Inspirations - Mosques 01

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Embroidery Designs by Elizabeth Almond

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Inspirations
Mosques 1

The most important building in the Islamic world was the mosque, followed by the royal palaces. As long as Muslims knew the direction of Mecca in order to face it when praying , Muslims were then and still are, able to perform their prayer duties. The first mosques Muslims constructed were square.

One feature of the mosque is the courtyard surrounded by arched walkways called arcades. In this courtyard there is often an area where the worshippers can wash at an ablutions fountain before praying. The courtyard leads to the interior, the main prayer hall. Part of this hall often contains the dome which represents the heavens. One wall of the prayer-hall must face Mecca. This is called the qibla wall.

Within the quilba wall is the mihrab which is the focal point of the mosque. It is a niche in the wall which indicates the direction of Mecca. The main prayer hall is rectangular in shape so there is sufficient length to accommodate all the rows of people praying inside the mosque

To the right of the mihrab is the minbar or pulpit. This is a staircase which leads to a small platform. The imam leads the prayers and delivers the khutba or lesson from the minbar.

The dikka is a platform where the muezzins follow the gestures of the imam and speak the responses so that the prayer can be repeated to the worshippers.

The Qur’an, Islam’s holy book, sits on the kursi.

Mosque

Inspirations
Mosques 1

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