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 A mosque is the building in which Muslims worship God. Throughout
Islamic history, the mosque was the centre of the community and towns formed
around this pivotal building. Nowadays, especially in Muslim countries mosques
are found on nearly every street corner, making it a simple matter for Muslims to
attend the five daily prayers. In the West mosques are integral parts of Islamic
centers that also contain teaching and community facilities.
Mosques come in all shapes and sizes; they differ from
region to region based on the density of the Muslim population in a certain
area. Muslims in the past and even today have made use of local artisans and
architects to create beautiful, magnificent mosques.
There are however, certain features that are common to
all mosques. Every mosque has a mihrab, a niche in the wall that indicates
the direction of Mecca; the direction towards which Muslims pray. Most mosques
have a minbar (or pulpit) from which an Islamic scholar is able to deliver
a sermon or speech.
Other common features include, minarets, tall towers
used to call the congregation to prayer. Minarets are highly visible and are
closely identified with mosques. Normally there is a large rectangular or
square prayer area. It often takes the form of a flat roof supported by
columns or a system of horizontal beams supported by architraves. In other
common mosque designs, the roof consists of a single large dome on pendentives. There are usually
separate prayer areas, with separate entrances for both men and women.
Mosques have developed significantly over the past 1400
years. Many have courtyards containing decorative pools and fountains, which
originally supplied water for ablution before prayer. Nowadays however, more
private bathroom and toilet facilities are provided. Originally simple
structures with earthen floors, now, mosque floors are usually covered with
plush carpet. They are more often than not decorated with straight lines of
geometric designs that ensure Muslims stand in straight rows to perform their
five daily prayers.
There are never any images of life or statues in mosques,
for in Islam it is forbidden that such things are kept or displayed. . At
times, the interior walls of the mosque are decorated with verses from the
Quran in Arabic calligraphy, or with intricate geometric designs. The patterns
are made from a variety of materials including mosaics, stucco, stone, ceramics,
and wood. The more classical designs are referred to as arabesque, and they
take the form of a radial grid in which circle and star shapes are prominent. Designs
can be both two, and three-dimensional.
More often than not, even in arid desert countries
mosques are cool, serene havens. When a person enters a mosque he or she would
have left the hustle and bustle of the material world and retreated into a calm
shelter or sanctuary. Mosques are houses of worship. Men are expected to pray
all five daily obligatory prayers in a mosque, in congregation. Although women
are welcome to pray in the mosque it is more praiseworthy for them to pray in
their homes. Nonetheless, Muslims are permitted to pray anywhere, excluding
filthy or impure places such as toilets or in graveyards.Prophet Muhammad, may
the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said, “The entire earth was made
a masjid for me”.
Masjid is the Arabic word for mosque. However, while the term mosque
has come to mean a building specifically for prayer the word masjid has
retained several layers of meaning.
In the very literal sense, masjid means place of
prostration. The Arabic word comes from the root “sa-ja-da” meaning to prostrate.
When a Muslim’s forehead touches the ground, he or she is close to God. Prayer
establishes the connection between the believer and his Lord and prostration
symbolises complete submission.
Many people have incorrectly stated that the word
mosque is not a translation of the word masjid. They claim that the
word mosque comes from the word mosquito and attribute it to Queen Isabella and
King Ferdinand of 15th century Spain. However, the words mosque and mosquito
are totally unrelated.
The word “mosque” was introduced into the English
language in the late 14th or early 15th century from the French. It comes from
the French word mosquée from the old French word mousquaie. The French, in
turn, derived the word from the Italian word moschea from moscheta. The
Italians got it either directly from the Arabic word masjid or from the old
Spanish mesquita.
Thus we can see that the translation of the Arabic word
Masjid, into English becomes mosque. A mosque is a house of prayer, and a
place of prostration. It is a building designed and built specifically for the
worship of Allah. It is where Muslims stand shoulder to shoulder, united in
their love for God and their desire to please Him.
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