History, Architecture, and Significance of Islamic Mosques Essay

The Muslim mosque is a simple sacred place of idolize equivalent to the new(prenominal) religions places of latria desire the Catholic church. It is also considered as Allahs home on earth, which explains wherefore it is such a sacred place. Like its counterparts, the architectural invent of Islamic mosques is greatly signifi enduret to the practices of Islamic religion. The mosque has also become hotshot of the Islamic worlds nigh revered symbols. History of Islamic Mosques The Mosques appe atomic number 18d around the Arabian Peninsula when the Islamic religion had been established.The first mosques were not like the adepts that people can clear today. These were just simple open-air spaces wherein Muslims can worship Allah. Over the course of a thousand years or so, it gradually evolved to the familiar places of worship that people may often see today. As the Islamic religion progressed and expanded, so did the mosques. The Islamic armies which expanded into other territ ories also brought the mosques with them hence the mosque appe ard in incompatible parts of the Arabian Peninsula, northerly Africa, Eurasia, and about parts of India.Trade also brought these mosques in these parts of the world, including some islands from South East Asia. The Design of Mosques The Architecture of Mosques has been greatly influenced by the different Arabic states which expand their territories (e. g. Ottomans, Persians). They brought their cultural architectural designs with them upon conquering an area. This explains why a lot of old mosquesthe sensations that lasted throughout the Ancient and Middle Ages transmute in design, both interior and exterior.Even so, the general structure of mosques does not vary since every, if not most, mosque possess these important parts Minaret (tall slender towers), Domes, Prayer Hall, and Ablution Facilities. temporary mosques are exempted from this. The interior of the mosques would vary in design but most would loosely pos sess the following Iwan, Sahn, Gardens, Arabesque, and Calligraphy. The Importance of the Mosques Mosques are generally places of worship for the Islamic people, making them sacred. The violation of its sanctity would often result to agile executiona punishment fit for a grave crime.The mosque generally represents the house of Allah, their God, on earth Mosques are the houses of Allah and those believers who enter therein are the guests of Allah (Al Islam website, line 3). This shows how integral the mosque is for the Muslims. Since this is the house of Allah, it should be properly maintained and revered. This explains why Muslims would take off their shoes and wash their feet before entering the mosque. Those who are non-Muslims, especially pagans, cannot enter this sacred place simply because they follow a different set of beliefs.The mosque also has different functions besides serving as places of worship and prayer. One of these is various Ramadan events such as iftar dinners, in the evenings or after sunset. They would also invite the less fortunate members of the Muslim club in order to share their blessings with them. Symbol of the Islamic World The mosque has been one of Islams greatest symbols. An Islam town or city, in the middle ages, or a community, in the contemporary period, can be immediately identify by the sight of Islamic mosquessince they follow the same morphologic plan.Since the mosques are regarded as Allahs houses, they symbolize the core of Islam hence making them one of the most well-known symbols of the Islamic world. The religions long account statement has asserted this fact even further since most non-Muslims have determine these places in different mediums like history books, novels, and films. As the course of duration would take its toll on the architectural design of the mosque, the traditional structural scheme, which entails the mosque in possessing the four most important parts or structures, ashes the same.References Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. (1995). The Holy Prophet on the importance of mosques. Retrieved edge 30, 2009. Islam. com Inc. (2000). Mosques & its significance. Retrieved meet 30, 2009. World History Project. (2002). The Mosque as a Symbol of Islamic Civilization. Retrieved March 30, 2009.