23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Illuminated Devotion — Calligraphy and Light at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

This close-up photograph captures a serene moment within the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, focusing on a portion of the wall inscribed with several of the 99 Names of Allah. The elegant calligraphy flows in graceful curves and intricate details, bathed in soft light that enhances the spiritual significance of the sacred words. Above, a fragment of one of the mosque’s largest chandeliers glimmers, its radiant crystals reflecting the ambient light. The grandeur of the chandelier contrasts beautifully with the delicate inscriptions, creating a harmonious balance between the opulence of the mosque’s interior and the subtlety of divine expression.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2025
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Camera: ILCE-6300
Copyright: © Irina Petrova Adamatzky