State Mosque to be named after Imam Abdul Wahhab

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has given instructions to name Qatar’s biggest mosque after Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab. The instructions were given in a statement issued by the Emiri Diwan yesterday.“The instructions are in recognition of the outstanding reformer and zealous preacher Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab and in reflection of the State of Qatar’s intention to revive the Nation’s symbols and its cultural values,’’ the statement said.The Imam is Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab Ibn Sulaiman Ibn Ali, hailing from the ancient Arab tribe of Bani Tamim. He was an outstanding reformer and a renowned reviver, who appeared in the Arabian Peninsula in the t12th century AH.His mission, through debates and discussions was a call for a return to strict abidance by the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s Sunnah.Our Staff Reporter adds: Located in the Jubailat district of Doha the newly-built State Mosque will be formally opened for prayers on Friday, according to a report in the local Arabic daily Arrayah. Situated on the northern side in the central part  of Doha city, it overlooks the Qatar Sports Club.The mosque covers a total area of 175,164 sq.m. As many as 11,000 men can offer prayers in the air-conditioned central hall of the mosque and the adjacent special enclosure is spacious enough for 1200 women. There are three main doors and 17 side entrances to the mosque. As many as 28 large domes cover the central hall while 65 domes cover the outer quadrangle. On the whole the mosque can hold a congregation of 30,000 people.