Mosques are Muslim places of worship found in various architectural styles worldwide. They have common features such as a mihrab, minarets, and separate areas for men and women. Mosques also serve as community hubs for social events and education. The first mosque was the Kaaba in Mecca, and non-Muslims are welcome to visit with respectful attire and behavior.
A mosque is a Muslim place of worship, where worshipers gather to pray, participate in community events, and exchange information with each other. They can be found in a wide variety of architectural styles in nations around the world, including the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, one of Islam’s holiest mosques, and the stunning Blue Mosque in Turkey, built by Sultan Ahmed Io in Istanbul.
Some architectural features are common to all mosques, whether they are built in the form of Chinese pagodas or modernist buildings. It always includes a mihrab, a niche in the wall facing Mecca. The mihrab is used to orient the congregation as prayers are recited, and is often richly decorated. Many also have minibars, pulpits, minarets, tall slender towers used to launch the call to prayer.
Most mosques also have a large common area designed to accommodate the congregation when they gather for prayers, and have separate areas for men and women so they can pray in peace. Commonly, it also has community facilities, allowing people to use the space for festivals, community gatherings, dinners and other social events. Just like religious buildings in other traditions, the mosque is the hub of community life.
Many mosques are attached to the hamam, or public baths, and may also have lavishly landscaped gardens. It is also common to attach a school for the education of community youth. When a mosque is particularly large and designed to be used for community functions, it is known as a jama’a, or “Grand Mosque”, while a smaller one used only for prayer is known as a masjid.
According to Islam, the first mosque was the Kaaba in Mecca. Some other well-known examples include the Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem, the Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina, the Great Mosque of Paris, the Umayyad Mosque in Syria, the Jami Ul Alfar in Sri Lanka and the Babri Mosque in India. Non-Muslims are welcomed into many mosques, as long as they are respectful. If a person wants to visit one, he should wear modest and simple clothes; women should cover their hair; and visitors should be prepared to take off their shoes at the door. During the prayers, there is silence so that people can concentrate.
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