MIHRAB


Meaning of MIHRAB in English

n.

Arabic mi 1E25; r 0101; b

Semicircular prayer niche in the qiblah wall (the wall facing Mecca) of a mosque , reserved for the prayer leader ( im 0101; m ).

The mihrab originated in the reign of the Umayyad caliph al-Wal 012B; d I (705–715), when the famous mosques at Medina, Jerusalem, and Damascus were built. It was adapted from the prayer niches common in Coptic Christian monasteries. Mihrabs are usually ornately decorated.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.