Importance of the mosque in Islam

The word mosque derives from the Arabic masyid, which means “a place to kneel or be prostrate“, perfectly reflecting the attitude of the Muslim in prayer—”submission”, which is the translation of the word Islam—to Allah. The building defined by this term is not only the temple where Muslims have gathered throughout history to pray to their God, but has also become a symbol of Islam as a religion and civilization. Thus, to understand the historical past of Islam, mosques represent one of the most important and spectacular material remains.

The word mosque means “a place to kneel or be prostrate”

Origin and architectural model of mosques

Islamic mosques have their closest origin in the basilicas of the Eastern Mediterranean, to which they bear many similarities, such as their layout—often basilical—with an odd number of aisles oriented toward the qibla wall. These aisles were typically separated by semicircular and/or horseshoe arches.

Main elements of a mosque

The main elements of any mosque, as seen in the Great Mosque of Córdoba, are the following.

The prayer hall and the courtyard

The prayer hall (haram) is the covered space where the faithful gather during prayer, connected to an open courtyard (sahn) that is often surrounded on three sides by arcades (riuaq), with the fourth side providing access to the prayer hall. For the faithful to perform the required ritual ablutions before prayer, every mosque included a pool or basin, with or without fountains, usually located in the center of the courtyard and large enough to allow multiple people to use it at once.

The minaret and sacred orientation

The minaret is a square or circular tower, usually located at the north end of the ablution courtyard, from which the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer (adhan) five times a day.

Every mosque’s prayer hall must have a wall oriented toward Mecca (Qibla), at the center of which is the mihrab, a niche that is the focal point of every mosque and contains its richest and most elaborate decoration. Unlike a church altar, the mihrab is not a sacred space, but it indicates the direction of prayer, which is sacred. It is typically semicircular and opens to the qibla wall through a semicircular or horseshoe arch, and is often preceded by a dome.

The minbar

The minbar, or pulpit, always located to the right of the mihrab, consists of a wooden structure of varying height accessed by stairs leading to a small platform topped with a dome or cover. From the top, the Imam leads the prayer (khutbah). It is a common element in all large mosques, but absent in small rural or neighborhood mosques due to their limited size making it unnecessary.

The maqsura

The maqsura originally served as a separate area to protect the life of the Imam, who, in the early centuries of Islam, was often the Caliph or governor and frequently at risk of assassination. It consisted of a raised platform with protective wooden screens, and later developed into architectural features that highlight the central nave—generally wider than the side aisles—of the entire mosque.

Archaeological identification of a mosque

From an archaeological perspective, a mosque is primarily identifiable by its orientation toward Mecca, the holy city of Islam. Other recognizable features include the arcaded galleries of the prayer hall, whose arcades often have continuous foundations; the mihrab niche, with its semicircular or horseshoe shape; the square foundation of the minaret; the pillars marking the location of the maqsura, etc.

The main elements of a mosque

The main elements of a mosque are: the prayer hall, the minaret, the minbar, the maqsura, and the mihrab.

Transformation of mosques after the Reconquista

Following the Christian Reconquest of Al-Andalus—the area of the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim rule—many mosques were repurposed as churches by the Christians. It was common to preserve the aisles and interior layout of the temple, although its orientation was often changed. There are numerous examples of this transformation in Spain, such as in Seville or Toledo, though here we focus on the Great Mosque or main mosque of Córdoba.

Visiting the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba

If you would like to visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, don’t hesitate to book one of our guided tours. We are experts in the interpretation of Córdoba’s historical heritage. If you’ve chosen to do tourism in Córdoba, choose a quality option—choose ArtenCórdoba.

Text: Jesús Pijuán.