The Islamic Place of Worship

 A minaret is a slim tower rising from a mosque. They vary in height, style, and number, and are usually covered with a pointed roof.  Originally the roof of a neighboring building in at the mosque in Medina.  Critical Thinking Question A: Given the design of the minaret, what is its purpose?

 The muezzin uses the height of the minaret to call people to pray.  The adhan can be heard from 1-10 blocks away.  The muezzin says, “God is most great! I bear witness there is no God but God. I bear witness that Muhammad is God’s messenger. Come to prayer. Come to success. God is most great. There is no god but God.

 This is the sahn, the open courtyard.  It has a covered walkway (the arcade), the open courtyard itself, and the fountain in the middle  CritThink B:These are important features of a mosque. What purpose do you think they serve?

 Open area where Muslim worshippers gather to pray  After removing shoes and ablutions, people sit on the floor and wait for the service to begin.  There is a call to prayer and then the imam (leader) takes his position with the believers in rows behind him  Standing, bowing, prostrating and kneeling are all part of the ceremony CritThink C: What does the design of the prayer hall tell us about how Muslims pray?

 Prayer is active and engaged.  The different postures represent different heart stances towards Allah: humility, obedience, love, etc.  The prayer is unified  The prayer has a sense of openness and welcome

 During Islamic prayers, worshippers bow, kneel, and prostrate on the ground in humility before God. The only requirement in Islam is that prayers be performed in an area that is clean. 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. In mosques, the prayer area is often covered with large prayer carpets. Smaller prayer rugs may be stacked on a nearby shelf for individual use

 The minbar is a raised platform in the front area of a mosque.  It includes a short staircase leading to the top platform, which is sometimes covered by a small dome.  Historically the minbar was a stepped seat used by the Prophet to talk to the followers in Medina. CritThinkD: The minbar is located along the wall that faces the Ka’aba in Mecca. What do you think is its purpose?

 Originally for practical purposes, the minbar has come to symbolize authority and leadership.  The minbar’s purpose is to provide a place for the leader to be seen and heard while he speaks

 An indentation in the wall of a mosque, facing the Ka’aba, highly decorated. It’s about the size of a person and shaped like a cave or doorway.  CritThink E: It is a sacred space set in the direction of the Ka’aba beside the Minbar. What do you think is it’s purpose?

 The mihrab is where the imam stands during the congregational prayers to lead the prayer service.  It symbolizes:  Unified prayer  The idea that God is at the center of the universe  The “cave” or “heart” of the world, which is also the heart of the person / where the spirit of a person is.

 Many mosques are decorated with a dome rooftop, particularly in the Middle East.  Often left open, domes let in natural light and ensure visibility and openness.  The interior of a dome is usually highly decorated with floral, geometric and other patterns. CritThink F: What might be the practical and spiritual reasons for using such domes?

 The dome adds to the sense of light and openness, literally opening the mosque to the heavens. Possibly the mosque creates a sense of connecting with the divine this way.  The dome is aesthetically pleasing and accentuates beauty - beauty of Allah’s creation, the revelations of Muhammad, etc…many possible interpretations

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

 What do the uniformity of mosques offer the Islamic community?  What do the grandeur of mosques and how widespread they are tell us about the Islamic Empires?