The Minaret is a tower built next to or into the structure of a mosque. It’s used by the muezzin to call out Adhan (Ezan) for people to come to prayers.
The earliest mosques were built without minarets and the action of Adhan could be performed in many other locations. The Hadiths tell us that the Muslim community of Madina called out to prayers from the roof of Muhammad’s house, which was also used as a house for prayers. After around 80 years of post-Muhammadan period the first minarets appear in Kairouan – Tunisia and Damascus – Syria. It is a good reason to believe that the Great Mosque of Damascus built in 705 was inspired by the churches of the city, yet the Muslim minaret served its own functions continuing the old traditions from the house of Muhammad.
Minarets are now very much symbols of Islam but not theologically heavy symbols. Minarets are often adorned, high and striving to be as slim and elegant as possible. Modern minarets are often giving even more room for artistic achievements than in earlier times. The ground floor of minarets are always fitted into a square, with the minaret being everything from square to round, or even octagonal. The top ends where the muezzin either is or where the loudspeakers are, covered with a pointed roof.
Mihrab
Mihrab is a niche in a mosque indicating the Qibla (kible), the direction in which a Muslim shall perform the Salat. The mihrab is the position of the person leading the congregation in prayer and is by most considered the most holy place in the mosque, even if a mihrab is never dedicated to God but frequently to religious personalities. A mosque will normally have only one mihrab, with some exceptions such as the mosque in Siirt which has three of them.
The mihrab is by both Muslim and Western scholars considered as an element taken from churches, an element added to the mosque of architectural reasons. The mihrab was probably introduced in the 3rd century of Islam, which is the 9th century AD. Mihrabs can be of wood but is normally made out of masonry and adorned with pillars. Usually Mihrabs are highly ornamented.
