Jeddah - A Peek at Prayer Time

Maghrib is the 4th prayer of the day for Muslims and it takes place at sundown.  There is one more prayer then a little later in the evening, making a total of five prayers daily.  Men can be seen rushing to the mosque for prayers, removing their shoes before entering.  Women usually pray at home.  Most mosques usually have cubby holes outside for shoes, but I rarely see them being used - I don't know why.

There is a call to prayer announced over loudspeakers from each mosques, alerting Muslims to get ready. Ablution is a requirement preceding prayer, which is a specific prescribed manner of properly washing up before praying and includes washing parts of the body with water in a certain order.  Mosques also provide an area outside the mosque where ablution can be performed.

The prayer then begins, and inevitably there will be latecomers.  Many mosques are located in residential neighborhoods as well as in business areas.  There is always a mosque within walking distance in most places. 

When the prayer concludes, the streets are filled with men leaving the mosque as they return to their homes or workplaces.  You can see the two shops to the left closed for prayer with only a piece of fabric covering up the front of the shop. 

SkyWatch: Golden Domed Mosque

There are mosques everywhere in Saudi Arabia.  In cities there are mosques almost on every block.  In less populated areas, there are also plenty of mosques.  Along freeways, there are mosques located every few miles to make it convenient for travelers to pray the five daily required prayers.




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Capture the Spirit of Ramadan Photo Contest

The 2012 "Capture the Spirit of Ramadan" International Photography Competition™ is underway and accepting submissions. It is a chance to bridge the gap between cultures, countries, and religions by sharing with and educating the world about Ramadan and its various traditions.

From their website:

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