Muslim Worship

The Mosque

Muslims worship in a building called a mosque. An alternative word for mosque, from the same root, is masjid. Outside every mosque, or just inside the entrance, is a place where worshippers can remove and leave their shoes. There is also a place where they can carry out the ritual washing required before prayer.

The main hall of a mosque is a bare room largely devoid of furniture. There are no pictures or statues. Muslims believe these are blasphemous, since there can be no image of Allah, who is wholly spirit. Everyone sits on the floor and everywhere in the mosque is equal in status. A niche in one of the walls, called a mihrab, shows the direction that the worshippers should face in order to face Mecca.

Many mosques have a minaret which is a tall thin tower. A muezzin stands at the top of the tower and calls Muslims to prayer at the five ritual times of the day. Not all mosques in the UK have a minaret.

Women can attend the mosque and when they do they sit separately from the men. This is out of modesty and to prevent any distraction. It is more usual for women to pray at home.

Prayer

Ritual prayer, five times a day, is the essence of Muslim worship, whether done in the mosque or anywhere else. Before praying Muslims must follow a routine of prayer preparation. During worship there is a set of movements that are performed with the five daily prayers.

Before the midday prayers on Fridays the mosque’s imam will give a talk on a relevant subject, based on a Qur’anic text or a story about the Prophet (pbuh). An imam is not a priest, but a learned and pious Muslim who is held in high respect by his community.