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Islamic public place of prayer.
The masjid jāmiʽ , or "congregational mosque," is the centre of community worship and the site of Friday prayer services. Though the mosque
originally a sacred plot of ground
has been influenced by local architectural styles, the building has remained essentially an open space, usually roofed, with a minaret sometimes attached. Statues and pictures are not permitted as decoration. The minbar , a seat at the top of steps placed at the right of the mihrab , is used by the preacher ( khaṭīb ) as a pulpit. Occasionally there is also a maqṣūrah , a box or wooden screen originally used to shield a worshiping ruler from assassins. The minaret, originally any elevated place but now usually a tower, is used by the muezzin (crier) to proclaim the call to worship five times each day. During prayer, Muslims orient themselves toward the qiblah wall, which is invariably oriented toward the
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[c mediumvioletred] (as used in expressions)
Mosque of Omar
Great Mosque of Esfahan
Ibn tulun Mosque
{{link=Prophet's Mosque">Prophet's Mosque