minaret

A minaret is a tall, slender tower associated with a mosque from which the call to prayer (adhan) is announced. Traditionally a muezzin ascends the minaret to proclaim the call, but in many modern mosques the call is transmitted by loudspeakers. Beyond its religious function, the minaret serves as a visual landmark and symbol of Islamic architecture in many cities.

Architecturally, minarets vary widely but typically consist of a vertical shaft anchored by a base, one or more balconies or galleries from which the call is made, and a crowning cap or finial. The shaft can be cylindrical, polygonal, square, or octagonal and is usually built of stone, brick, or concrete, often decorated with tile, brickwork, or stucco. The height, proportions, and decorative detailing reflect regional styles and historical periods.

Regional styles include: in the Middle East and North Africa, tall, slender towers with conical or onion-shaped crowns; in Iran and Central Asia, brick minarets with elaborated brickwork and fluted shafts; in the Ottoman world, pencil-shaped minarets with multiple balconies; in South Asia, square or polygonal towers sometimes topped with a chhatri; and in Southeast Asia, slender towers with various decorative caps. Notable examples include the Malwiya Minaret at Samarra, the Qutb Minar in Delhi, and the six-minaret configuration of Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca features one of the tallest minarets in the world.

Today minarets remain integral to mosque complexes and function as distinctive elements in urban skylines, while some have been restored after damage and adapted for contemporary use.