The mosque and its parts
Islamic Studies · Key Stage 1 · The School
A special building
A mosque is called a masjid. It is a place for prayer. It is also a place to meet. Muslims go there to pray. They go five times a day. Many mosques run classes too. Friends often meet there after prayer.
The mihrab shows the way
Inside, there is a curved space. It sits in one wall. This is the mihrab. It shows the way to Makkah. Everyone faces this way to pray. The mihrab is often decorated well. Its shape helps carry the imam's voice.
The minbar and the minaret
The minbar is a small set of steps. It looks like a tiny staircase. The imam stands on it. He gives a talk from there. This often happens on Fridays. The minaret is a tall tower. It stands outside the mosque. Long ago, someone called from it. They called people to pray.
What happens inside
People take off their shoes first. They leave them by the door. They stand in straight rows. They stand shoulder to shoulder. They pray together. They follow the imam. Afterwards, people often stay. They talk and have tea. Children sometimes play quietly nearby.
One Friday at the mosque
Imagine a boy called Amir. One Friday, he goes to a mosque with his dad. Outside, Amir looks up at the minaret. It is a tower. The call to prayer can go out from up there. Not every mosque has a minaret, but this one does. At the door, Amir takes off his shoes. Mosques keep the prayer hall clean, so shoes are not worn on its carpet. Then he walks in. This is the room where people pray. He finds the mihrab, a space set into the wall. It shows the way to Makkah, so Amir faces that way. Next to it is the minbar. It is a set of steps. The imam stands on them to give the Friday talk. The talk comes first. Then Amir stands in a row with the others. They follow the imam in prayer. Now Amir has seen four parts. He knows the job of each one.