Of Mosques and Minarets
The fundamental ideals of Islam could be viewed as ideal for Canadian society, as human rights can bring religions together with a focus on the right to life and the freedom of religion. Other rights relating to family, property and justice are all included in Islamic ideals.
Followers of the Islamic faith have as their place of worship, the mosque. In the year 622 A.D., the Prophet Muhammad fled from Mecca to the City of Medina where his house was used as a place for prayer. This house became the first mosque and place of worship.
In 629 Muhammad returned to Mecca, the city of his birth. There we find the Great Mosque which is the focus of Muslim worship. All other mosques are constructed along a line that is projected or leading to Mecca. A wall of the mosque is constructed perpendicular to the line. It is called the Qibla wall and parallel to this wall are rows along which the faithful kneel to pray, all facing Mecca.
Five times a day over one billion Muslims around the world face Mecca in their prayers to Allah. On Fridays, it is compulsory for all male Muslims to go to the mosque for prayer.
There are many beautiful mosques around the world that reflect the architectural genius of both non-Muslim and Muslim architects. Today we find with the rapid expansion in the number of followers of the Islamic faith and the oil-wealth from Islamic nations, more mosques are being built using designs coming from contemporary Muslim architects. In fact there are awards for mosque designs coming from the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Although minarets were not part of the architecture of the earlier mosques, they came into use about 100 years after the first mosques were built. The minarets served as an excellent way to project the voice of the person calling the worshippers to prayer. In addition, the minarets served as structures of beauty, as embellishments to the mosques and because of their heights could be seen for many miles.
Followers of the Islamic faith have as their place of worship, the mosque. In the year 622 A.D., the Prophet Muhammad fled from Mecca to the City of Medina where his house was used as a place for prayer. This house became the first mosque and place of worship.
In 629 Muhammad returned to Mecca, the city of his birth. There we find the Great Mosque which is the focus of Muslim worship. All other mosques are constructed along a line that is projected or leading to Mecca. A wall of the mosque is constructed perpendicular to the line. It is called the Qibla wall and parallel to this wall are rows along which the faithful kneel to pray, all facing Mecca.
Five times a day over one billion Muslims around the world face Mecca in their prayers to Allah. On Fridays, it is compulsory for all male Muslims to go to the mosque for prayer.
There are many beautiful mosques around the world that reflect the architectural genius of both non-Muslim and Muslim architects. Today we find with the rapid expansion in the number of followers of the Islamic faith and the oil-wealth from Islamic nations, more mosques are being built using designs coming from contemporary Muslim architects. In fact there are awards for mosque designs coming from the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Although minarets were not part of the architecture of the earlier mosques, they came into use about 100 years after the first mosques were built. The minarets served as an excellent way to project the voice of the person calling the worshippers to prayer. In addition, the minarets served as structures of beauty, as embellishments to the mosques and because of their heights could be seen for many miles.
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