This is a niche meant to show where the qiblah wall is.
This is the wall showing the direction of Makkah
Note: Sometimes Muslims use compasses to find the direction of Makkah when praying but this is usually when they are on journey.
This is a necessary part in the design of a mosque as Muslims must approach Allah in a state of purity. This washing is called wudu. The washing areas are separate for men and women and their design varies from beautiful fountains in courtyards to simple sinks with taps.
This is where the Mu’adhdhin calls the believers to prayer five times daily, while facing the Ka’bah in Makkah. The minaret is used only in Muslim countries because it is an obvious inconvenience to some people who are not Muslim for the call to prayer to be shouted loudly in a non-Muslim country.#
This is meant to be a representation of the universe created by Allah. The dome helps to amplify the human voice so that the Imam’s sermon can be heard. It also helps to circulate the air; this helps especially in hot countries as it helps the people to concentrate by keeping them cool.
Because the Islam religion is against any idolatry and worshipping Allah by images, there are no pictures or statues in a mosque. However, decorative patterns are used. These range from patterns made from mosaic tiles to precious stones. The patterns are not allowed to resemble any of Allah’s creation (animals and plants alike) because Islam teaches that it is not right for man to try to make any resemblance of Allah’s creation because he is the sole creator.
An imam is the person chosen by the Muslim community. The imam is the person who is supposed to stand in front of the congregation (jumu’ah) and deliver a speech or sermon. The imam is not to be considered as more of a leader or any better than other Muslims. The community chooses a person who is respectable and is a good role model. A man is usually chosen, but it may also be a woman.
The work of the imam is voluntary and he or she is not usually paid for things such as leading prayers but there are times when he or she can be paid. This may be because the imam is also caretaker or secretary for the mosque. It is all right for the imam to earn a living from a job that has nothing to do with the mosque.
The mosque needs an imam because he or she is supposed to be the one who helps the rest of the Muslim community. The imam is a teacher and is there to help the people because of his or her knowledge of the Qur’an, hadith and Arabic. He or she also gives religious advice and organise or even preside over some religious festivals. The imam also officiates naming of newly born children and marriages. Sometimes the mosque has a full time imam who is paid, or even two imams, this is especially done in large mosques. This could be because the buildings and activities would require a lot of attention, more than that which can be provided by one person.
I think the imam is an important part of Islam worship. This is because the imam is involved in a lot of festivals and activities that really need him or her. The imam is the one who is chosen not to lead, but guide the Muslim community and without that person, it would be difficult for Muslims to stay on the right path religiously speaking.
In the Islam religion, the mosque is not just a place of worship alone. It is not only prayer and religious ceremonies that are done here. For example, the mosque is also the madrassah, school, where Muslim children are taught how to recite the Qur’an and learn Arabic and other languages such as Urdu and English. Sometimes a library or bookshop is available too. The prayer hall in the mosque can be used a place for teaching and for holding funeral services. A mortuary may also be present for preparing the dead body for burial. Weddings however, are not held in the prayer hall. Some mosques even have kitchens and are used as community law courts. The mosque is not used just as a place of prayer, it is also a place for the whole Islam community, ummah, to meet and share experiences and be closer together in order to be closer to Allah as one.
“You do not need to go the mosque to be a good Muslim”
This statement, as I understand it, says that a person is not categorised as a “good” Muslim just because they go to the Mosque with everyone else. I agree with this statement. This is because I think a person can worship in the Mosque with other people and not even feel the slightest inclination to serve Allah and be obedient to him behind closed doors.
What really matters when it comes to worship is whether or not one is sincere in their heart about what they are doing. A person may attend all the prayers five times a day, attend all the religious ceremonies and activities or even donate a lot of money to the poor. This would mean nothing though if it was all being done for show. A true Muslim must do all things not because other people are watching and it will make him or her better than everyone else, but because they know it is what is supposed to be done and they really feel the need for it to be done.
Also, women in the Islam religion do not go to the mosque but they are still Muslims. This is to point out that going to the mosque is not all that makes a good Muslim.
Some people may disagree with me and say that worshipping in the mosque is very important and does make a person a good Muslim. However, I believe that such a person will only be looking at the actions that a person performs and regarding them to be of greater importance. If Allah is omnipotent, then surely wherever one prays, He will still hear him. I am not saying that it is all right for a person to decide that they will not go the Mosque for worship when there is no particular reason as to why they can’t. It is good to go and worship with the rest of the community because that way, one can gain more knowledge about God and learn from the experiences of other Muslims. This is good as it could actually help a person be closer to Allah.
To conclude, many other people and myself will agree that going to the Mosque is not what will make a good Muslim. The person’s thoughts and feelings are what will really matter at the day of judgement when they are asked what they did in their lifetime. The worship of God is mostly about being honest and sincere to oneself, it no to be for anyone else but that single Muslim. Whenever possible, as much as possible, Muslims must go to the mosque, but this on its own is not what will get a person into the good graces of Allah.
