The Mosque

And

Muslim Society

Mosque design reflects local culture

Some mosques from around the world:

‘Umayyid Mosque, Damascus, Syria

Masjid e-Jami, Isfahan, Iran

Friday Mosque, Herat, Afghanistan

Tua Ternate, Indonesia

Hagia SofiaIstanbul

Hagia Sofia, Interior

Ottomans built a mosque on each hill of Istanbul

Djenne, Mali

Yamma Mosque, Mali

Great Mosque, Xian, China

Bhong Mosque, Indonesia, 1932

The Grand Mosque at Mecca

Ka’aba

Pilgrims walking around the Ka’aba

Seven Elements of the Mosque

What are the seven elements?

Dome

Minaret

Mihrab

Minbar

Sabil

Courtyard

Design and Decoration

Egypt 870

India 1550

China

MinaretCall to prayer 5 times a day

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Dome

Symbolizes the Sky and Heavens:The Universe

Interior of Dome from Al-Mesquita,the Great Mosque of Cordoba

Mihrab

• Niche

• On Wall Facing Mecca

• Symbolizing a doorway into heaven

• Muslims face it whenpraying

Minbar

Pulpit for Friday Sermon

Community comes together to listen, meet and discuss

Kossovo

Wooden minbar, complex of al-Ashraf Barsbay, 1423.Mamluk, Cairo

Sultan Hasan Mosque, Cairo

Mihrab Minbar

Sabil--FountainCharity, compassion, purity

Schools were often built on the floor above the sabil

Courtyard

Community

Social Gathering

Trade

Sultan Hasan built a mosque complex, including a school, a sabil, and a tomb. Why do you think he would do this?

Aerial View of the Complex

Do you see the courtyard?

Why do you think the building is “crooked?”

Islamic Design and Decoration

There are no images of human beings in mosques

Only God can create human beings

NatureCarved wood panel from Egypt, 1200

God is visible in

Nature

Geometry

The Words of the Qur’an

Islamic decorative elements fall into three categories:

• Geometric designs

• Floral/Natural designs

• Calligraphic inscriptions

Calligraphy of a verseFrom the Qur’an

Geometric design

More calligraphy “In the name of God”

Complex of Mamluk Sultan Qalawun, 1284 – 1285,

Cairo

Detail of Calligraphy

There is only one word used in this pattern: “Allah”

Mosque of Hazrat Ali, Afghanistan

7th – 16th centuries

Writing itself became an ornate art form

All of the geometric tile patterns were made from circles.

The Seven Elements of a Mosque

Minaret: prayer and community

Dome: Religion is universal – all are welcome

Mihrab: Community Prayer

Minbar: Community gathers to learn and talk

Courtyard: Social gathering place

Sabil: Charity and compassion Cleanliness before God

Decoration: Glorify God through nature, perfect geometry, and words.

Geometric designs from circles – “Islamic graph paper”