!!!Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, Grozny, Russia

by Stas Sedov and Sergey Shandin,
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

14 July 2014

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Grozny was founded as one of the fortresses of the Caucasian line of
defense in 1818. When the defense line was no longer needed, many of the
fortresses (including Kizlyar, Maykop, and Vladikavkaz) were granted
town status. In 1870 the town of Grozny became a regional center going
through a rapid growth period. In the 1890s, Grozny experienced a large
migration of workers coming to the city due to the oil industry
development. The first oil well was drilled in 1893, and at the same
time they built a new railroad, which made Grozny the largest industrial
center of the Caucasus region. In 1926-1928 a new water and sewer system
was installed in the city. In 1934, the city of Grozny became a center
of the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Oblast, which was later transformed
into the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR). The
Chechen administrative status in the country has changed more than once
during the course of its history, but the city of Grozny has always
remained its capital.

[{Image src='01_Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, Grozny, Russia.jpg' caption='Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, Grozny, Russia' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='617'}]

The city of Grozny suffered its last trial in current history during the
First and the Second Chechen Wars (1994— 1999) when the city was taken
by storm and was seriously damaged. After that, some people proposed to
move the capital of the republic to the less damaged town of Gudermes.
However, Akhmad Kadyrov, the president of Chechnya at that time, did not
support the idea, saying that the entire history of Chechnya was closely
connected to Grozny. During that time there had been a restoration and
rebuilding of the city. Within a decade, the famous "Heart of Chechnya"
Mosque was built, along with a large Islamic complex, a soccer stadium,
the Grozny-City Towers (a five-star skyscraper hotel and business center
complex).

[{Image src='02_Salat (prayer) in the mosque.jpg' caption='Salat (prayer) in the mosque' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='323'}]

The main focus of our photo expedition was the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque,
officially known as the "Heart of Chechnya". It is a mosque of amazing
beauty. The exterior walls are adorned in travertine marble, and the
interior walls are decorated with white marble brought from Marmara
Island (Marmara Adasi in Turkish), which is located on the Sea of
Marmara. The "Heart of Chechnya" is the largest mosque in Russia and is
one of the largest in Europe. The diameter of its dome is 16 meters, and
the height is 32 meters. Four minarets of the mosque are 62 meters tall,
which makes them the tallest minarets in Russia.

[{Image src='03_Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, Grozny, Russia.jpg' caption='Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, Grozny, Russia' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='621'}]

Although it is usually prohibited, they made an exception for the
AirPano team and let us climb up to one of the minarets. After a
dizzying ascent of steep stairs, we saw a marvelous view of the city. It
is hard to imagine that a muezzin used to climb up to a minaret several
times a day for the call to prayer (adhan or azan). Imagine walking a
narrow stairwell up to the 20th floor of a building over and over again
— one must be in good physical shape. Of course, a modern muezzin's job
is much easier: there are loudspeakers installed on the minarets, and a
microphone is connected to the lower level of the mosque. However, the
view from a minaret is worth the climb.

[{Image src='04_Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, Grozny, Russia.jpg' caption='Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, Grozny, Russia' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='621'}]

The "Heart of Chechnya" Mosque can accommodate 10,000 people, and the
same number of people can pray on the square in front of the Mosque as
well as in the summer gallery. The walls and the dome are skillfully
painted by master artisans from Turkey. The inner surface of the main
dome is decorated by the words from Surat al-Ikhlas ("The Purity of
Faith", the 112th Sura of the Qur'an): "He is Allah, who is one, the
eternal God. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any
equivalent".

Interestingly, there are 36 chandeliers in the "Heart of Chechnya"
Mosque that are modeled after other famous mosques: al-Kubbat Sahra in
Jerusalem, Rovzat-Nebevi in Medina, and the Kaaba shrine in Mecca. The
mosque itself and all its elements are impressively large: a chandelier
alone is 8 meters high. However, it is not the grand size that will
impress you the most, but the airy lightness of the structure. The dome
seems to float atop 4 supporting columns.

[{Image src='05_Interior of the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque.jpg' caption='Interior of the Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='397'}]

We visited the city of Grozny during the month of Ramadan, when Muslims
are fasting. With the support of Russia and the Chechen Muftiate, we
were able to take unique pictures during Namaz (or Salat), a Muslim
prayer. We were deeply impressed by the Tarawih, a nightly prayer
performed by Muslims during the Islamic month of Ramadan: hundreds of
men, shoulder to shoulder, were praying together. A break is taken after
every 4 rak'ah (a set of the prescribed movements and words), during
which the men can sit down. Thus the name "Tarawih," which means "rest."

We noticed a considerable number of police patrols on the streets of
Grozny. There is almost no crime, however, and you won't see drunken
people there either. Our guides said laughingly, "If you see a drunkard,
make sure to take a picture! We are going to show it to everyone!"

[{Image src='06_Grozny, Russia.jpg' caption='Grozny, Russia' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='621'}]

The beauty of local women is legendary; and there is a good reason for
that. One doesn't need to be a poet or an artist to appreciate their
grace. Despite common opinion, a long dress and a shawl only enhances a
female's natural beauty and elegance. We saw girls wearing short skirts
on the streets of Grozny as well, and there were no complaints from the
public. So, local customs are not as strict as people outside of
Chechnya commonly think.

[{Image src='07_Grozny, Russia.jpg' caption='Grozny, Russia' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='523'}]

Southern sunsets are short, and the mosque beautifully glows in the
descending ascending darkness. The surrounding park and fountains are
illuminated as well, which makes it an inviting place for an evening
stroll. The Grozny-City towers in the background, colorfully illuminated
in the eastern tradition. "Grozny is the best city on Earth," says the
multi-colored running text line on one of the towers. Moreover, when
nightly prayer is over, moths attracted by the light circle around the
minarets, becoming pillars of light reaching out to the sky...

[{Image src='08_Grozny, Russia.jpg' caption='Grozny, Russia' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='810'}]

When telling a story about this photo expedition, we cannot leave out
the famous hospitality of highlanders. We were welcome everywhere we
went, and even strangers were very friendly and kind and unceasingly
helpful.

My special thanks go to the people that supported us during this trip
and helped us organize it: to Chairman of Russia ?ufties Council — mufti
Sheikh Rawil Gaynetdin, Deputy Chairman — Rushan hazrat Abbyasov,
Chairman of Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Chechen Republic —
Salah hajji Mezhiev and Ildar Yambikov.

I have only warm memories of our trip to Chechnya. There is no doubt
that I would like to return there to learn more about the tradition and
culture of Chechen people. And now, we invite you to see the city of
Grozny through our photo panoramas!

\\ \\
[17 Panoramas of Grozny,_Mosque|Geography/Asia/Russia/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Akhmad_Kadyrov_Mosque]










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