mosquée

A mosque, or masjid in Arabic, is a Muslim place of worship. Beyond prayer, mosques commonly serve as community centers for education, charitable activities, and social gatherings. The term mosque in English derives from the French mosquée, which in turn comes from the Arabic masjid, meaning place of prostration.

Architecture and layout vary widely by region and period, but most mosques share certain elements. The mihrab, a niche in the wall, indicates the qibla—the direction of Mecca. The minbar is a raised pulpit for the imam's sermons, especially during Friday prayers. The prayer hall accommodates worshipers facing the qibla. Many mosques include a dome, a minaret or several, and spaces for ablutions (wudu) outside the prayer hall. Decorations often feature calligraphy and geometric patterns rather than figurative imagery.

Functions: The five daily prayers, Friday Jumu'ah prayers, and nightly prayers during Ramadan are central. Mosques also host classes, libraries, weddings, funerals, charity distributions, and community councils. They may be open to visitors of all faiths in many countries, with guidelines on dress and conduct.

History and distribution: The first mosques appeared in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century and evolved into elaborate centers of Islamic life throughout the Muslim world. Today mosques exist in nearly every country and range from simple neighborhood prayer rooms to monumental edifices such as large urban complexes.

Names: Masjid is the original Arabic term; mosque is the historical English form. In practice, many communities use the Arabic word masjid in daily speech, while others use the term mosque.