iran before, the difference is very, very small. I have written about Shia prayer methods before, so if you are interested, you can check my homepage.
Soon, an imam dressed in typical Omani style walked out from the mihrab. Just as the old man said, they kept their hands hanging down at their sides during namaz instead of folding their arms. They also did not turn their heads to the left after finishing the namaz.
After the namaz, I walked around the courtyard. The floor was mopped very clean. Although the surrounding buildings had a simple design, they were built with solid materials and had plenty of details, so they did not look plain at all. There was also a garden outside the courtyard.
Walking here reminded me of the large white mosque in the UAE that I saw online. I should visit the UAE if I get the chance later.
Muslim Travel Guide Asia: Oman Muscat Mosque Visit, Local Worship and Travel Notes
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Reposted from the web
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide follows a transfer through Muscat and a mosque visit during a short city stay. It keeps the author's route from Beijing, overnight stop, mosque observations, and local worship details in source order.
I left Beijing and transferred at Muscat International Airport in Oman. My flight left the next day, so I slept in Muscat city before having to rush off again. I had almost no chance to see Oman, only catching a few glimpses from a taxi.
I spent a few days in Iran, and when I returned, I had more time, so I finally got a chance to see a mosque in Oman.
I paid in cash and booked the room in person, so I don't remember what the place was called. I only remember that it was a Friday. The sun was shining, and many people came to the mosque because Friday is the day for congregational prayer. The prayer hall was full, so people stood out in the courtyard.
From what I saw, the prayer line included not only locals dressed in Omani style, but also many Indians and Pakistanis. They belong to different sects, as most Omanis are Ibadi. This is a sect independent of both the Shia and Sunni branches.
The Indians and Pakistanis are mostly Sunni, with a small number of Shia.
Before going to Iran, I noticed there were a lot of South Asians in Oman. I wanted to find some local specialties around my hotel, but there were none. It was all Indian restaurants—South Indian, North Indian—or Western fast-food joints. Do Omanis not open their own restaurants?
I finished by going to a restaurant called Istanbul to have some Turkish food, but the place was packed with Indian people. It is not that I dislike Indian food, but I have already eaten so much of it in other countries that I wanted a change.
Since I arrived at the mosque, I decided to go inside and take a look. I waited until there were fewer people and then went inside. It was truly beautiful, and its style, color scheme, and craftsmanship were completely different from the mosques in Iran.
On the walls, besides the small stained-glass windows, I also found the entire Quran carved into the surface (photos 11 and 12). We actually have this back home in China, too; the Great Mosque of Xi'an on Huajue Lane, located inside the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), has Quranic wood carvings in its prayer hall.
The mosque gate has signs in Arabic, English, and Hindi (photo 14), which shows just how many Indians work and do business here.
After the namaz ended, a young Indian man got busy again, handing out supermarket sale flyers to the people who had been praying. view all
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide follows a transfer through Muscat and a mosque visit during a short city stay. It keeps the author's route from Beijing, overnight stop, mosque observations, and local worship details in source order.
I left Beijing and transferred at Muscat International Airport in Oman. My flight left the next day, so I slept in Muscat city before having to rush off again. I had almost no chance to see Oman, only catching a few glimpses from a taxi.
I spent a few days in Iran, and when I returned, I had more time, so I finally got a chance to see a mosque in Oman.
I paid in cash and booked the room in person, so I don't remember what the place was called. I only remember that it was a Friday. The sun was shining, and many people came to the mosque because Friday is the day for congregational prayer. The prayer hall was full, so people stood out in the courtyard.
From what I saw, the prayer line included not only locals dressed in Omani style, but also many Indians and Pakistanis. They belong to different sects, as most Omanis are Ibadi. This is a sect independent of both the Shia and Sunni branches.
The Indians and Pakistanis are mostly Sunni, with a small number of Shia.
Before going to Iran, I noticed there were a lot of South Asians in Oman. I wanted to find some local specialties around my hotel, but there were none. It was all Indian restaurants—South Indian, North Indian—or Western fast-food joints. Do Omanis not open their own restaurants?
I finished by going to a restaurant called Istanbul to have some Turkish food, but the place was packed with Indian people. It is not that I dislike Indian food, but I have already eaten so much of it in other countries that I wanted a change.
Since I arrived at the mosque, I decided to go inside and take a look. I waited until there were fewer people and then went inside. It was truly beautiful, and its style, color scheme, and craftsmanship were completely different from the mosques in Iran.
On the walls, besides the small stained-glass windows, I also found the entire Quran carved into the surface (photos 11 and 12). We actually have this back home in China, too; the Great Mosque of Xi'an on Huajue Lane, located inside the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), has Quranic wood carvings in its prayer hall.
The mosque gate has signs in Arabic, English, and Hindi (photo 14), which shows just how many Indians work and do business here.
After the namaz ended, a young Indian man got busy again, handing out supermarket sale flyers to the people who had been praying. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide follows a transfer through Muscat and a mosque visit during a short city stay. It keeps the author's route from Beijing, overnight stop, mosque observations, and local worship details in source order.
I left Beijing and transferred at Muscat International Airport in Oman. My flight left the next day, so I slept in Muscat city before having to rush off again. I had almost no chance to see Oman, only catching a few glimpses from a taxi.
I spent a few days in Iran, and when I returned, I had more time, so I finally got a chance to see a mosque in Oman.
I paid in cash and booked the room in person, so I don't remember what the place was called. I only remember that it was a Friday. The sun was shining, and many people came to the mosque because Friday is the day for congregational prayer. The prayer hall was full, so people stood out in the courtyard.
From what I saw, the prayer line included not only locals dressed in Omani style, but also many Indians and Pakistanis. They belong to different sects, as most Omanis are Ibadi. This is a sect independent of both the Shia and Sunni branches.
The Indians and Pakistanis are mostly Sunni, with a small number of Shia.
Before going to Iran, I noticed there were a lot of South Asians in Oman. I wanted to find some local specialties around my hotel, but there were none. It was all Indian restaurants—South Indian, North Indian—or Western fast-food joints. Do Omanis not open their own restaurants?
I finished by going to a restaurant called Istanbul to have some Turkish food, but the place was packed with Indian people. It is not that I dislike Indian food, but I have already eaten so much of it in other countries that I wanted a change.
Since I arrived at the mosque, I decided to go inside and take a look. I waited until there were fewer people and then went inside. It was truly beautiful, and its style, color scheme, and craftsmanship were completely different from the mosques in Iran.
On the walls, besides the small stained-glass windows, I also found the entire Quran carved into the surface (photos 11 and 12). We actually have this back home in China, too; the Great Mosque of Xi'an on Huajue Lane, located inside the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), has Quranic wood carvings in its prayer hall.
The mosque gate has signs in Arabic, English, and Hindi (photo 14), which shows just how many Indians work and do business here.
After the namaz ended, a young Indian man got busy again, handing out supermarket sale flyers to the people who had been praying.
Summary: This Oman Muslim travel guide follows a transfer through Muscat and a mosque visit during a short city stay. It keeps the author's route from Beijing, overnight stop, mosque observations, and local worship details in source order.
I left Beijing and transferred at Muscat International Airport in Oman. My flight left the next day, so I slept in Muscat city before having to rush off again. I had almost no chance to see Oman, only catching a few glimpses from a taxi.
I spent a few days in Iran, and when I returned, I had more time, so I finally got a chance to see a mosque in Oman.
I paid in cash and booked the room in person, so I don't remember what the place was called. I only remember that it was a Friday. The sun was shining, and many people came to the mosque because Friday is the day for congregational prayer. The prayer hall was full, so people stood out in the courtyard.
From what I saw, the prayer line included not only locals dressed in Omani style, but also many Indians and Pakistanis. They belong to different sects, as most Omanis are Ibadi. This is a sect independent of both the Shia and Sunni branches.
The Indians and Pakistanis are mostly Sunni, with a small number of Shia.
Before going to Iran, I noticed there were a lot of South Asians in Oman. I wanted to find some local specialties around my hotel, but there were none. It was all Indian restaurants—South Indian, North Indian—or Western fast-food joints. Do Omanis not open their own restaurants?
I finished by going to a restaurant called Istanbul to have some Turkish food, but the place was packed with Indian people. It is not that I dislike Indian food, but I have already eaten so much of it in other countries that I wanted a change.
Since I arrived at the mosque, I decided to go inside and take a look. I waited until there were fewer people and then went inside. It was truly beautiful, and its style, color scheme, and craftsmanship were completely different from the mosques in Iran.
On the walls, besides the small stained-glass windows, I also found the entire Quran carved into the surface (photos 11 and 12). We actually have this back home in China, too; the Great Mosque of Xi'an on Huajue Lane, located inside the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie), has Quranic wood carvings in its prayer hall.
The mosque gate has signs in Arabic, English, and Hindi (photo 14), which shows just how many Indians work and do business here.
After the namaz ended, a young Indian man got busy again, handing out supermarket sale flyers to the people who had been praying.