Why mosques are important

Muslims must clean themselves before they enter into a mosque. There are washing areas where they can make wudu before entering the prayer hall. The floors of such a hall are normally covered with a carpet. It is not allowed to step on it with shoes as Muslims offer Salah on it. Loud talking is forbidden in mosques. It is also disrespectful to walk in front of Muslims who are praying. The first mosques were modeled on the place of worship of the Prophet Muhammad SAW the courtyard of his house at Medina.

Those were simply plots of ground marked out as sacred. Though the mosque as such has undergone many architectural changes, the building remains essentially an open space, generally roofed over, containing a Mihrab and a Minbar.

A common feature of many mosques is a minaret, a tall thin tower that is usually located at one of the corners. Qibla — also known as a prayer wall, shows the direction of Mecca and the Ka'bah for Salat prayers. Salat is led by the imam , a man chosen for his knowledge of the Qur'an. Mihrab - usually a niche in a mosque qibla wall, to show the direction of Mecca.

Minbar - to provide an elevated platform from which an imam might deliver a sermon to the congregation or speak to the Muslim community Some mosques have the additional features of a dome and minaret. Dome - this represents the universe and Allah's power as creator of all. This is the belief in the oneness of Allah or Tawhid. The mosque is not a self-contained unit, nor is it a symbolic microcosm of the universe, as are some places of worship in other religions.

Rather, the mosque is always built as a connection with Mecca, the ultimate home of Muslim worship that metaphorically forms the center of all mosques. See Islamic Art and Architecture.

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