A Mosqu!
Intro.
This is a project for our COL-145 class, that’s about Islamic architecture. We focused on how mosques have islamic architecture and it’s di!erent aspects. In this booklet we focused on the architecture and art in a mosque and also some of the facts of a mosque that foreigners don’t know about. !
We have pictures of mosques and all the facts that foreigners may want to know about mosques. Here is where we listed most of the facts we know about mosques and the di!erent aspects of Islamic Architecture in them. We hope on continuing this project after the class also with some adjustments, to make foreigners more aware of the mosques and how they play a huge role in the muslim community. We see it as a booklet that may be distributed on tours that take foreigners to mosques.
The project is done by three COL-145 students: - Mohammad Suhail AlBanna - Nawaf Ali Saeed - Ahmad Bin Futtais All photographs are taken by: Ahmad Bin Futtais
In the past the minaret wouldn’t have had the speaker built in it, the imam would go up the minaret and call for prayer. These days all minarets have speakers built in them. Minarets look similar from far they all follow a certain look, but there are slight changes that you can spot, like the width, height, how its cut and the carvings in it, and what is it made of.
The minaret plays a big role in indicating that this is a mosque, they are usually taller than the mosque level, to make the Athan (call for prayer) clearer.
Facts: Minarets are used to make the voice hearable from the outside. They call for prayer five times a day.
The chandelier plays a big role in the mosque, it’s something that most mosques have. The colored glass is also somehow related to islamic art.
Facts: Windows in a mosque are usually circular shaped.
The chandeliers have a big role in the mosque they are there to make it brighter and have perfect lightning to allow the people in the mosque to clearly see and read the Quraan. Other than the chandeliers, on the dome from the inside you’ll find islamic art patterns and also calligraphy of verses from the Quraan.
A Quraan, you would usually see this all around the mosque.
The place where the Imam call for prayer and leads the prayer. On friday you can see on the right its where the Imam gives a lecture on friday. You can also see the calligraphy that has verses of Quraan.
The mosque usually has to have space that will occupy a lot of people. The chandeliers are something you would usually see in a mosque. The art on the ceilings are something that gives the mosque a di!erent touch many mosques vary in designs. The reason on why the decoration is on the ceilings, is because they don’t want the prayers from getting distracted, and they must give their full attention to praying and not wondering away and staring at the art.
The entrance of the mosque in Dibbah Fujairah, you can also see the old carpet types used.
A Mosque in Dibbah - Fujairah which is the oldest mosque in Fujairah. It’s made of mud and water. It was restored just shortly.
Facts: The first mosque built was Masjid Al-Nabawi in AlMadinah
The domes in Masjid Al-Haraam in Makkah.
Makkah’s great mosque “AlHaram”, where millions of people visit it daily. The architecture is blended with modern and islamic architecture. The islamic architecture is mostly used in places that have been built in the past. The blend between Islamic and Modern is used in the newly built areas. This mosque is where the Ka’aba located, which is in the middle of the mosque.
Masjid AlNabawi in Al-Madinah. The doors are made mostly from gold and strong wood.
Calligraphy and Islamic art, also play a big role in islamic architecture. The pictures above are some of the patterns you would usually see in a mosque or even in a building that is built according to the Islamic Architecture. These patterns and calligraphy give the place its uniqueness and class.
Facts: A Mosque should be clean and should smell nice. Also the prayers who come to the mosque should come in their best form clean and smell nice
The Ka’aba at Masjid Al-Haram, Makkah.
Facts. When entering a mosque your supposed to enter with your right leg and leave with your left leg.
All mosques are directed to the Ka’aba.
There are five obligatory prayers that a muslim has to pray each day.
Every lecture on friday is about a specific topic. That educates muslims
Every mosque has a certain Imam for it . You can’t talk loudly in a mosque or argue with someone.
Ladies aren’t obliged to go pray in the mosque, but they can go if they want to.
Muslims aged 7 and above should pray in the mosque Most mosques have a dome and minaret
Every mosque has a house for the Imam stuck to it, for the Imam and his family.
You can’t wear shorts that are above the knees while praying
A Mosqu!
Is a place where muslims go to pray, especially the men. There are five obligatory prayers that a muslim has to pray that they pray in Jama’a ( as a group) in the mosque. In a mosque you may find lectures over the week and there’s a main lecture every friday. You can learn to read the Quraan in a proper way over there and learn more about Islam. The mosque can pay a big role as an educational place, a place for prayer, and a place to meet your friends while going to pray. The reason of Jama’a ( group) prayer, is that you socialize with your friends and relatives while your there. In the mosque your not supposed to talk loudly or have arguments, and especially during the prayer you can’t talk at all. There are certain aspects that were in the past that changed now, before the mosque acted also like a school, in the mosque the teachings took place. Inside a mosque you feel the peace, harmony and safety, its a place where its calm and you can have complete silence and be able to focus in reading the quraan or learning something. Each mosque has an Imam, he leads the people in the Jama’a (Group) Prayer. The person who gives the lecture on a friday is called a Khateeb. In short words, mosques play a huge role in the lives of muslims, its the place they pray in. A man who prays in the mosque in a jama’a gets more deeds than a man that prays alone in the house. Boys aged 7 & above are expected to attend prayers at the mosque. There are many aspects of a mosque that have to be there, such as ample space & lightning; then there are the mosques that like to have islamic art and calligraphy on them. The art and calligraphy are mostly on the ceilings so the prayers wont be distracted by them.