Mosque
From Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia written in simple English for easy reading.
A mosque is a place where Muslims worship. It is also where Islam itself is discussed and interpreted. Muslims sit on carpets when they worship, and usually when they talk, so there are no pews, benches or chairs in a mosque.
The word mosque comes from the Arabic word masjid.
A mosque is not a church - it is not itself considered a 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 a smaller mosque in a common destination to serve as a 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 a very important obligation of those who support the mosque is the care and feeding of neighbours who need their help. It is a social group, not just a religious group.
A madrassa is a little different from a 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 them down, but simply put a crucifix in them to make them into churches. This preserved the buildings, which influenced the Renaissance architecture (way of building) in Europe.
[edit] Notable mosques
Notable mosques, for size and Islamic significance include:
- Masjid al-Haram; Mecca, Saudi Arabia (holiest site in Islam)
- Masjid al-Nabawi; 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; Islamabad, Pakistan (largest mosque in the world (sq. footage wise))
- Mezquita; Cordoba, Spain (tenth century Moorish place of worship, now a Roman Catholic cathedral)
- Hagia Sophia; Istanbul, Turkey (Originally a very large church, converted by the Ottomans to a mosque and now a museum)
- Shah Mosque; Isfahan, Iran (major mosque in Iran)
- Jama Masjid; Delhi, India (largest mosque in India)
