Mosque

A mosque is a special place where Muslims come together to pray and worship. It is often called a masjid, and it can be a building or even an open space where Islamic prayers are held. In the early days of Islam, mosques were very simple and might have been just open areas where people gathered to pray.

As time passed, mosques became more beautiful and included special features. Most have a niche called a mihrab that points toward the holy city of Mecca, which Muslims face when they pray. There is often a place for washing before prayer, known as wudu, and a raised platform called a minbar where speakers give talks on important days.

Mosques are more than just places for prayer. They are also used for many important events in the community, such as weddings, meetings, and helping those in need. Some of the most important mosques in the world include al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Throughout history, mosques have been built in many different styles, influenced by the cultures around them.

Etymology

The word mosque came into English from the French word mosquée. This French word likely came from the Italian moschea, which itself is a version of moscheta. The roots of the word go back to several ancient languages, including Middle Armenian, Medieval Greek, Spanish, and Arabic. In Arabic, the word for a mosque is masjid, meaning a place where people bow down in prayer. This word has origins in older languages like Nabataean and Aramaic.

History

Origins

See also: List of the oldest mosques

Islam began in Arabia during the life of Muhammad in the 7th century CE. The first mosque could have been the sanctuary around the Ka'bah in Mecca, called Al-Masjid al-Haram, or the Quba Mosque in Medina. The Quba Mosque was the first building created by Muhammad after he left Mecca in 622 CE, and both are in the Hejaz region of today’s Saudi Arabia.

Some believe Abraham built the Ka'bah in Mecca long before Muhammad, making its sanctuary the very first mosque. A tradition says the sanctuary of the Ka'bah was the first mosque on Earth, with the second being Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. Since 638 CE, Mecca’s Sacred Mosque has been enlarged many times to welcome more Muslims who visit for the yearly journey called Hajj.

After the Quba Mosque, Muhammad built another mosque in Medina, now called Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, or the Prophet’s Mosque. This mosque became a model for later ones, with features like a special prayer wall called the mihrab and a raised platform known as the minbar.

The three holiest sites in Islam

Aerial view of the largest mosque in the world, The Sacred Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Ḥarām) of Mecca in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia, with the Kaaba in the center

Islam's second holiest site Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (The Prophet's Mosque) in Medina

Islam's third holiest site, Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, including its Qibli Mosque and Dome of the Rock

Diffusion and evolution

The Umayyad Caliphate helped spread Islam and build many important mosques in places like the Levant. They built mosques such as the Qibli Mosque and Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, and the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. They also improved older mosques like the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina and the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Their designs were sometimes inspired by Byzantine architecture.

The Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia was the first major mosque in northwest Africa. It influenced later mosques in the area and in Andalusia, like the Great Mosque of Cordoba. Some older styles from the area also appeared in these mosques.

Muslim rulers helped mosques grow and spread. Mosques appeared in India in the seventh century but became more common after the Mughals arrived in the 1600s. Their mosques had features like rounded roofs and tall towers, common in Persian and Central Asian designs. The Jama Masjid in Delhi and the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore are two large examples.

One of the earliest big mosques in East Asia was built in the eighth century in Xi'an (then called Chang'an). The Great Mosque of Xi'an looks more like a pagoda due to rules against minarets, using Chinese styles instead.

In Indonesia, early mosques on Sumatra and Java mixed local designs with Islamic ideas. They used tall wooden roofs like local temples, and domes only appeared much later. This style also influenced nearby places like Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines.

West Africa developed its own style using mud bricks. The Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali is the largest building made of mud in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Ottomans created mosques with big rounded roofs and tall, thin towers. Many Ottoman mosques remain in Eastern Europe, but most new mosques in Europe have appeared in the last hundred years as more Muslims moved there. Big cities now have mosques with rounded roofs and towers, like the Grand Mosque of Paris. The first mosque in North America was built by Albanian Americans in 1915, and the oldest surviving one, the Mother Mosque of America, was completed in 1934. Many more mosques have been built in the United States in recent years as Muslim communities have grown. Over forty percent of American mosques were built after the year 2000.

Religious functions

See also: Congregational mosque

Prayers

There are two special holidays called Eids in the Islamic calendar: ʿĪd al-Fiṭr and ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā. During these holidays, special prayers happen at mosques in the morning. These prayers are meant to be done in big groups. If there isn’t a special open space called an Eidgah, a large mosque will host the prayers for everyone, including people from smaller mosques. Sometimes, mosques even rent big public places to make sure everyone can join.

Ramadan

The holy month of Ramaḍān has many special activities. Because Muslims don’t eat or drink during the day in Ramadan, mosques offer meals after sunset. These meals, called Ifṭār, are like community dinners where everyone brings food. Smaller mosques might not be able to host these dinners every day. Some mosques also offer meals before dawn for the early morning prayer, called Fajr.

During Ramadan, larger mosques hold special nightly prayers called Tarāwīḥ. A person who has memorized the Quran, known as a Hafiz, will read parts of the Quran each night. In the last ten days of Ramadan, big mosques stay open all night for special programs to remember Laylat al-Qadr, the night Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed.

Charity

One important rule in Islam is giving to others. Muslims are asked to give about one-fortieth of their money as charity, called Zakat. Mosques are the place where people give and receive this charity. Before the holiday of Eid ul-Fitr, mosques collect special charity to help poor Muslims join the celebrations.

Architecture

Further information: Islamic architecture

Styles

Arab-plan or hypostyle mosques are the earliest type of mosques, created under the Umayyad Dynasty. These mosques have square or rectangular shapes with an open courtyard (sahn) and a covered prayer space. In warm climates like the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the courtyard helped fit many people during Friday prayers. Early hypostyle mosques often had flat roofs and needed many columns and supports. They usually had outer arcades (riwaq) for shade. Arab-plan mosques were mostly built under the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties. Their simple design limited later changes, so they became less popular. One famous hypostyle mosque is the Great Mosque of Cordoba in Spain, supported by over 850 columns. Other well-known examples include the Umayyad Mosques of Damascus and Aleppo, Qibli Mosque in Jerusalem, and the Great Mosques of Samarra (Al-Malwiya Mosque and Abu Dulaf Mosque), along with the Great Mosque of Kairouan, Al-Zaytuna Mosque in Tunis and Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez. These Arab-plan or hypostyle mosques are based on the early Prophet's mosque in Medina.

The first change in mosque design began in Persia (Iran). The Persians brought ideas from older Parthian and Sassanid designs into their mosques, influenced by buildings like the Palace of Ardashir and the Sarvestan Palace. This led to new features like domes and large, arched entrances called iwans. During Seljuq rule, as Islamic mysticism grew, the four-iwan layout developed. This format, made final by the Seljuqs and later used by the Safavids, placed the courtyard in front with tall entrances on all sides, like gateways to a spiritual world. The Persians also added Persian gardens to mosque designs. Soon, a special Persian style of mosques appeared that greatly affected later Timurid and Mughal designs. A well-known example of the four-Iwan layout outside Central Asia is the Mosque of Sultan Hasan in Cairo, which is different from Mamluk architecture.

The three-dome layout is common in South Asia. It developed from mixing Islamic architecture with local South Asian styles during the Mughal era, creating a three-dome mosque style with a big walled courtyard. Notable examples include the Jama Masjid and Moti Masjid in India, the Badshahi Mosque, Dai Anga Mosque, and Sunehri Mosque in Pakistan, and the One Row Mosque, Sat Gambuj Mosque, and Nayabad Mosque in Bangladesh.

The Ottomans introduced central dome mosques in the 15th century. These mosques have a big dome in the middle of the prayer hall. They also often have smaller domes off to the side or around the mosque. This style was inspired by Byzantine architecture and its large central domes. One famous imperial Ottoman mosque is the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, with foundations 12 m deep and a large central dome 26 meters wide, held by two semi-domes and small domes. The Selmiye Mosque in Edrine has an even bigger dome, 31.1 m wide, held by giant squinches. Both are considered the best works of Mimar Sinan.

• Examples of other historical mosque architectural styles

[Aqmar Mosque](/wiki/Aqmar_Mosque), Cairo, Egypt (built in 1125-6)

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  Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Samarkand, Uzbekistan (completed in 1404)

[Mudhaffar Mosque](/wiki/Mudhaffar_Mosque), Taiz, Yemen (13th century)

[Divriği Great Mosque](/wiki/Divriği_Great_Mosque_and_Hospital), [Divriği](/wiki/Divriği), Turkey (built in 1228–9)

The [Khanqah-e-Moula](/wiki/Khanqah-e-Moula), a 14th-century mosque in [Srinagar](/wiki/Srinagar), [Jammu and Kashmir](/wiki/Jammu_and_Kashmir_\(union_territory\)), India

[Larabanga Mosque](/wiki/Larabanga_Mosque), Ghana founded in 1421

[Huaisheng Mosque](/wiki/Huaisheng_Mosque) in [Guangzhou](/wiki/Guangzhou), China, dating back to 627 AD

[Marjani Mosque](/wiki/Märcani_Mosque), oldest active mosque in [Tatarstan](/wiki/Tatarstan), Russia (completed in 1770)

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  Talo Mano Mosque, in Narathiwat, Thailand built in 1634

[Mishkal Mosque](/wiki/Mishkal_Mosque), [Calicut](/wiki/Kozhikode), [Kerala](/wiki/Kerala), India, dating back to the 14th century

[Kampung Laut Mosque](/wiki/Kampung_Laut_Mosque), one of the oldest mosques in Malaysia, showing local architecture.

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  Huseina Čauša džamija (a.k.a. Džindijska), 17th-century traditional wooden mosque in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Decoration

Further information: Islamic ornament

Islam does not allow figurative art because artists should not copy God's creation. Mosques are decorated with abstract patterns and beautiful writings. Decoration is often around doors and the miḥrāb. Tiles are used a lot in mosques because they can make patterns, have nice colors, and stay cool in hot places. Writings from the Quran are often shown inside mosques to inspire people and remind them of Allah's words.

Prayer hall

The prayer hall, also called the muṣallá (Arabic: مُصَلَّى), usually has no furniture like chairs or pews so that many people can line up in the room. Some mosques have Islamic calligraphy and Quran writings on the walls to create a more religious feeling.

Often, a small part of the prayer hall is specially set apart as a masjid. Once this area is set apart, it can only be used for worship and not for other things, which may not apply to the rest of the prayer area or the mosque. In early mosques, the prayer hall is often built in the hypostyle style (a roof held up by many columns). One great example is the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia.

Usually opposite the entrance to the prayer hall is the qibla wall (the direction of Mecca, where Muslims should face for prayer). The qibla wall should be set perpendicular to a line pointing to Mecca, where the Kaaba is. Worshippers pray in rows parallel to the qibla wall. In the qibla wall, usually in the middle, is the miḥrāb, a small space showing the direction of Mecca. The mihrab usually has no furniture. A raised minbar (pulpit) is to the right of the mihrab for a speaker to give a talk during Friday prayers.

The mihrab is where the leader of prayers stands to lead the five daily prayers. To the left of the mihrab, in the front left corner of the mosque, there is sometimes a small raised area called a kursu, used for less formal talks and speeches.

[Hypostyle](/wiki/Hypostyle) prayer hall in the [Great Mosque of Kairouan](/wiki/Great_Mosque_of_Kairouan), Tunisia, from the [Aghlabid period](/wiki/Aghlabid_architecture)

The [Persian style](/wiki/Iranian_architecture) prayer hall of the [Shah Mosque](/wiki/Shah_Mosque_\(Isfahan\)) in [Isfahan](/wiki/Isfahan), Iran

[Ottoman Baroque architecture](/wiki/Ottoman_Baroque_architecture) prayer hall of the [Nuruosmaniye Mosque](/wiki/Nuruosmaniye_Mosque) in [Istanbul](/wiki/Istanbul), Turkey

Central prayer hall with [Dravidian style](/wiki/Dravidian_architecture) of the [Masjid Zeenath Baksh](/wiki/Masjid_Zeenath_Baksh), in [Dakshina Kannada](/wiki/Dakshina_Kannada), India from the [Kingdom of Mysore](/wiki/Kingdom_of_Mysore) period

[Moorish Revival](/wiki/Moorish_Revival) prayer hall of the [Grand Mosque of Paris](/wiki/Grand_Mosque_of_Paris) in France

[Chinese Islamic-style](/wiki/Chinese_Islamic_architecture) prayer hall of the [Songjiang Mosque](/wiki/Songjiang_Mosque) in [Shanghai](/wiki/Shanghai), China (established in 1368)

Mihrab and minbar

A miḥrāb, also spelled as mehrab is a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that faces the qiblah. The leader of prayers stands in this niche. The minbar is a pulpit from which the Friday talk is given. While the minbar of Muhammad was a simple chair, later ones became larger and got more attention. Some were made of wood and carved beautifully, while others were made of marble with friezes.

Minarets

Main article: Minaret

A common feature in mosques is the minaret, a tall, thin tower usually at one corner of the mosque. The top of the minaret is always the highest point in mosques with one, and often the highest point nearby.

The beginning of minarets and their first uses are not clearly known and have been discussed a lot. The earliest mosques did not have minarets, and the call to prayer was often done from smaller structures or raised platforms. The first known minaret towers date from the early 9th century under Abbasid rule and did not become a regular part of mosques until the 11th century. These first minaret towers were placed in the middle of the wall opposite the qibla wall. The minaret of the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia, from 836, is well-preserved and one of the oldest minarets in the world today.

Before the five daily prayers, a Mu'adhdhin calls people to prayer from the minaret. In some places like Singapore where Muslims are not the majority, mosques cannot loudly announce the Adhān (Call to Prayer), though it should be said loudly to the community. The adhan is needed before every prayer. Nearly every mosque has someone for each prayer to say the adhan, as it is a suggested practice of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In mosques without minarets, the adhan is called from inside the mosque or elsewhere on the ground. The Iqâmah (similar to the adhan and said right before prayers start) is usually not said from the minaret even if the mosque has one.

Courtyard

The courtyard (Sahn) is a common part of many mosques. It often has a fountain or small water pool for washing before prayer (Wudu).

Domes

Domes have been important in mosque architecture for centuries, changing in shape and use. Traditionally placed above the main prayer hall, they connect earth and heaven, often looking like the sky. At first, domes were small above the mihrab, but later they grew to cover the whole roof of the prayer hall. The shape of domes changed from simple round ones to more complex designs. The Mughals in India made the onion-shaped dome popular, seen in places like the Jama Masjid in Delhi and the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. The design and use of domes were influenced by cultures like Persian, Byzantine, and Central Asian, each adding to the building methods and looks. Today, domes still serve both building and spiritual purposes, with new ideas making them better and more sustainable.

Structural and functional roles

Domes not only look nice but also help with sound in mosques, making prayers and talks louder. They allow big inside spaces with few supports and make the mosque look bigger inside. Their place above the prayer hall connects earth and heaven, fitting the mosque's spiritual meaning.

Origin of mosque domes

The start of domes in mosque architecture began in the early Islamic time, especially under the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750 AD). The Umayyads helped bring domes into mosque design, taking ideas from old Byzantine and Sassanian styles. One of the first and most important examples is the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, built in 691 AD by the Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik. This was not a mosque but a shrine, yet it started the use of domes in Islamic architecture, showing the sky and the link between heaven and earth.

At first, domes in mosques were small and above the mihrab, showing their spiritual meaning as places to focus. As the Islamic world grew, builders used ideas from different areas.

Persian and Byzantine influences

Even though squinches and pendentives were not first used in mosques, they were later used in dome design to help change from square rooms to round domes. Squinches came from Persian and Roman architecture to fill square corners for domes, while pendentives, a Byzantine idea, allowed smooth changes from squares to circles. These methods are shown in the Dome of Soltaniyeh.

Domes in South Asian mosque architecture

Domes became a key part of South Asian mosque design during the Delhi Sultanate and reached their top under the Mughal Empire. Influenced by Persian and Central Asian styles, the Mughals made the onion-shaped dome famous, seen in buildings like the Jama Masjid in Delhi and the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. These domes were not only beautiful but also showed great building skills, using iron pins for strength and wood supports for careful building. The Mughal style still affects mosque design today.

Modern innovations

A great example of new ideas is the Masjid Raja Haji Fi Sabilillah in Malaysia, with a Low-E (low emissivity) glass dome. This glass helps save energy by keeping heat out while letting in natural light, keeping the inside comfortable and using less air conditioning. Another example is Zebun Nessa Mosque in Bangladesh with its famous pink color, built with concrete to soften the hard industrial area around it.

• Mosques with modernist designs

The modern [Faisal Mosque](/wiki/Faisal_Mosque) in [Islamabad](/wiki/Islamabad), Pakistan

Exterior of [Istiqlal Mosque](/wiki/Istiqlal_Mosque,_Jakarta) in [Jakarta](/wiki/Jakarta), Indonesia

[KAFD](/wiki/King_Abdullah_Financial_District) grand mosque, in [Riyadh](/wiki/Riyadh), Saudi Arabia

Ablution facilities

Since washing before prayer is important, mosques often have fountains or places to wash at the entrance or in courtyards. At smaller mosques, people often use restrooms for washing. In traditional mosques, this is sometimes a separate building in the middle of a courtyard. Shoes are not allowed inside the prayer hall except in special areas, so places to leave shoes and coats are common in mosques.

Contemporary features

Modern mosques have many services for their community. Because mosques should meet community needs, they may also have extra places like health clinics, clubs (gyms), libraries, and gymnasiums to help the community.

Symbols

Some symbols are used in mosque design to show parts of the Islamic religion. One of these is the spiral. The “cosmic spiral” on designs and minarets refers to heaven, which has “no beginning and no end”. Mosques also often have flower patterns or pictures of fruits and vegetables. These are reminders of the paradise after life.

Inter-religious conversion

See also: Conversion of non-Muslim places of worship into mosques, List of former mosques in Spain, and List of former mosques in Portugal

Early Muslim historians say that towns that gave up without a fight and made agreements with Muslims could keep their churches, but towns taken by Muslims often had their churches turned into mosques. One of the first examples was in Damascus, Syria, where in 705 Umayyad caliph Al-Walid I bought the church of St. John from Christians (which was once a Roman temple and an Aramean temple before that), and had it torn down and rebuilt as a mosque, promising to build new churches for Christians in Damascus. Overall, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (Al-Waleed's father) is said to have turned 10 churches in Damascus into mosques.

Turning churches into mosques happened a lot in villages where most people converted to Islam. The Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun turned many churches into mosques. Several early mosques in the Ottoman Empire were once churches or cathedrals from the Byzantine Empire, with the Hagia Sophia (one of those changed cathedrals) affecting mosque design after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. In some cases, mosques were built on places of Jewish or Christian holy sites linked to Biblical figures also known in Islam.

Mosques have also been changed for use by other religions, especially in southern Spain after the Moors were taken over in 1492. The most famous is the Great Mosque of Cordoba, built on the site of a church torn down during Muslim rule. Outside the Iberian Peninsula, such changes also happened in southeastern Europe after areas were no longer under Muslim rule, like the Seven Saints Church in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Rules and etiquette

All mosques have special rules to help everyone feel comfortable and focused during prayer. Before praying, Muslims wash their hands and feet in a process called wudu, and they leave their shoes outside the prayer area. People should also dress neatly and modestly.

When people are praying, it is important to be quiet and respectful. Talking loudly or getting in the way of someone who is praying can be distracting. Mosques are designed to help people focus, so they often have plain walls and simple carpets without patterns.

Different mosques may have different ways of organizing space. Some have special areas for women, often behind a curtain or in a separate room, while others allow everyone to pray together. Non-Muslims are usually welcome to visit mosques as long as they follow the rules, such as wearing proper clothing and being quiet during prayer times.

Role in contemporary society

Political mobilization

See also: Political aspects of Islam

In recent times, many mosques have been used for important discussions and planning. Some leaders talk about community problems and ways to make life better. In countries where Muslims are the majority, like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, leaders often speak about these topics during weekly meetings.

In places where Muslims are a smaller group, such as in the United States, mosques help people get involved in community activities. They organize events to help Muslims take part in local government and important decisions.

Frequency of attendance

How often Muslims go to mosques differs a lot around the world. In some places, many people attend services every week, while in others, fewer people go. Studies in the United States show that attendance does not differ between men and women or people of different ages.

Political controversy

In some western countries, including the United States, there have been challenges for mosques. Some people and governments have watched mosques closely or tried to stop new ones from being built. However, many Americans do not support these actions.

In China, many mosques were damaged or destroyed in the Xinjiang region. One mosque, the Weizhou Grand Mosque, was going to be torn down because it did not have the right permissions. People in the area spoke out against this, and the plans were stopped.

Role in violent conflicts

See also: Islamophobia and Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Because mosques are important to many Muslims, they sometimes become part of bigger community disagreements. For example, the Babri Mosque in India was destroyed in 1992, which led to serious problems in the area.

Bombings have also affected mosques in Iraq and other countries, causing damage and tension. After some of these events, leaders used mosques to call for peace and understanding.

Saudi influence

Starting in the 1980s, the government of Saudi Arabia has helped build many Sunni mosques around the world. They have spent a lot of money to support these projects. Saudi citizens have also given money to mosques, especially in places where Muslims face hard times. Two big examples are the King Fahd Mosque in California and the Islamic Cultural Center in Rome, Italy.