Fig.3 External features of a mosque
The features of the Mosque can essentially be divided into two categories: the external and internal features. The external features are what can be seen from outside the mosque, mainly the dome and the minarets, as shown above in Fig.3. The dome is an essential part of a mosque. The exterior of the dome is often golden, while the interior is decorated with delicate patterns, as shown in Fig.4 below. It is often built directly above the main prayer hall and one of its main uses is to project the voice of the Imam, who is the leader of the prayer. In many Middle East hot countries, the dome improves natural ventilation, making the heat and humidity more bearable for worshippers. It is believed that the dome symbolises heaven as it points towards the sky. Some people also believe that it is a symbol of the Earth as it has a circular shape.
Fig.4 – The dooms of mosques
Minarets, on the other hand, have quite a different role from the dome. The number of Minarets varies from different Mosques, but they are usually situated at the corners of the mosque. It is a visual signpost of the mosque because the minaret is often the tallest point in the surrounding area. It is where the Adhan, or call to prayer, is made either by a muezzin or a recording. Muezzins are men who climb up the minaret and spread the Adhan on top of the minaret five times a day. Minarets have been spiritually regarded as the ‘gate between heaven and earth’ because they are so tall and vertical that it looks as if they were about to extend into heaven. Also, some people believe that it represents oneness of God and unity because its shape resembles the number ‘1’. Fig.5 shows some minarets from different countries, and they all have their different styles.
Fig.5 Minarets
The prayer room is the most important room of a mosque. It contains the essential features of a mosque – the qibla wall, the mihrab and the minbar. The word ‘qibla’ literally means indicator. The qibla wall indicates the direction of Makkah and it is the most distinctive feature of a mosque. In the centre of the qibla wall is a niche called a mihrab as shown in the photos in Fig.6. Mihrab is regarded as the ‘ear of Allah’ and when the Imam stands in front of the mihrab, all the prayers are heard by Allah through the mihrab. The mihrab considered to be the holiest place in the mosque by some Muslims because it is also believed to be the entry to paradise. The following quote from the Qur’an clearly shows the importance of the Qiblah wall and the mihrab, as they indicate the direction in which Muslims should pray towards.
‘From whencesoever Thou startest forth, turn Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque’ ( )
Fig.6 Qiblah wall and mihrab
The minbar is a raised platform located on one side of the mihrab which the Imam stands on. It was originally used to symbolise the position of the prophet in society. Nowadays, the minbar is used so that everyone can see and hear the Imam. Fig.7 shows minbars from different Mosques.
Fig.7 Minbar
The main and more essential features have been described in early paragraphs. There are also certain characteristics that would apply to all the features in the mosque. Muslims are very strict about the cleanliness of their place of worship so the mosque is always kept very clean. Also, because no images are allowed in the mosque, patterns are used for decoration everywhere in a mosque. Nevertheless, the appearance of a Mosque does vary in different cultures.
