the mosque. the words 'mosque' comes from the word masjid which means to 'prostrate...

The Mosque

The words 'Mosque' comes from the word Masjid which means to 'prostrate oneself' (to bow before Allah).  A Mosque is a place where Muslims bow before Allah to keep one of the Five Pillars of Islam. 

Muhammad (pbuh) taught that 'Wherever the hour of prayer overtakes you, you shall perform the prayer. That place is a Mosque'.   This tells us that for a Muslim prayer is much more important than just a building.

Mosques are generally rectangular in shape, the walls define the sacred area that should only be entered by people who have removed their shoes.

On the outside of the mosque there will be a structure called a Mihrab, on a wall of the mosque called the Qibla wall (qibla means direction).

Mihrab

Mihrab

It tells the Muslim which way Mecca is when they are standing in the prayer hall.  Muslims must always pray facing Mecca. 

When you enter the mosque you will see the other side of the mihrab.  It is an alcove or indentation in the mosque wall. 

Mosques will often have a minaret visible from the outside.  is a tall tower used by the Muezzin to call Muslims to prayer. 

This serves the same purpose as a bell in a church, for Christians they can tell when it is time to worship by their watches but for a Muslim the prayer times are fixed by the sun and therefore change daily. 

A Minaret from a Mosque in Mecca

Shoe Racks • When a Muslim enters the

Mosque, he will be required to remove his shoes.  This tells the Muslim that he is entering a religious place and helps the Muslim focus his mind on the act of worship he is about to perform.

• The removal of shoes also has the advantage that it keeps the prayer hall clean for Muslims to bow as they perform Salah.

The washroom

When a Muslim has removed his shoes he enters the washroom to perform Wudu, washing to remove sins and prepare for prayer).  The washing always follows a set pattern.  Once again this is to focus the mind on what is actually being done.  

Cold water is usually used for wudu, this helps to make the Muslim alert and ready for prayer. 

Many of the actions of wudu are performed three times, once again this helps a Muslim to concentrate on what he is doing rather than what has gone on before.

The right hand is washed to thewrist and then the left hand.

The mouth and throat are rinsedwith water by gargling.  Thisensures that the mouth is cleanwhen it addresses Allah in prayer.

The nose and face are washed. The arms up to the elbow, rightarm first. The hands are then passed overthe head from  the forehead to theneck

The ears are washed next andfinally the feet up to the ankles,again the right one first.

Inside the Mosque

The main room of the mosque may be carpeted as in this mosque, the patterns on the carpet help the worshippers assemble in neat rows when they are praying.  

Each of the patterns on the carpet is just large enough for a person to complete the rakahs (prayer positions).

The building will be very plain, there will be no pictures, statues, stained glass windows or anything that will distract the worshippers from Allah.  

The only decoration will be Arabic text from the Koran.

The Prayer Positions

Takbir- Shutting out the world and its distractions.

Muslims stand to attention with their hands raised to the level of their shoulders.

Ruku- Bowing.

  Muslims bend their bodies forward and place their hands on their knees.  This is to show that they respect Allah.

Sujud- The prostration.

Muslims kneel, touching the ground with their head and hands.  This is the lowest position and shows submission to the will of Allah, this is what the word 'Islam' means.

Salam- Kneeling.

Final position, prayers are said for the prophet, and the forgiveness of sins. He looks over the right and then left shoulder to acknowledge his fellow Muslims.

Features in a Mosque

A Muslim needs to pray five times a day (except during Ramadan - the month of fasting when he prays six times).  The prayer times are as follows

Fazar (morning after dawn

Zohar (noon)

Asar (mid - afternoon but before sun-set)

Magrib (between sunset and twilight)

Isha (before midnight)

The Mihrab and Minbar The Mihrab is the alcove in

the Qiblah wall.  It points in the direction of Mecca so that when a Muslim is standing in the mosque he knows which direction to face when praying, a Muslim must always face the Ka'bah in Mecca (cube shaped building representing the house of Allah).

The seat is called the Minbar.  It is like a pulpit in a church and is the seat for the Imam.  Here he gives a sermon (talk) to the congregation on Friday's, the Islamic holy day.