Photos

The poetical translation of the Arabic phrase Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim is "With every breath that we breathe, may we be ever aware of the Divine Presence, the Source of all that we receive".

This phrase which leads entry into the Holy Koran contains a word derrived from the name of Abdur-Rahman who was one of the first 8 perspons to adopt the Islamic faith.

Construction began in 1998 of what was to be the largest mosque in Iraq, the Al-Rahman mosque named after Abdur-Rahman. Located in the Al-Mansour district of Baghdad, the mosque is 250 meters across covering an area of 11 acres. It's scheduled completion in 2004 was interrupted by Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following major combat operations, the Shiite Hawza assumed control of the mosque within days after the Saddam regime fell. In April 2003 Shiite Muslims held prayers at the al-Rahman mosque and chanted in one voice, "Muslims. Not Sunnis or Shiites."

Today, this grand monument sits idle and waiting to be completed. And when it is finally completed, it will stand a symbol of the work of a free and united people of Iraq, rather than as an uugly reminder of decades of repression.

I had my driver divert from our regualr route (after a nice lunch at my favorite resuraunt - Tea Time in Mansour)and stop at the side of the road so I could get out and take this shot. This is the original photo, only cropped. Clear skies. 120 degrees.