Mosque

Mosque, a Mohammedan house of prayer. The word is derived, through the Italian moschea, from the Arabic mesjid, 'a place of prayer.' The form of the oldest mosques is evidently from that of the Christian basilica (see ARABIAN ARCHITECTURE). The original forms became, however, entirely obliterated in the progress of Mohammedan architecture, and the mosques, with their arcaded courts, gateways, domes, and minarets, became the most characteristic edifices of Saracenic art. Wherever the Mohammedan faith prevailed, from Spain to India, beautiful examples of these buildings exist. They vary considerably in style in different countries, the Saracens generally borrowing much from the architecture of the various nations who adopted their faith. In India the mosques have many features in common with the temples of the Jains (see the section on architecture in INDIA, and the illustration at AGRA), while in Turkey they resemble the Byzantine architecture of Constantinople. Everywhere the dome is one of the leading and most beautiful features of the mosques, which commonly consist of porticoes surrounding an open square, in the centre of which is a tank or fountain for ablution. Arabesques and sentences of the Koran inscribed upon the walls, which are generally whitewashed, and never bear any device representing a living thing, are the only ornaments of the interior. The floor is generally covered with mats or carpets; there are no seats. In the south-east is a kind of pulpit (minbar) for the imām; and in the direction in which Mecca lies (the Kibleh), there is a niche (mihrab) towards which the faithful are required to look when they pray. Opposite the pulpit there is generally a platform (dikkeh), surrounded by a parapet, with a desk bearing the Koran, from which portions are read to the congregation. The five daily prayers, which are generally said at home on week-days, are said in the mosque by the whole congregation on Fridays and certain other days, together with some additional prayers, and at times a sermon is superadded to the service. It is not customary for women to visit the mosques, and if they do, they are separated from the male worshippers. On entering the mosque, the Moslem takes off his shoes, performs the necessary ablutions, and finishes by putting his shoes and any arms he may have with him upon the matting before him. The chief officer of a mosque is the nazir, under whom are two imāms, a kind of religious official, in no way to be compared with what we understand by a clergyman of a creed, but who performs a certain number of religious rites, and, being very badly remunerated, generally has to find some other occupation besides. There are further many persons attached to a mosque in a lower capacity, as Muezzins (q.v.), door-keepers, &c., all of whom are paid from the funds of the mosque itself—generally derived from lands. With many of the larger mosques there are schools, academies (medressehs), and hospitals connected, and public kitchens, in which food is prepared for the poor.