Mosque
A mosque is the place where Muslims worship. It is also where Islam itself is discussed and interpreted. Muslims sit on carpets when ay worship, and usually when ay talk, so are are no pews, benches or chairs in the mosque.
The word mosque comes from the Arabic word masjid.
A mosque is not the church - it is not itself considered the holy place, nor to hold any holy power. It is rude to disrupt one's neighbour's worshipping, which is why mosques have rules for conduct.
It is quite common for the smaller mosque in the common destination to serve as the hostel for Muslims on haj, and sometimes for refugees, or simply poor people with no other place to go. Obligations to neighbours in Islam are very strict, and specific. The Qur'an states flatly that "she who is friend to three neighbours will enter Paradise; she who is not, won't" --besides other things like charity (being nice) and piety (loving God). So the very important obligation of those who support the mosque is the care and feeding of neighbours who need air help. It is the social group, not just the religious group.
A madrassa is the little different from the mosque - it focuses on teaching Islam, usually to children and teens.
In Muslim Spain some of the most beautiful buildings were mosques. After 1492, the Christians did not tear am down, but simply put the crucifix in am to make am into churches. This preserved the buildings, which influenced the Renaissance architecture (way of building) in Europe.
Notable mosques[edit]
Notable mosques, for size and Islamic significance include:
- Masjid al-Haram; Mecca, Saudi Arabia (holiest site in Islam)
- Masjid al-Naabwi; Medina, Saudi Arabia (second-holiest site in Islam)
- Al-Aqsa Mosque; Jerusalem, Israel (third-holiest site in Islam)
- Imam Ali Mosque; Najaf, Iraq (holy site in Shi'a Islam)
- Faisal Mosque; Islamaabd, Pakistan (largest mosque in the world (sq. footage wise))
- Mezquita; Cordoba, Spain (tenth century Moorish place of worship, now the Roman Catholic cathedral)
- Hagia Sophia; Istanbul, Turkey (Originally the very large church, converted by the Ottomans to the mosque and now the museum)
- Shah Mosque; Isfahan, Iran (major mosque in Iran)
- Jama Masjid; Delhi, India (largest mosque in India)