4A-the masjid

• Masjid (mosque)


  The building used for worship by Muslims, a place of prostration where prayers take place
• Mosques


  • Vary in size
  • Have several functions
• In the UK today, masjids have various religious, social and functions
• With the Hijrah, the move from Makkah to Madinah, the Muslims became free to worship openly and built the first mosques for that purpose, at Quba and Madinah
• Friday prayers (Jummah)


  1. Community gathered together

  2. Hear a sermon (khutbah)

  3. Pray in place of the normal midday prayers on Fridays
• First mosques


  • Place for education of new Muslims
  • Place for peace and reconciliation
  • Place for meeting and strengthening the bonds of brotherhood between members of the community (Ummah) of emigrants from Makkah and residents of Madinah
• Functions of the mosque

  • Collecting and reciting the Qur'an
  • Weddings
  • Funerals
  • Celebrations of Id
  • Overnight facilities for pilgrims along the route to Makkah
• Features of the mosque

  • Minaret tower, for the call to prayer
  • Mimbar for the sermon
  • Onion dome shape for acoustics
• These features may have originated in other cultural traditions and became incorporated into mosque designs
• In the UK today, mosques are also centres for scholars to meet and decide opinions, host interfaith events and open days, teach the young in madrassah schools and some may even have libraries and social facilities
• Types of mosques


  • Large, recognisable purpose-built designs
  • Simple prayer spaces where a congregation (jamaat) can be formed to pray sometimes in a converted house
• Different sects and groups have their own mosques, including traditional Sunni, Shi'a and some reformist-where men and women pray in mixed rows
• "Wherever the hour of prayer overtakes you, you shall perform it. That place is a masjid" - Hadith