DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4669#0090
MOSQUE—GAM! 67
and for days, and years." * Mahometans attend the
mosque daily at the hours of prayer ; but the practice
is by no means universal. On Friday the attendance
at the mosque is quite as general as that of Christians
throughout the world at their ordinary place of
worship upon the Lord's Day.
A certain amount of freedom is allowed in the
practice of their devotions. For instance, where
water is not available, the performance of the ablution
with sand in the desert, or with imaginary water in
the case of an invalid, is considered sufficiently exact.
Very little variation occurs in the general internal
arrangement and construction of mosques ; each one
possesses a Mehrab, or Kibleh, for indicating the
position of the east ; a Mimbar or pulpit; and a
Dikkeh, or lectern, from which the Koran is read to
the congregation: this is often a kind of platform
raised on pillars, and is occasionally of very con-
siderable size. No other object is to be seen within
the walls unless it be the Hanafieh, which is placed
within the mosque when no external court exists.
Very beautiful lamps of remarkable shapes and
ostrich eggs are often suspended from the roof. The
mosque is neither a temple nor a church. The
Mahometan has no sacrifice to offer, and no sacra-
ment to receive. His place of worship therefore
resembles more closely a Jewish synagogue than a
Christian church. It is a place of prayer, meditation,
and the reading of the Hoi)- Book. Two names are
given by the Arabs to their places of worship,
Mosque and Garni. Mosque is derived from a word
signifying "to bow down," and implies the various
attitudes assumed by the true believer during the
• Gen. i. 14.
and for days, and years." * Mahometans attend the
mosque daily at the hours of prayer ; but the practice
is by no means universal. On Friday the attendance
at the mosque is quite as general as that of Christians
throughout the world at their ordinary place of
worship upon the Lord's Day.
A certain amount of freedom is allowed in the
practice of their devotions. For instance, where
water is not available, the performance of the ablution
with sand in the desert, or with imaginary water in
the case of an invalid, is considered sufficiently exact.
Very little variation occurs in the general internal
arrangement and construction of mosques ; each one
possesses a Mehrab, or Kibleh, for indicating the
position of the east ; a Mimbar or pulpit; and a
Dikkeh, or lectern, from which the Koran is read to
the congregation: this is often a kind of platform
raised on pillars, and is occasionally of very con-
siderable size. No other object is to be seen within
the walls unless it be the Hanafieh, which is placed
within the mosque when no external court exists.
Very beautiful lamps of remarkable shapes and
ostrich eggs are often suspended from the roof. The
mosque is neither a temple nor a church. The
Mahometan has no sacrifice to offer, and no sacra-
ment to receive. His place of worship therefore
resembles more closely a Jewish synagogue than a
Christian church. It is a place of prayer, meditation,
and the reading of the Hoi)- Book. Two names are
given by the Arabs to their places of worship,
Mosque and Garni. Mosque is derived from a word
signifying "to bow down," and implies the various
attitudes assumed by the true believer during the
• Gen. i. 14.