Abrahamic Family House

The Abrahamic Family House (Arabic: بيت العائلة الإبراهيمية) is an interfaith complex on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi inspired by the 2019 Document on Human Fraternity. It houses a synagogue, mosque, and a church – Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, St. Francis Church, and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, respectively. The project’s completion rate as of June 2021 is 20 percent, and it is set to open in 2022.^[1][2][3][4]

The implementation of the project is supervised by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) and closely followed by Pope Francis of the Catholic Church and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed El-Tayeb.^[4][5][6]

The project was announced by Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, on Feb. 5, 2019 at a meeting of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity at the New York Public Library, New York.^[6][5][3]

Purpose[]

The Abrahamic Family House aims to serve as a community for inter-religious dialogue and exchange and be a physical manifestation of the Document on Human Fraternity, signed by Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb on Feb. 4, 2019 in Abu Dhabi.^[3][7][6] It will provide learning resources as well as spaces for worship.^[6]

The complex seeks to represent interfaith co-existence, preserves the unique character of each of the three Abrahamic religions; Islam, Christianity and Judaism, and build bridges between human civilizations and the Abrahamic messages.^[3][5][1]

Design[]

The design of the Abrahamic Family House has been prepared by the award-winning architectural and design firm Adjaye Associates, headed by Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye, who unveiled the plan of the project during a New York City event.^[8][9]

The three cubic houses of worship sit upon a secular visitor pavilion,^[8][9] and aim to represent the diverse worshippers, residents, and visitors of Abu Dhabi.

Adjaye highlighted that he wanted to “create a building that starts to dissolve the notion of hierarchical difference – it should represent universality and totality – something higher, that enhances the richness of human life," he continued.”^[8][10]

The design of this religious complex comprises three unaligned cubes sitting on a plinth, and each of them has a different orientation.^[9] The silhouette of the building makes the cubes look unified, and each of them is illustrated with colonnades, screens and vaults.^[9]

The site also includes a cultural center that will promote the values of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence while preserving the unique character of each faith.^[5]

Naming[]

The three houses of worship have been named after the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Ahmed El-Tayeb, St. Francis of Assisi, and Moses Ben Maimon, a 12th century Jewish philosopher and rabbinical scholar – Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque, St. Francis Church, and Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue, respectively.^{[11][12][13][1]}

References[]