Mosque
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The word "mosque" comes from the Arabic masjid, which means a place of prostration or prayer. But it would be a mistake to think of mosques as merely religious; since the first mosque was built by the Prophet Muhammad (c. 570-623) in 622 CE, they have served as the center of Muslim communities across the globe. The first mosque was in fact the center of the first Muslim community. The Koran describes two types of mosques: one a hub of government and social activity, and the other a sacred place. Often, mosques combine elements of both. A typical mosque today has facilities for the ritual cleansing each Muslim must perform before daily prayers, a consecrated place for prayer, a minbar for the imam (spiritual leader of the community) to conduct services, and a qibla wall, that is oriented toward Mecca, the historical birthplace of Muhammad. The qibla wall is differentiated from others by a niche or arch called the mihrab. The mosque still serves as the socioreligious center of Muslim communities. In addition to acting as the location for daily prayers, mosques have acted as libraries and schools, centers of law and politics, places for commerce, news, and proclamations; have served as distribution centers offering financial and other aid to the poor, and have been the center of political debate. Mosques are sometimes sanctioned by the government (early mosques were built next to the caliph's residence), but just as often they serve as centers of political opposition.
While the two main activities in the mosque: are daily prayers and the Friday sermon, it is not necessary to have a physical mosque in order to pray. The Prophet said that the whole world is a mosque, and Muslims can pray anywhere, as long as they face Mecca. The mosque is as much a set of rituals as a physical incarnation. The sahn has many uses in addition to prayer and is often used for education or as a meeting room. Thus, through architecture and social practice, the mosque becomes the nexus for activities that weave together the lives of Muslims living across the globe.
