The Mosque And Muslim Society Mosque design reflects

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 Sofia Istanbul

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

Minaret Call to prayer 5 times a day India 1550 Egypt 870 China

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

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 when praying

Minbar Pulpit for Friday Sermon Community comes together to listen, meet and discuss Kossovo

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

Mihrab Minbar Sultan Hasan Mosque, Cairo

Sabil--Fountain Charity, 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

God is visible in Nature Geometry The Words of the Qur’an Nature Carved wood panel from Egypt, 1200

Islamic decorative elements fall into three categories: • Geometric designs • Floral/Natural designs • Calligraphic inscriptions

Calligraphy of a verse From 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 7 th – 16 th 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”