Mosques and Congregational Prayer Mosques and Congregational Prayer Home / Prayer , Social Ties /Mosques and Congregational Prayer ­ Previous Next Mosques and Congregational Prayer Prayer in congregation is considered to have more social and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself. The congregation is led by a person called an imam, who is usually chosen as the person with the best knowledge of the Quran, preferably someone who has memorized the entire Quran (a hafiz). The remaining people stand behind the imam in straight parallel rows, all facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. In the first row behind the imam, if available, would be another hafiz to correct the imam in case a mistake is made during the performance of the salat. Congregation prayer in a mosque, or masjid, is particularly encouraged for men and is optional for women. Muslim men are encouraged to offer as many of the five daily prayers in the mosque as possible, as the reward for doing so is at least 25 times greater than offering the prayer alone at home.

(Find out about the Call to Prayer .) Friday Prayers in the Mosque Friday is the holy day of the week for Muslims and it is mandatory for men to offer the early afternoon prayer, known as Jumma, in congregation. During Friday lunchtime, Muslims are required to take a break from their work, or other worldly activities they are involved in, and head to the mosques or prayer halls to offer the noon prayer. This special prayer is composed of a sermon followed by 2 units of congregational prayer. The sermons can be on a variety of topics but tend to focus on spiritual reminders to help motivate the community to do good deeds and strengthen their relationship with God. After the Friday prayer, people are free to return to their workplaces. Mosque and Community In addition to being a place of prayer, mosques have also become a focal point in the community. People meet and greet one another, receive news about the community (e.g. those who are sick), and children come to learn. The mosque is therefore the central point for growth and development of the community. Read about American mosques here .

Imam is a person who leads prayers in a mosque Though the - MOSAIC - 0851 View Full Document the mosque females also pray together like males just without the imam. Imam is a person who leads prayers in a mosque. Though the picture below is taken from Google but this is how Muslims put their head down before Allah in a mosque. I was able to take another quick picture with myself in it. Inside the mosque was really different and has a very spiritual feeling. I believe that this mosque will stay there even in the future since it’s the biggest one in Philadelphia and also so many Muslims uses it to pray. I gave myself a little tour inside the mosque since no one was willing to leave their prayer. The thing that impressed me most was the fact that this used to be a movie theater but now it’s a mosque. Since Islam does not really approve of watching movies in a theater like this, I thought it was amazing how it turned out to be a holy place now. I would love to visit this mosque often in the future for prayers. As I mentioned before in my country females don’t really enter a mosque to pray so that was the reason I never went to a This preview has intentionally blurred sections.

Sign up to view the full version. masjid herein the United States. But looking at this mosque and learning that females also pray here in a separate room I made me want to pray with them also. This is the end of the preview. Sign up to access the rest of the document. TERM Temple College MOSAIC 0851 - Fall 2013 Miah 1 Rucksana Miah Dr. Karr English 812 Assignment 1 Draft February 11, 2013 Did th draft Arb. Person Leads Prayers Mosque Islamic Interpretations & Meanings Arb. Person Leads Prayers Mosque dream interpretations style="display:inline-block;width:728px;height:90px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-2599496384530029" data-ad-slot="5852997190"> A Dead Person Entering the Home of a Sick Person Dream Explanation ï¿½ Either his sickness will prolong or he will die soon.

Mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ ï¿½ A stranger leading the prayers in a mosque whose imamï¿½ (spiritual leader) is ill: The iman will die. ï¿½ The dreamerï¿½s house turning into a mosque: The dreamer will obtain dignity and promote virtue and justice. ï¿½ Entering the mosque with people who dig a hole for the dreamer: The latter will get married. ï¿½ The mosque turning into a bathhouse: An unsuspected man is corrupt and irreligious. ï¿½ A man praying in the prayer niche: Good augury. ï¿½ A woman praying in the prayer niche: Will have a boy. style="display:inline-block;width:728px;height:90px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-2599496384530029" data-ad-slot="5852997190"> Mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ The caller to prayers (Muezzin) represents the judge or a gnostic from that town or country who calls people to the right path and whose call is harkened to by the believer.

The doors of a mosque in a dream represent the trustees and guards who shelter people from outside attacks. If one sees any of that in a dream, or whatever condition these elements are in, they represent the current condition of the people, and this is what the central mosque represents in one's dream. If one sees grass growing inside a mosque in a dream, then it means a wedding. (Also see Imam; Kabah; Masjid; Minaret; Minbar; Muezzin) Mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ The mosque symbolizes the scholar, the master around whom disciples gather to attain perfection, do good to others, and recall and mention God. ï¿½ A mosque having been demolished: A religious person will die in that area. ï¿½ Building a mosque:ï¿½ (1) The dreamer is good to his parents, other family members, and relatives and invites people to come together to do good things.ï¿½ (2) The dreamer will overpower enemies.

Mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ (Jami; Masjid) The main city mosque or the central mosque in a dream represents the king, the governor, or the ruler of a Muslim country, since he takes care of establishing the divine laws as well as he is the symbol of Islam and the decisive judge between the lawful and the unlawful. Smelling an apple inside a mosque means getting married. A mosque in a dream is like the central market that people intend daily and endeavor to make profit therein. It is a place where people will profit according to their deeds and efforts. A mosque in a dream also represents one who is to be obeyed, respected and revered such as a father, a teacher, a sheikh or a man of knowledge. It also asserts justice if one who enters a mosque in his dream is unjustly treated. Mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ The main city mosque in a dream represents the Quranic revelation, the ocean of knowledge, a place of purification and washing one's sins, the graveyard where submissiveness and contemplation are evoked, the washing and shrouding of the dead, medicine, silence, focusing one's intention and facing the Qiblah at the Kabah in Mecca.

Seeing the main city mosque in a dream also means to recognize something good and to act upon it. It also could be interpreted as the shelter from one's enemy, and a sanctuary and a shelter of the believer from fear, and a house of peace. The ceiling of the mosque represents the intimate and vigilant entourage of a king. Its outstretch represents the dignitaries. Its chandeliers represent its wealth and ornaments. Its prayer mats represent the king's justice and his knowledgeable advisors. Its doors represent the guards. Its minaret represents the king's vice-regent, the official speaker of the palace or it announcer. If the main mosque in the dream is interpreted to represent the ruler of the land, then its pillars represent the element of time. Mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ Its lights represent the noble retinue and the wise men of his epoch. The ceiling represents the knowledge contained in the books that protect his justice and his references. The minaret will then represent his chief minister or advisor. The pulpit represents his servant. The prayer niche represents his wife, or it may represent his lawful earnings, or a righteous and a chaste wife.

If one sees a mosque burning in a dream, it means death, losses and political changes in the country. The main mosque of the town also represents the pious people dwelling therein, the men of knowledge, the wise men, devotion, or a hermitage. Its niche represents the leader of the people (Imam). Al-Azhar mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ (See Masjid) Aqsa mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ (See Masjid) Omayyad mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ (See Masjid) Sacred mosque Dream Explanation ï¿½ (See Masjid) Prayers Dream Explanation ï¿½ (arb. Salat) Performing one's required daily prayers in a dream means fulfillment of one's promise, attainment of one's goals, or relief and comfort after distress. Praying at a door, or in front of a bed in a dream denotes a funeral. If one sees himself alone making the call to prayers (Azan) then establishing it (Iqamah) in the dream, it means that he will strive to do good and to eliminate evil in his life.

If one completes his prayers with the traditional greetings to the right and then to the left in a dream, it means that his worries and concerns will be eliminated, and that he will pursue the path of love and unity. Prayers Dream Explanation ï¿½ If one pays the greeting only to the right in his dream, it means that he will seek to correct only some of his religious concerns. If he pays the greeting to the left side only in the dream, it means that he will be troubled for sometime to come. Paying the regards of peace (Salam) at the end of one's prayers in a dream means pursuing one's path, following the proper religious traditions, completing one's job, resignation from one's job, receiving an important appointment, dismissal from work, travels, or profits. If one ends his prayers beginning his greetings from the left, then proceeding to the right in a dream, it means innovation, or that he follows the path of evil. If one ends his prayers without the traditional greetings in the dream, it means that he is more interested in collecting his immediate profits than in protecting his capital investment.

(Also see Call to prayers; Five time prayers; Greetings; Imam; Impurities; Pharaoh; Prostration) Prayers Dream Explanation ï¿½ (See Amulet; Invocation; Prostration; Supplications) Restriction in the Majid (Mosque) Dream Explanation ï¿½ Restriction in the majid or in the act of salaah or in the path of Allah means the persons will be firm in matters of Deen and he will abstain from committing sins. Isha prayers Dream Explanation ï¿½ (arb.; See Five times prayers; Night prayers; Smashing) Funeral prayers Dream Explanation ï¿½ Performing the funeral prayers (arb. Janaza) in a dream means interceding on behalf of the deceased. If the deceased is unknown, then performing the funeral prayers in a dream means employment for a jobless person, profits from a partnership, or it could denote failure to adequately performing one's regular obligatory prayers, or being oft-forgetful, and distracted during one's prayers. Leading the funeral prayers in a dream and interceding with exaggerated invocations on behalf of the deceased in a dream means receiving a political appointment by a ruler who is a hypocrite to manage a sector of his business.

Bowing in prayers Dream Explanation ï¿½ (arb. Ruku) Seeing oneself bowing to Allah Almighty in prayers in a dream means submission to His will, abstaining from arrogance and establishing Allah's rules in one's life. Bowing in prayers also means fulfilling one's aspirations in this world and quickly triumphing over one's enemy. Call to prayers Dream Explanation ï¿½ If a suitable person sees himself adequately calling to prayers in a dream, it means that he will be appointed to govern a land which is as vast as his voice can reach in the dream. If one does not fit the conditions of ruling, then it means that his enemies will increase in number. If he is a merchant, it means that his business will grow. Hearing the call to prayers in a dream also may represent invocations, supplications and good prayers. If one sees himself calling to prayers from inside a well in a dream, it means that he will call people from another land to walk the path of Allah Almighty, to follow the jurisprudence He made obligatory upon humanity, and to adopt the divine laws as their way of life and religion.

Bowing in prayers Dream Explanation ï¿½ If one sees himself standing in prayers, but remains standing without bowing until the prescribed time elapses in a dream, it means that he does not pay his due alms. Bowing in prayers in a dream also means a job for someone who needs it most. Bowing in a dream also means longevity. If a woman sees herself bowing before Allah Almighty in prayers in a dream, it means repentance and exalting her name by protecting her chastity. (Also see Prayers) What Is the Role of the Imam in Islam? By Huda Updated April 23, 2016. What does an imam do? The imam leads Islamic prayer and services, but may also take on a larger role in providing community support and spiritual advice. Led by an Imam, Muslims pray at Al-Azhar Mosque in Egypt. David Silverman/Getty Images How is an imam chosen? An imam is selected at the community level. Members of the community choose someone who is considered knowledgeable and wise. The imam should know and understand the Quran , and be able to recite it correctly and beautifully. The imam is a respected member of the community.

In some communities, an imam may be specifically recruited and hired, and may have undergone some special training. In other (smaller) cities, imams are often chosen from among the existing members of the Muslim community. There is no universal governing body to supervise imams; this is done at the community level. An Islamic school principal in Illinois serves as Imam, leading his students in prayer. Scott Olson/Getty Images What does an imam do? The primary responsibility of an imam is to lead Islamic worship services. In fact, the word "imam" itself means "to stand in front of" in Arabic, referring to placement of the imam in front of the worshippers during prayer. The imam recites the verses and words of prayer, either aloud or silently depending on the prayer, and the people follow his movements. During the service, he stands facing away from the worshipers, toward the direction of Makkah. For each of the five daily prayers , the imam is present at the mosque to lead the prayers. On Friday, the imam also usually delivers the khutba (sermon).

The imam may also lead the taraweeh (nightly prayers during Ramadan), either alone or with a partner to share the duty. The imam also leads all other special prayers, such as for funerals, prayers for rain, prayers during an eclipse, and more. What other role does an imam serve in the community? In addition to being a prayer leader, the imam may also serve as a member of the larger leadership team in a Muslim community. As a respected member of the community, the imam's counseling may be sought in personal or religious matters. One may ask him for spiritual advice, help with a family issue, or in other times of need. The imam may be involved in visiting the sick, engaging in inter-faith service programs, officiating marriages, and organizing educational gatherings in the mosque. In modern times, the imam is increasingly in a position to educate and reform youth away from radical or extremist viewpoints. Imams reach out to youth, inspire them in peaceful pursuits, and teach them the correct understanding of Islam -- in the hopes that they will not fall prey to misguided teachings and resort to violence. So, an imam is a member of clergy? There is no official clergy in Islam.

Muslims believe in a direct connection with the Almighty, without need of an intercessor. The imam is simply a leadership position, for which someone is hired or selected from among the community members. A full-time imam may undergo special training, but this is not required. There is no universal governing body to supervise imams; this is done at the community level. The word "imam" can also be used in a broader sense, referring to any person who leads prayer. So in a group of young people, for example, one of them may volunteer or be selected to be the "imam" for that prayer (meaning, he or she will lead the others in prayer). In the home, a member of a family will serve as the imam if they pray together. This honor is usually given to an older family member, but sometimes is given to younger children to encourage them in their spiritual growth. Among Shia Muslims , the concept of an imam takes on a more central clerical position. They believe that their specific imams were chosen by God to be perfect examples for the faithful. They must be followed, since they were appointed by God and are free from sin. This belief is rejected by the majority of Muslims (Sunni).

Can women be imams? At the community level, all imams are men. When a group of women are praying without men present, however, a woman may serve as the imam of that prayer. Groups of men, or mixed groups of men and women, must be led by a male imam. Mosque Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com Abuja National Mosque, Nigeria A mosque is a place where Muslims worship . [1] The word mosque comes from the Arabic word masjid. [2] A mosque may be small, and privately owned. A larger, 'collective', mosque is called a masjid jāmi. [3] Larger mosques offer more services to their community . For many Muslim people, a mosque is more than a place of worship. Muslims worship, study and discuss Islam , and do many other things in a mosque and its compounds. In the United Kingdom , many mosques are used as community centres. They are also used to teach about Islam. Religious festivals and gatherings are held in mosques. Weddings are one example. Mosques have rules to control what people do inside. One of these rules is that it is considered rude to disturb another person who is worshipping.

Many mosques are known for their Islamic architecture . The earliest mosques, opened in 7th century were open-air spaces. They are the Quba Mosque and Masjid al-Nabawi . Later mosques were buildings that were specially designed. Nowadays, mosques are in every continent , except Antarctica . Contents 8 References Architecture The Jami Ul Alfar mosque in Colombo , Sri Lanka , has striking Moorish and Colonial architecture with a candy-striped facade . Many mosques are famous works of architecture . They are often built in a style that has stayed the same for many centuries. Many mosques have prayer halls, domes , and minarets . They may also have a courtyard . Mosques were first built on the Arabian Peninsula . The Muslims who built them used old architectural styles. They also combined these styles in new ways. A major influence was the palaces built during the Parthian and Sassanid dynasties of Persia . The Sarvestan palace from the Sassanid era is a good example of this. It has an arched entrance and a central dome. These features already existed in Persia before Islam. After the Arab invasion of Persia, the new style, with its Sassanid influence, was used for the new Islamic world .

Many forms of mosques have developed in different regions of the Islamic world. Important mosque types include the early Abbasid mosques, T-type mosques, and the central-dome mosques of Anatolia . In the 20th century , many countries that grew rich from oil paid for the building of many new mosques. The rulers of these countries often hired leading architects to design these mosques. They included non-Muslims. Arab plan Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Egypt has a hypostyle hall Many early mosques have a square or rectangular plan. They also have a prayer hall and an enclosed courtyard. This is known as Arab-plan. The first mosques of this type were built during the Umayyad Dynasty . The flat roof of the prayer hall was supported by columns . Many rows of columns were needed to support such roofs; [4] this is called " hypostyle architecture ". One of the most famous hypostyle mosques is the Mezquita de Córdoba in Spain . It is supported by over 850 columns. [5] In the warm Mediterranean and Middle Eastern climates , the courtyard served to hold the large number of worshippers during Friday prayers. Often, hypostyle mosques have outer arcades .

They allow the visitors to enjoy the shade . Arab-plan mosques were built mostly during the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties. The Arab plan was very simple, which did not allow for much further development. This caused that style of mosque to fall out of favour. [4] Central dome The Ottomans began building central dome mosques in the fifteenth century . These mosques have a large dome centered over the prayer hall. There may also be smaller domes, which are off-center over the prayer hall or the rest of the mosque. [6] This style was heavily influenced by the Byzantine religious architecture with its use of large central domes. [4] Iwan Iwan mosques are famous for their domed rooms and iwans . Iwans are spaces with an arched roof. They have an opening at one end. One or more iwans face a central courtyard that serves as the prayer hall. The style borrows from pre-Islamic Iranian architecture. Most mosques with this style are in Iran . Parts of Mosques Main page: Minaret The Great Mosque in Aleppo , Syria . The tower-like structure is the minaret. Most mosques have minarets. Minarets are tall towers .

Usually they are at one of the corners of the mosque. The top of the minaret is the highest point in the mosque, and usually the highest point in the area around the mosque. The tallest minaret in the world is in the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca , Morocco . [7] The first mosques had no minarets. The most conservative Islamic groups, like Wahhabis , still avoid building minarets. They see them as simply a fancy decoration and unnecessary. The first minaret was built in 665 in Basra during the reign of the Umayyad caliph Muawiyah I . Muawiyah encouraged the building of minarets, as they were supposed to be the same as bell towers on Christian churches . Because of this, mosque architects used the shape of the bell tower for their minarets. Both the minaret and the bell tower serve the same purpose — to call the faithful to prayer. [8] Before the five required daily prayers, a muezzin calls the worshippers to prayer from the minaret. In many countries like Singapore where Muslims are not the majority, mosques are stopped from loudly playing the call to prayer.

The main problem is the use of electronic amplification of the call, which is now widely used by mosques. Domes The domes of the Khatem Al Anbiyaa Mosque in Beirut , Lebanon The domes were often placed directly above the main prayer hall. They represent the universe that Allah created. [9] At first, these domes were small. They only took up a small part of the roof near the mihrab . Later, they took the whole roof above the prayer hall. Domes normally have the shape of a hemisphere . The Mughals in India popularized onion -shaped domes in South Asia and Persia . [10] Some mosques have several domes, as well as the main large dome. The other domes are often smaller. Domes would help the imam be heard, as the sound waves would bounce in and then out of the dome making the voice louder. Prayer hall All mosques have a prayer hall, which is also called musalla . Normally, there is no furniture in it except for prayer mats or rugs . These are necessary, as Islamic prayer is usually done kneeling .

Some mosques have Arabic calligraphy and Qur'anic verses on the walls to help worshipers focus on the beauty of Islam and its holiest book, the Qur'an, as well as for decoration. [11] The qiblah wall is usually at the other side of the entrance to the prayer hall. This wall is specially decorated. In a properly sited mosque, it will be set perpendicular to a line leading to Mecca . [12] People pray in rows parallel to the qiblah wall. They arrange themselves so they face Mecca . In the qiblah wall, usually at its center, is the mihrab , a niche or depression showing the direction of Mecca . The mihrab serves as the place where the imam leads the five daily prayers. [13] A simple mosque in the Australian outback is different from the grand designs of older Islamic communities. Bourke cemetery, New South Wales. Washing All people must wash themselves before they pray. Mosques often have fountains or other facilities for washing in their entrances or courtyards, so that people can perform the washing ritual before prayer. At very small mosques, worshippers may use restrooms for their ritual washing, or wu'du.

In traditional mosques, there is often a building specially for washing. This is often in the center of the courtyard. [5] In the prayer halls, people must not wear shoes for much the same reason. [14] [15] Modern features Modern mosques should appeal to the community they serve. For this reason, other facilities may also be available at the mosque, like health clinics , libraries , and a gymnasium . The inside of mosques There may be decorative tiles , plaster or coloured mosaics on the walls. Religious functions Muslims performing salat at the Umayyad Mosque Adult Muslims are expected to pray five times a day. Most mosques have formal prayers for each of these times. If performing the prayer is difficult, for example for ill people, then exceptions are made. Mosques also hold a special prayer service, called jumuah . This is done once a week. It is a form of Sabbath and replaces the Friday prayers at the mosque. Daily prayers can be done anywhere. However, Muslims are expected to do their Friday prayer at the mosque. [11] When a Muslim dies, a funeral prayer is normally held. It is held outdoors in a courtyard or square close to the mosque.

The prayers have all the worshippers present, including the imam, taking part. [16] During eclipses , mosques will host special prayers called eclipse prayers . [17] There are two large holidays (Eids) in the Islamic calendar . During these days, there are special prayers at mosques in the morning. Larger mosques will normally hold them for their own communities as well as the people from smaller local mosques. Mosques, especially those in countries where Muslims are the majority, will also host Eid prayers outside in courtyards or town squares . [18] A mosque in Afghanistan See also: Ramadan There are many events in Ramadan , Islam's holiest month. During Ramadan, Muslims must fast during the day. Mosques organise iftar dinners after sunset. These are done after the fourth required prayer of the day. Part of the food is given by members of the community, which creates nightly potluck dinners. The community contribution to these dinners is required. For this reason, mosques with smaller communities may not be able to hold the iftar dinners daily. Some mosques will also hold meals in the morning before dawn . Mosques will often invite poorer members of the community to these meals. Islam sees giving charity during Ramadan as good acts.

[19] Larger mosques sometimes offer special, optional prayers. They are done after the last required prayer of the day. During each night of prayers, one member of the community who has memorized the entire Qur’an will recite a part of the book. It can last for up to two hours. [11] Sometimes, several such people (not necessarily of the local community) take turns to do this. During the last ten days of Ramadan, larger mosques will host all-night programs to observe Laylat al-Qadr . It is the night Muslims believe that the Islamic prophet Muhammad first received Qur'anic revelations. [11] On that night, between sunset and sunrise , mosques employ speakers to teach the worshipers about Islam. Mosques or the community usually provide meals at times through the night. The Al-‘Abbās Mosque in Karbala , Iraq is visited by millions of Shia pilgrims each year. Political functions Mosque in Cuiabá , Brazil During the late twentieth century, more and more mosques have been used for political purposes. Modern-day mosques in the Western world want to educate good citizens. The details differ greatly from mosque to mosque and from country to country.

Advocacy Countries with small Muslim populations use mosques as a way to support civic participation. They are more likely to do this than Muslim-majority countries of the Greater Middle East . [20] American mosques host voter registration and civic participation drives. In the United States, Muslims are often immigrants , or the children of immigrants. Mosques want to interest these people for politics. They also want to keep them informed about issues that concern the Muslim community. People who attend the services at the mosque regularly are more likely to take part in protests , to sign petitions , and to involve themselves in political matters. [20] A link between political views and mosque attendance can still be seen in other parts of the world. [21] After the al-Askari Mosque bombing in February 2006, imams and other Islamic leaders used mosques and Friday prayers to call for calm and peace during the widespread violence . [22] Beginning in the late twentieth century and continuing into the early twenty-first century, a small number of mosques have also become a base for extremist imams to support terrorism and extreme Islamic ideals . Finsbury Park Mosque in London is a mosque that has been used in this manner.

Social conflict See also: Babri Masjid , Islamophobia , and Israeli-Palestinian conflict Like other places of worship, mosques can be at the center of social conflicts . Babri Mosque was the centre of such a conflict up until the early 1990s when it was demolished . Before a solution could be found, the mosque was destroyed by about 200,000 Hindus. It took place on 6 December 1992. The mosque was built by Babur to mark the birthplace of Ram . It was believed to be on a site of an earlier Hindu temple . [23] The conflict over the mosque was directly linked to rioting in Bombay (present-day Mumbai ) as well as bombings in 1993 that killed 257 people. In February 2006, a bombing seriously damaged Iraq's al-Askari Mosque . This increased the existing tensions. The conflict between two Muslim groups in Iraq had already led to other bombings. However mosque bombings are not limited to Iraq. In June 2005, a suicide bomber killed at least 19 people at an Afghan mosque.

[24] In April 2006, there were two explosions at India 's Jama Masjid . After the September 11 attacks , several American mosques were targets of attacks. These ranged from simple vandalism to arson . [25] The Jewish Defense League was suspected of plotting to bomb the King Fahd Mosque in Culver City, California . [26] There were similar attacks in the United Kingdom after the 7 July 2005 London bombings . Outside the Western world , in June 2001, the Hassan Bek Mosque was the target of attacks. The attacks involved hundreds of Israelis angry at Arabs for a previous attack. [27] [28] [29] Saudi influence See also: Wahhabism Saudi involvement in building mosques around the world only goes back to the 1960s. [30] In the 1980s, the Saudi Arabian government began to pay for the building of mosques in countries around the world. An estimated US$ 45 billion has been spent by the Saudi Arabian government for mosques and Islamic schools in foreign countries.

Ain al-Yaqeen , a Saudi newspaper, reported in 2002 that Saudi money may have helped to build as many as 1,500 mosques and 2,000 other Islamic centers. [31] Saudi citizens have also given a lot of money to mosques in the Islamic world, especially in countries where they see Muslims as poor and oppressed. Following the fall of the Soviet Union , in 1992, mosques in Afghanistan received money from Saudi citizens. [30] The King Fahd Mosque in Culver City, California and the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy in Rome are two of Saudi Arabia's largest investments in foreign mosques as former Saudi king Fahd bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud gave US$ 8 million [30] and US$ 50 million [32] to the two mosques, respectively. Rules and behaviour in mosques Baitul Mukarram (Dhaka), the National Mosque of Bangladesh The structure resembles the Kaaba in Mecca . In a mosque, people should keep focused on worshiping Allah. For this reason, there are a number of rules about the correct behaviour in a mosque.

Some of these rules are the same all over the world, such as no shoes should be worn in the prayer hall. Other rules are different from mosque to mosque. Prayer leader It is generally seen as good to have someone who leads the prayers, though this is not strictly necessary. [33] The person who usually leads the prayers is called imam. He must be a free and honest man. He should also be an authority when it comes to answering questions on religion. [33] In mosques that were built or that are kept up by the government, the imam is selected by the ruler. [33] In private mosques, the community selects the imam, through majority voting . Interior of the Mezquita , a hypostyle former mosque with columns arranged in grid pattern, in Córdoba, Spain . Only men may lead prayers for men. [33] Women are allowed to lead prayers for congregations where there are only women. Attending a mosque In addition to washing, there are other rules that also apply to those who enter the mosque, even if they do not wish to pray there. It is forbidden to wear shoes in the carpeted area of the prayer hall.

Some mosques also do not allow wearing shoes in other parts, even though these may not be devoted to praying. Islam requires that its believers wear clothes that show modesty . As a result, both men and women must follow this rule when they attend a mosque (though mosques may not always enforce the rules). Men are supposed to come to the mosque wearing loose and clean clothes that do not show the shape of the body. Similarly, women who come to the mosque are expected to wear loose clothing, shirts, pants that cover to the wrists and ankles and cover their heads such as with a hijab . Many Muslims, regardless of their ethnic background, wear Middle eastern clothing associated with Arabic Islam to special occasions and prayers at mosques. [11] Mosques are places of worship. For this reason, those inside the mosque should be respectful to those who are praying. Loud talking or discussion of topics that could be disrespectful, is forbidden in areas where people are praying. It is also considered as rude to walk in front of Muslims in prayer or otherwise disturb them.

[34] Men and women pray in different parts Muslims praying in the male section of a mosque in Srinagar , Jammu and Kashmir , India Islamic law requires men and women to be separated in the prayer hall. Ideally, women should pray behind men. Muhammad said, women should pray at home, not at the mosque. Muhammad thought women should not be forbidden in mosques. The second caliph Umar at one time stopped women from attending mosques, especially at night, because he feared they may be teased by males, so he made them to pray at home. [35] Sometimes a special part of the mosque was railed off for women; for example, the governor of Mecca in 870 had ropes tied between the columns to make a separate place for women. [4] Many mosques today will put the women behind a barrier or partition or in another room. Mosques in South and Southeast Asia put men and women in separate rooms, as the divisions were built into them centuries ago. In nearly two-thirds of American mosques, women pray behind partitions or in separate areas, not in the main prayer hall; some mosques do not admit women at all.

Although there are sections only for women and children, the Grand Mosque in Mecca is desegregated. [36] Non-Muslims in mosques A few scholars of Islamic law believe that non-Muslims may be allowed into mosques, as long as they do not sleep or eat there. Followers of the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence disagree. They say that non-Muslims may not be allowed into mosques at all. [33] Different countries have different opinions on the question. Nearly all the mosques in the Arabian Peninsula as well as Morocco do not allow non-Muslims. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is one of only two mosques in Morocco currently open to non-Muslims. [37] In modern-day Saudi Arabia , the Grand Mosque and all of Mecca are open only to Muslims. Likewise, the Masjid al-Nabawi and the city of Medina that surrounds it are also off-limits to those who do not practice Islam. [38] For mosques in other areas, it has most commonly been taken that non-Muslims may only enter mosques if granted permission to do so by Muslims and if they have a proper reason.

[11] In modern Turkey non-Muslim tourists are allowed to enter any mosque, but must obey the rules of decorum . Visiting a mosque is allowed only between prayers; visitors must wear long trousers and take off their shoes; women must cover their heads; no photos; no loud talk is allowed. No references to other religions are allowed (no crosses on necklaces, no cross gestures etc.). However, there are also many other places in the west as well as the Islamic world where non-Muslims are welcome to enter mosques. Most mosques in the United States , for example, report receiving non-Muslim visitors every month. [39] Many Mosques throughout the United States welcome non-Muslims as a sign of openness to the rest of the community and to encourage conversions to Islam. [40] [41] Dogs Dogs are usually banned from entering mosques, but on 24 September 2008, the Muslim Law Council UK made special ruling, called a fatwa , which granted a blind Muslim permission to take his guide dog into the mosque. [42] Mosques as hostels It is common for a smaller mosque to serve as a hostel for Muslims on haj ( pilgrimage to Mecca).

Sometimes mosques are used for refugees , or as temporary homes for homeless people. Obligations to neighbours in Islam are very strict, and specific. In the Qur'an Mohammed said that a person who helps others in the hour of need, and who helps the oppressed; that person God will help on the Day of Travail (agony). [43] There are other commands, such as helping the poor and being nice to people. An important part of being Muslim, or just being part of the mosque, is taking care of people who need help. A mosque is a social, as well as a religious, group. A madrassa is a little different from a mosque. A madrassa focuses on teaching Islam, usually to children and young people. Mosques in Spain The Mezquita de Córdoba was a mosque. Today, it is the cathedral of Cordoba. When Spain was under Muslim control, some of the most beautiful buildings were mosques. After 1492, Spain was under Christian control. However, the Christians did not tear down the mosques. They simply put a crucifix in them to make them into churches. These mosques influenced the Renaissance architecture (way of building) in Europe.

References ↑ GCSE Religious Studies: Complete Revision and Practice (Revised ed.). Coordination Group Publications. 2009. p. 96. ISBN 9781847624062 . Mosque, Minaret and Mihrab | The Pluralism Project The Pluralism Project Mosque, Minaret and Mihrab The mosque is called masjid in Arabic, which means “place of prostration,” or the place where Muslims bow in prayer. “Mosque” is a word of French origin, initially used by non-Muslims to describe the Muslim place of worship. This term is now often used by Muslims as well, but the word masjid (plural masajid) is generally preferred. Almost every masjid contains a prayer hall in which there is a mihrab, a niche marking the direction of prayer, and a minbar, or pulpit; outside the prayer hall is a place for ablutions. Many masajid are also adorned with a towering minaret, from which the call to prayer may be sounded. The masjid is the chief architectural expression of Islamic faith and practice, which takes a variety of forms in different historical and cultural contexts.

The prayer hall of an American masjid is most often a walled enclosure with an uncluttered floor, with separate areas for men and women. The mihrab, or prayer niche, is usually a small arched indentation in the wall of the prayer hall that indicates qiblah, the direction of Makkah. The congregation forms parallel lines facing the mihrab when performing the ritual prayer. In many masajid, a small staircase leading to a seat stands to the right of the mihrab. This is called the minbar, from which the imam delivers the Friday khutbah, or sermon. One of the most distinctive aspects of traditional masjid architecture is the minaret, a towering structure from which the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer. These are the fundamental elements of nearly every masjid, though the style of their composition and combination reflect the cultural and artistic diversity of the Muslim communities or individuals who build them. In the United States, much of this diversity is vividly in evidence: some masajid take the form of simple storefront prayer rooms, others serve as multi-purpose Islamic centers, complete with schools, day-care centers, medical clinics, and offices.

Many centers are nondescript, situated in residential or commercial space; others are monumental expressions, built to echo historical and cultural forms associated with traditional masjid architecture. Some stunning examples include the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo, which incorporates distinct Ottoman elements; New Mexico’s spectacular Dar al-Islam, which reflects a Nubian architectural style; and the Islamic Cultural Center of Tempe, Arizona, a small-scale replica of the Dome of the Rock Mosque of Jerusalem. Many U.S. masajid are located in renovated buildings, often utilizing other houses of worship. Tulsa’s Masjid al-Islam was once a Christian church; Masjid al-Qur’an, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, was formerly a synagogue; a number of urban masajid once served as temples of the Nation of Islam. In New York, a former watch factory serves as an important Shi’i masjid; in Palo Alto and Chicago, movie theaters have been renovated into masajid; other American Muslim communities have taken buildings such as a U-Haul dealership and a Hewlett-Packard training facility, and transformed them into thriving places of worship.

TERMS 1:Mosque �ｿｽ�ｿｽ List of photos of mosques �ｿｽ�ｿｽWhat is mosque ? �ｿｽ@Prayer (salat), an essential ritual for Muslims, can be conducted anywhere except for considered to dirty, such as tombs and slaughter houses. The English word "mosque" came from the Arabic word "masjid" meaning "a place for prostration (sajada)". In its original meaning, a mosque could be a piece of carpet for prayer. However, mosque generally means a Islamic religious building where many people with the same intention can pray together. Mosques throughout the world are built based on an axis facing Mecca (qibla). In reality, there is, of course, some inaccuracy seen in the direction. �ｿｽ�ｿｽTypes of mosques �ｿｽ@Let me list the types of mosques first. At the prayer at noon every Friday, young male members of community get together at the "Friday Mosque" (Jami Mosque, it is called Jama Masjid in India) and in principal they pray collectively with a leader of prayer (imam). There, hutba is chanted and name of the ruler of the time is uttered to the public.

When Islam established its political power in a new place, a Friday Mosque is built at first. With an increase of the number of Muslims, construction of mosques become more active, and major cities came to have plural Friday mosques and numerous other mosques. These include, apart from Friday Mosques, block mosques (hara, mahale), private prayer buildings and mosques completed with tombs, prayer open spaces (idgah or Amusallah) for major festivals (id) in the suburb, etc. There are many cases in which one room of a complex is set aside to be used as as a public mosque. As seen, there exist various types of mosques in different locations and size, wherever Muslims exist. �ｿｽ�ｿｽFacilities of mosques �ｿｽ@Let's look at various facilities commonly seen in these mosques. The only element essential to a mosque is a hollow space (mihrab) on qibla wall, showing the direction of Mecca. This is only a mark for prayer and it is never a sacred sanctuary like a chancel in Buddhist temple.

In some cases, a lump, symbolizing a light, considered to be one of the predicaments of God, is drawn inside the mihrab, or a few mihrabs are provided on the qibla wall of a single mosque. In a Friday Mosque Minbar, a platform in the form of stair, next to the mihrab, may be provided for the preacher (imam), who leads prayer. Muslims, who are considered to be equal in the eyes of God, pray collectively, lining up parallel to the qibla wall, being led by the imam. A facility for purification (udu, which is conducted before prayer, is important as well. Muslims purify their bodies with water then carry out their prayer. Water flowing from fountains (hauz) in the courtyard (sahan) is not only important for ritual purposes but it effectively creates a pure and clean atmosphere. A tower (minaret, minar), from which a call for prayer can be announced, is not necessarily essential, however, it is a facility often seen in mosques.

In Muslim towns, the voice of muazzin (a person who recites a call for prayer) reverberates from the minaret in the mosque before each prayer five times a day. Also, in Islam it is not considered to be good for women to be seen by males outside of her own family. Thus a special area for female prayer (zanana) may be provided in mosques. As for the smaller items, one can find a high platform (dikka), a Koran stand, a carpet for prayer, a mosque lump and candle stand and prayer beads. �ｿｽ�ｿｽFunction of mosque �ｿｽ@The primary function of a mosque is, of course, a place for prayer. However, the first mosque built was a residence for the prophet Muhammad when he propagated in Medina. In addition, the early mosques became a stronghold for Muslim political power. Derived from these early mosques, historical mosques had multiple functions. A Friday Mosque was a place for administration where proclamation of regulations and trials were conducted, a place for learning, with a library attached providing for lectures, and a place to teach children about the Koran.

Also, in some cases, a mortuary and a place to wash remains are included and a ritual for the deceased could be held. Most of all, it was a place where local people got together and exchanged information. In this way, a mosque functioned as a public place with multiple purposes in Islamic cities, and it still does. It should be mentioned that a mosque as a religious architecture has no object or such direct prayers toward. Upon prayer, Muslims become aware of the fact that they are religious Muslims who are equal in front of God, and a mosque provides an immaculate public place in which to conduct the prayer. �ｿｽ�ｿｽWhen looking at Indian mosques �ｿｽ@While common items from the world of Islam have been mentioned above, what we should consider first when we look at mosques in India is the fact that Mecca is at the west of the Indian continent. Thus, the fasade of most mosques in India faces to the east. The biggest difference with mosques in the Middle East can be seen in the arrangement of the courtyard.

Mosques in the Middle East, small scale mosques and large scale ones alike, frequently have a courtyard, and the four sides of the courtyard are divided into aracade or collonade mostly in the same way. In India, while Friday Mosques (Jama Masjid) often have a courtyard, at the west side of the courtyard a deep majestic prayer room is provided and there is a great difference in the arrangement of the west side from the other three sides. Also, many small block mosques or mosques with tombs do not have a courtyard and there is a rectangular prayer room constructed, at the east side of which is a front yard surrounded by walls. The special feature of mosques in India are that (1) gate building is important in Friday Mosques, (2) areas for female prayer (zanana) is provided architecturally in many Friday Mosques built before the Mugharlid, (3) many mihrabs are seen in a mosque, and (4) many wall mosques considered to be mosques for burial are seen in Delhi.

Question: What is the person called who leads prayers in a mosque?
Answer: The Imam