The other four pillars command that Muslims must pray five times a day, give money to the poor; fast during the month of Ramadan; and travel on pilgrimage to Makkah (Mecca), where Mohammed received his first revelations from Allah.
WORSHIP
Being a Muslim requires discipline; as stated above, Salah must me performed five times a day. During Salah, Muslims put everything out of their minds their minds except for God. They thank Him and praise Him, asking Him for forgiveness and blessing. Salah is a duty that must be performed anywhere. Muslims must also begin with a ritual wash, wudu, to cleanse themselves each time.
But there is a special building used for Muslim worship- it is the Mosque.
THE MOSQUE
There are some very grand mosques, for example the ones at Mecca and Jerusalem. Others, however, are not particularly noticeable to non-Muslims.
But whether the building is grand or not so elaborate, the most important point is that it is a holy place for people to worship God and perform Salah.
Muslims must perform wudu before they enter the mosque. There is usually a tap, fountain or well in the courtyard for them to do so, and modern buildings have a special washroom. Shoes are left outside on a rack.
Inside the mosque there is no furniture as everyone sits or kneels on the carpet-covered floor. There is often a design on the carpet to help the believers form neat rows. There may be individual mats placed pointing to Mecca, the direction that must be faced when performing Salah.
There is a niche set in the wall that faces Mecca, known as the mirab, which symbolizes the presence of God in the hearts of believers. Most mirabs are shell-shaped to give the idea that they hold a priceless pearl. This is the most elaborate decoration in the whole of the mosque, used to honour something that is not visible.
There are no images of Allah whatsoever as Muslims believe this is an insult. Images of the Prophet are also forbidden. However, the lack of pictures does not make a mosque dull. In fact they are far from it, having richly coloured carpets, brightly patterned tiles, marble pillars, carved stonework, crystal chandeliers and stained glass windows.
The sermons are given on the minibar or pulpit. It could be very ornate, or quite plain and simple.
In modern mosques, men and women have separate entrances and rooms for worship.
There is sometimes a mortuary for preparing dead Muslims for burial.
The prayer is given from a tower called the minaret. There is not always one in a mosque. There may be a large, walled courtyard. One wall is higher than the others and has a large archway in it- this is the qiblah wall, which marks the direction of Mecca.
USES
Today mosques are not only used for worship, but for various other things; the Prophet met visitors, conducted business and held political meetings in the courtyard, and today this still happens. The mosque is also where the homeless, poor and sick are sheltered and cared for, following the example of the Prophet.
Mosques are also use:
- As schools teaching Arabic and for studying the holy Qur’an
- as law courts for Islamic law
- for celebrations of marriage, birth and deaths
- for parties, lectures and social activities.
