Mosques are buildings where Muslims gather together to learn about their religion and worship God. Very often the buildings have a domed roof and a tall tower called a minaret. Muslims are called to prayer from the minaret. The man who calls them to prayer is called a muezzin.
A translation of the call to prayer is:
God is most great. God is most great.
God is most great. God is most great.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life
and the Hereafter)! Come to success!
God is great. God is great.
There is no god except God.
There are no pictures or statues in a mosque. They are decorated with patterns and words from the Qur'an.
An Islamic pattern
They have very little furniture in them because Muslims use prayer mats for prayer. All Muslims try to go to the mosque on Friday, that is a special day for prayer and many Muslims try to get there for midday prayers.
In a mosque
When people go into the mosque they fetch their shoes off. This is to keep it clean for prayer.
There is often a fountain or pool, or at least an area with water where people can wash.
Women do not pray in the same place as men, there is usually a screened off area for them.
The women go behind the screen
Most mosques have a Qur'an school where the children are taught the Qur'an.
The mosque might be used for meetings and quiet meditation as well as prayer.
There is always a quibla wall which is the one facing Makkah, it has an empty arch to signify the direction.
Near that arch there is often a minbar, a pulpit with steps from where a sermon is delivered at midday on Friday.
Sometimes there will be a set of clocks indicating the times for prayers throughout the day.
Large mosques might have an Imam, a prayer leader. If they do not have one any adult male may lead the prayers.
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