The Significant Features in the Prayer Area of a Mosque

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The Significant Features in the Prayer Area of a Mosque

When a Muslim prays, there are many significant features which are

located in the pray area. For example, the dome which is located

normally above the prayer area symbolises the universe which Allah

created and over which he rules. Some mosques may have 4 minarets and

a dome, but the significance of the dome allows the circulation of air

and it also amplifies the human’s voice or chant, normally being the

sermon. Also the circulation of air may help in hot countries as the

worshippers need to concentrate whilst saying their prayers and the

heat may affect them. But the amplification of the human voice due to

the dome helps them to hear the sermon when he speaks and this plays a

major part in why a dome is directly above the prayer area. The

interior of a mosque is also very beautiful as well as the exterior,

as the walls maybe laid with precious materials and the carpets are

beautifully patterned to look like individual prayer mats… However

there are some things which are very common to all prayer areas in

mosques.

The area for prayers is obviously very sacred and therefore plenty of

space is needed as it is a place for prostration. Because this is the

case, there are no chairs in the prayer area and no furniture is

needed apart from minbar.

The minbar is a stand or platform in which the imam delivers his

khutbah, speech or sermon, at Salat-ul-Jumu’ah, Friday Prayers. This

minbar usually has 3 steps and this symbolises the humility before

Allah, and the equality with his fellow Muslims. Sometimes even, there

is a special seat for the imam though. One other aspect which makes

the prayer area and design of the building so immense is the qiblah

wall which contains the mihrab.

The mihrab is a niche, a sort of alcove, which shows that this is the

quiblah wall, the wall indicates the direction of the Ka’bah in Makkah

and the Ka’bah is supposed to be the oldest place of worship in the

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