English

This artwork is inspired by the design of the outer walls door of the Prophet Muhammad mosque.
During different periods, the outer walls of the mosque followed different outlines and had a varying number of gates (doors, portals and entranceways). For instance, during the time of the prophet Muhammad, the original mosque constructed had only three entrances, Bab ul-Rehmah to the south, Bab Jibreel to the west and Bab un-Nisa to the east, although back then these gates were not identified with these names. The dates next to each gate, reference the originally known date of installation of that particular gate.

Each of these doors has a stone plaque above it inscribed with the following verse from the Quran: ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ آمِنِينَ udkhuluhā bisalāmin āminīna Enter with peace and security, [Surah al-Hijr, 15:46].

The door panels of the gates are adorned with beautiful geometric, wooden and metal, patterns. Each panel was constructed out of approximately 1600 pieces of teak wood, joined with frames of brass. At the time, more quantity of wood was used in this project than in any other in the world.

The brass work in the door panels is plated with 23 carats gold, and then polished. Each door weighs about 2500 kilograms, but the panels have been installed so precisely that the doors can be opened effortlessly.