Islamic Prayer Niche

 

Mimar Sinan, Courtyard, Süleymaniye Mosque, İstanbul, 1558

The mosque is a quintessential part of any religious Islamic community, containing corners and placemats for prayer. Known as Masjid in Arabic, mosques are considered places of prostration where every Muslim can go, every day, to repeat their five daily prayers. It's also the place that Muslim men go for their required Friday noon prayers and gatherings. These Friday specific prayers are mainly referred to as  "Jami Masjid" or meaning quite literally "Friday Mosque". Sometimes it is even referred to as "Congregational Mosques". Looking at the artworks and styles of the structures in Islamic culture really tells us a lot about Islam in general. Looking at the style of Mosques being used for years was the same as what is considered the very first Mosque built and doubling as a home for the Prophet Muhammad. The building style is known as hypostyle which means "many columns". This style was used for hundreds of years after because of its reliable structure and beautiful design. The style and structure layout of Muslim Mosques tend to slightly differ from region to region, whether it be for traditional purposes or even from the time it was built. The places Mosques were made are integral to the design as well, whether they follow the many column designs or going with a different traditional building structure.

Mihrab prayer niche, A.D. 1354-55, Iran, Mosaic tiles on stone paste and mortar

 The thing that makes all of these Mosque structures similar is that all of the mosques have a few core components to them that make them Mosques. These components include courtyards, which were incorporated for holding the entire population of men, and even sometimes women if they want, on Fridays for prayer. Towers are also featured both functionally as well as serving as a great reminder that Islam still exists! The Mosque’s Dome serves as a symbolism of the vault to heaven. Another component, and the one that I found most fascinating, is a Niche, like the one seen above. The niche is considered the most important part of any Islamic religious structure. In Islam, they use these niches for their prayers because they're always built to face in the direction of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, which is their holy city. These niches tell them which way to face, toward the Mecca, while praying. They also travel to Mecca on pilgrimages. Not only were Mosques built with a Niche, but also Islamic schools. This particular Niche is made up of mosaic tiles on a stone paste body and is set into mortar. The flowers and vines inlay into this niche to represent heaven. In Islamic culture, heaven is pictured as a lovely garden. The text written on the outer border of the niche is from the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, while the writing on the inner frame is a list of the Five Pillars of Islam.



    2020. Metmuseum.Org. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/449537.

    2020. Metmuseum.Org. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/metkids/explore/449537/Islamic-Mihrab-Prayer-Niche?fbclid=IwAR3jFH29vr2jCGvFedkh5CrGJU52ySFff4V-cK8XLqbIjodSPy2d4H_aITA.

    Weisbin, Kendra. 2020. "Introduction To Mosque Architecture – Smarthistory". Smarthistory.Org. https://smarthistory.org/introduction-to-mosque-architecture/?fbclid=IwAR3VxbMNl6C3sIEn_e6jOm7dUFwDtaho5LpP1aRGpAf9XYAfuwdtjV78ms4.











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