Small mosque with minaret near Edirne, Turkey. Building materials and design depend on the culture, heritage, and resources of each local Muslim community. It is deliberately left quite bare. The miḥrāb, a semicircular niche reserved for the imām to lead the prayer, points to the qiblah—i.e., the direction of Mecca. A mosque (masjid in Arabic) is a place of worship in Islam. There is a great deal of variation among mosques around the world. Mosques commonly serve as locations for prayer, Ramadan vigils, funeral services, Sufi ceremonies, marriage and business agreements, alms collection and distribution, as well as homeless shelters. However, there are a number of features that nearly all mosques have in common. The main architectural components of a mosque are practical in purpose and provide both continuity and a sense of tradition among Muslims worldwide. Smaller prayer rugs may be stacked on a nearby shelf for individual use. Turkey, Istanbul, Blue Mosque ornate interior of domes. It is one of the three holiest places of Islam. Key Concepts: Terms in this set (16) Minaret. Outside the mosque stands the minaret (maʾdhanah), which was originally any elevated place but now usually a tower. All mosques have a prayer hall, which is also called musalla. Sahn. Mats or carpets cover the floor of the mosque, where the ritual prayer (ṣalāt) is performed by rows of men who bow and prostrate themselves under the imām’s guidance. Along the walls and pillars of the prayer hall, there are usually bookshelves to hold copies of the Qur'an, wooden book stands (rihal), other religious reading material, and individual prayer rugs. DIKKA. Professional chanters (qurrāʾ) may chant the Qurʾān according to rigidly prescribed systems taught in special schools, but no music or singing is allowed. Ablution area, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat, Oman. The main dome of a … fountain where you wash before you pray . Some mosques may have secondary domes, as well. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Alternatively, there may be a fountain-like structure along a wall or in a courtyard. Although prayers can be said privately, either indoors or outdoors, nearly every community of Muslims dedicates a space or building for congregational prayer. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). In some traditions, the dome symbolizes the vault of heaven. Etiquette Tips for Visiting a Mosque as a Non-Muslim, The 5 Muslim Daily Prayer Times and What They Mean, The Architecture and History of the Kaaba, The Stages of Hajj, the Islamic Pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah). Historically, mosques were also important centers of elementary education and advanced training in religious sciences. Why Is the City of Jerusalem Important in Islam? The mosque also functioned as a court of justice until the introduction of secular law into many Islamic countries in modern times. A term in Muslim architecture for a tribune raised upon columns from which the Koran is recited and prayers are intoned by the Imam of a mosque. Think you know your artists? The first mosques were modeled on the place of worship of the Prophet Muhammad—the courtyard of his house at Medina—and were simply plots of ground marked out as sacred. The minbar is usually made of carved wood, stone, or brick. There may be a few chairs or benches to assist elderly or disabled worshippers who have difficulty with mobility. Characteristic features of mosque Mosque day turnout ten times usual. The mosque is the cornerstone of the Muslim community. Men stand in rows, barefooted, behind the imām and follow his movements. Many mosques are decorated with a dome rooftop, particularly in the Middle East. Women may participate in the prayers, but they must occupy a separate space or chamber in the mosque. The mosque differs from a church in many respects. Beginning with Muhammad’s own house, mosques came to be used for many public functions—military, political, social, and educational. Inside, the central area for prayer is called a musalla (literally, "place for prayer"). The Prophet's Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, containing the tomb of Muhammad. This symbol represents the mihrab and must point toward Mecca during prayer. PLAY. Understanding Islam's Teachings Regarding Suicide Bombers, B.S., Child Development, Oregon State University. HARAM. Whereas many of the social, educational, and political functions of the mosque have been taken over by other institutions in modern times, it remains a centre of considerable influence. Niche oriented towards Mecca Orients people to where the qibla is. Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the days of the Prophet and early caliphs, the mosque was the centre of all community life, and it remains so in many parts of the Islamic world to this day. Ablution fountain. Prayer is performed by bows and prostrations, with no chairs or seats of any kind. Mosque, any house or open area of prayer in Islam, from the Arabic word masjid meaning ‘a place of prostration.’ The building is largely an open space that typically includes certain features such as a niche for the leader of prayer, an elevated spot for preaching, and a minaret for the call to prayer. Small…. The essential structure is similar throughout the Muslim world. In some cases a maktab (elementary school) is attached to a mosque, mainly for the teaching of the Qurʾān, and informal classes in law and doctrine are given for people of the surrounding neighbourhood. Black Friday Sale! covered walkway around the sahn. No statues, ritual objects, or pictures are used in the mosque; the only decorations permitted are inscriptions of Qurʾānic verses and the names of Muhammad and his Companions. Rather than dumping piles of shoes near the door, shelves are strategically placed near mosque entrances so that visitors can neatly organize, and later find their shoes. Domes of a mosque silhouetted at dusk, Malaysia. Traditional prayer rugs include an arch-shaped symbol at one end. MIHRAB. Corrections? They were rarely used as places solely for prayer but served as community centres. dawn, mid-day, afternoon, after sunset, evening. Running water is available, often with small stools or seats to make it easier to sit down to wash the feet. The general religious life of Muslims is centred around the mosque. Beyond this, the prayer hall is otherwise a large, open space. Normally, there is no furniture in it except for prayer mats or rugs. Occasionally there is also a maqsūrah, a box or wooden screen near the miḥrāb, which was originally designed to shield a worshipping ruler from assassins. MAQSURA. The shoe shelf is a practical feature of many mosques worldwide. Omissions? It is used by the muezzin (muʾadhdhin, “crier”) to proclaim the call to worship (adhān) five times each day. tall, has a balcony, where Adhan is, people are called to prayer. IT WAS a chance to break down misconceptions and bridge divides, according to organisers of a mosque open day. …for prayer, enlarged into the mosque, which comprises the community and all its needs. This article was most recently revised and updated by, mosque - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), mosque - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Five Times of Prayer. Ablutions (ritual washing or wudu) are part of the preparation for Muslim prayer. The simplest mosque would be a prayer room with a wall marked with a “mihrab” – a niche indicating the direction of Mecca, which Muslims should face when praying. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Schools and libraries were often attached to medieval mosques (e.g., al-Azhar mosque in Cairo). The only requirement in Islam is that prayers be performed in an area that is clean. No furniture is needed, as worshippers sit, kneel, and bow directly on the floor. Muslims remove their shoes before entering a mosque in order to preserve the cleanliness of the prayer space. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. During Islamic prayers, worshippers bow, kneel, and prostrate on the ground in humility before God. Rich and poor, prominent and ordinary people, all stand and bow together in the same rows. Courtyard of a Mosque. A place for ablution, containing running water, is usually attached to the mosque but may be separated from it. Rugs and carpets have become a traditional way to ensure the cleanliness of the place of prayer, and to provide some cushioning on the floor. Cleanliness of the prayer, points to the mosque for education both religious and secular, to disputes... 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