Mosques. A mosque has a dome it is a big open space to represent the universe, this roof shaped like a curve from the top. Also the mosque has some tall towers called Minarets

Muslims always face Makkah, so mosques have a small arch in one wall, which shows the direction of Makkah, this is called the Mihrab. There is also a raised platform, which is usually at the top of a couple of steps a special name for this is Minbar. The Imam also uses it when he preaches on a Friday. Imam is a leader who is chosen by other Muslims, he is chosen on the basis that he knows the Qur’an off by heart, knows a lot about Islam and he is respected by other members of the community. He also teaches small children and men who want to learn more about Islam. Being an Imam is not always the main, full time job and he is not always paid for this work. Preaching in a mosque is mostly based on the Qur’an, it is the Imam who explains it’s teachings and talks about life as a Muslim and the way to the right path and being a good Muslim. The Imam also does a special prayer on Eid (the Muslim Festival) and he also does the special wedding ceremony (nikah) he tells the bride and the groom to say the words and sign the legal document.

Many mosques are beautifully decorated but there are never any pictures or statues because the Prophet (PBUH) said that theses should be avoided in case people begin to worship them.

There are some other activities which take part in the mosque other then daily prayers. Mosques are used for other religious reasons, such as many Muslim children go after school to learn about Islam and learn to recite the Qur’an, In the UK this is more popular because they are not taught much about their own religion in school unlike most of the Islamic countries. They have to go to another place to learn about Islam. They can get the services of a special teacher that will instruct them in the use of Urdu in its written as well as spoken form. Small children are taken by their schoolteachers to visit mosques and get to know Muslim peoples religion as well as their own. Sometimes Muslim people go in whenever they like to ask the Imam questions about problems they might have at home or just questions about Islam that they can’t ask in front of anyone else. Some older people go to the mosque in their spare time to have peace and quiet from home or read the Qur’an. When someone dies in a Muslim family, they take the funeral to the mosque and the Imam does the special prayer called the Janazah.

“You do not need to got to mosque to be a good Muslim”.

I agree with this statement because I do believe you do not need to go to mosque to be a good Muslim, you can stay at home and pray to become a good Muslim, pray five times a day, read Qur’an, do good things in your life and abide by Allah (swt)’s rules and you will be a good Muslim. You won’t become a good Muslim just by going to mosque.

Some people are good Muslims but that does not mean women and men go to mosque to be a good Muslim. It is mentioned in the Qur’an and said by Prophet Muhammad (saw) (PBUH) said you can pray anywhere as long as where you are praying it is clean and you are clean (have done wudu).

But some people disagree with this statement because they think it’s not right for men to pray at home, they have to go mosque and show respect to Allah (swt). While you are praying you are with your community and also you get to mix with others of the same religion. Women do not have to go to mosque but they can if they wish as some women believe this gets them closer to Allah (swt) while praying. When women start there period they are not allowed to read or pray, as they are not clean. Some men don’t understand women’s problems and also the women have more responsibility at home looking after the children, cooking and cleaning so they don’t get time to go pray at home as long as they pray.