Mosque Architecture: Key Features and Historical Significance
Mosques serve as places of prayer for individuals or collectives, particularly on Fridays. Within a mosque, there is no divinity or images of the Imam; it is solely a place of worship. Despite this, mosques are often linked to teaching, with madrassas or theological schools typically located in the yard. They also function as places of asylum and refuge.
A mosque generally comprises two main parts: the courtyard, known as the Sahn, and the prayer hall, or Haram. The courtyard is the space preceding the entrance to the mosque, acting as a transition between the bustle of the street and the sanctity of the prayer hall. Courtyards are commonly surrounded on three sides by arcaded galleries called Riuaqs, always leaving the facade of the mosque open. In the center of the courtyard, one or more sources of water, called Sabeel, are usually found. Occasionally, a structure known as the Bayt al-Mal, or House of the Treasury, might be present. The only remaining example from the Umayyad period is in Damascus. This construction, placed on columns, housed the mosque’s treasure, which consisted of charity and war spoils. Initially, the Bayt al-Mal had an octagonal shape supported by columns, but due to numerous robberies, its use was reconsidered.
The Friday Mosque is the largest and is funded by the central authority, whereas neighborhood mosques are smaller and funded by local residents.
Other important elements include:
The Wall of Quibla: This wall indicates the direction of Mecca.The Mihrab: Located in the center, this is a niche or recess that concentrates the decoration. Initially portable, it could be made of painted wood, carved stone, or marble. Over time, it evolved into a more substantial architectural feature, taking on various shapes like octagonal, semicircular, or polygonal, and becoming highly decorated.Scerrato suggests that the origin of the Mihrab’s apses may derive from Christian or Jewish Torah niches (as seen in Dura Europos, Syria, where the ark of the holy scriptures was placed). Papadopaulo proposes another hypothesis: the Mihrab resembles the place where Muhammad preached to the faithful at his home in Medina. This is seen as an equivalence to the vacant throne of Christ awaiting his second coming, and the absence of Muhammad as the first Imam. Others believe it evokes the item Muhammad used to guide prayer, the musalld, where he gathered his faithful, and large gatherings took place just outside the walls.
Regarding the function of the Mihrab, there are different theories:
The theory that it orients the prayer is incorrect, as the Quibla wall also provides orientation and is not visible from all parts of the mosque.The theory that it is a centralizing element marking the center of the Quibla wall is also incorrect, as some mosques have more than one Mihrab.The theory that it is an element associated with real power, where the Caliph and his family resided, is not accurate because Mihrabs are found in mosques where Caliphs did not reside.The theory by Papadopaulo, suggesting it symbolically represents the presence or absence of the prophet, is a plausible interpretation.Stierlin believes it has a transcendental meaning, representing the boundary between the past and the present, or between the Muslim world and the world of Allah.
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