Beautiful Mosques

A mosque is a place where Muslims worship. The word mosque comes from the Arabic word masjid. A larger, collective, mosque is called a masjid jami. Larger mosques offer more services to their community.

For many Muslim people, a mosque is more than a place of worship. Muslims worship, study and discuss Islam, and do many other things in a mosque and its compounds. In the United Kingdom, many mosques are used as community centres. They are also used to teach about Islam. Religious festivals and gatherings are held in mosques. Weddings are one example. Mosques have rules to control what people do inside. One of these rules is that it is considered rude to disturb another person who is worshipping.

Although prayers can be done privately, either indoors or outdoors, nearly every community of Muslims dedicates a space or building for congregational prayer. The main architectural components of a mosque are practical in purpose and provide both continuity and a sense of tradition among Muslims worldwide.

Building materials and design depend on the culture, heritage,and resources of each local Muslim community. Yet, there are some features that nearly all mosques have in common.