Grande Mosque

My friend Jenn took me to the Grande Mosque this Thursday.
Muslims pray five times a day. On Friday you are supposed to try to make it to the Grande Mosque. I've heard that all of this 'parking space' is full of worshipers on Fridays.

It was pretty cool. I was surprised how much the architecture resembled the Alhambra in Spain (a Moorish Palace Addie & I saw on our Amazing European Adventure)

Our tour guide guy was kinda grumpy. He just ran us through the building.
I think he was disappointed in our meager offering to the mosque.Anyway, so when you enter to pray (we were not praying) first you must wash (we didn't wash).


The 'religious leader' does the call of prayer from here. That's what the microphone is for.

Check out the carpet. each design is a prayer rug and is large enough for one man to kneel and pray.
He puts his forhead on the dome of the building. Everyone's heads will be facing east...toward Mecca, which is depicted on the rug.This is the overflow of the mosque. The men have two rooms that are huge and open all the time. The women's part was locked (interesting) and they had two tiny rooms...which I neglected to photograph...silly me.

Islam defines a Nigerien. So many elements of their life are tied into this religion. Although it is a strong enemy, we hear some incredible stories of God moving through this country. He's reaching for these people! Keep praying for Niger and her people. This is a hard land and it is in the clutches of a hard religion.
Hard, but not immovable.