A mihrab is an ornamental indentation in the wall of a mosque that marks the qiblah, the direction to which Muslims turn in prayer. Mihrabs vary in size and color but are usually shaped like a doorway and decorated with tiles and calligraphy. In addition to marking the qiblah, the mihrab traditionally helped to amplify the voice of the Imam during congregational prayer, although microphones now serve that purpose. The mihrab, also known as a prayer niche, is a common element of Islamic mosque architecture throughout the world.
A mosque (masjid in Arabic) is a place of worship in Islam. Although prayers can be said 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.
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There is a great deal of variation among mosques around the world. Building materials and design depend on the culture, heritage, and resources of each local Muslim community. However, there are a number of features that nearly all mosques have in common.
A minaret is a slim tower with balconies or open galleries from which a mosque's muezzin calls the faithful to prayer five times each day. Minarets are distinctive traditional features of many mosques, though they vary in height, style, and number. Minarets may be square, round, hexagonal, octagonal, or even spiral and they are usually covered with a pointed roof. Many mosques are decorated with a dome rooftop, particularly in the Middle East. In some traditions, the dome symbolizes the vault of heaven. The interior of a dome is usually highly decorated with floral, geometric and other patterns.
Inside, the central area for prayer is called a musalla (literally, "place for prayer"). It is deliberately left quite bare. No furniture is needed, as worshippers sit, kneel, and bow directly on the floor. There may be a few chairs or benches to assist elderly or disabled worshippers who have difficulty with mobility. The mihrab is an ornamental, semi-circular indentation in the wall of the prayer room of a mosque that marks the direction of the qiblah—the direction facing Mecca which Muslims face during prayer. Mihrabs vary in size and color, but they are usually shaped like a doorway and decorated with mosaic tiles and calligraphy to make space stand out.
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