2007-01-16 01:31:28 · 6 answers · asked by jorge 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. Muslims often refer to the mosque by its Arabic name, masjid (pl. masajid) (Arabic: مسجد — pronounced: /ˈmas.ʤid/ or /ˈmas.ˈɡʲid/). The word "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship, although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller, privately owned mosque and the larger, "collective" mosque (masjid jami) (Arabic: جامع), which has more community and social amenities.
The primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place where Muslims can come together for prayer. Nevertheless, mosques are known around the world nowadays for their general importance to the Muslim community as well as their demonstration of Islamic architecture. They have developed significantly from the open-air spaces that were the Quba Mosque and Masjid al-Nabawi in the seventh century. Today, most mosques have elaborate domes, minarets, and prayer halls. Mosques originated on the Arabian Peninsula, but now exist on all the world's inhabited continents. They are not only places for worship and prayer, but also places to learn about Islam and meet fellow believers.
2007-01-16 01:38:53 · answer #1 · answered by sixpac304 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Simply put, a mosque (or masjid)is a place of worhip. It is a place to go and pray, but it is also a place to learn about Islam and meet fellow Muslims. It can be compared to the role a church plays in any Christian community.
2007-01-16 09:37:56 · answer #2 · answered by meggush 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since this question is in "language", I will answer it linguistically.
Mosque is the French realization of the word "masjid" in Arabic. The root s-j-d in arabic means 'to kneel, or to prostrate'. When you add an "m" at the beginning of a root with the pattern maXXiX (X's being the letters of the 3-letter root) it means "a place where XXX is done".
Thus, "masjid" or "mosque" means "a place where you kneel or prostrate".
It is a place you pray. If I put my prayer rug on the floor in my dining room, that area I sit and bow down on is a masjid. There are masjids in Arabia that are merely outlines of stones to pray inside. Sure, very elaborate buildings are also mosques, but what makes them a mosque is the fact that people kneel and bow to God in them.
2007-01-16 11:16:40 · answer #3 · answered by ShaykhDawud 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A mosque is basically a church for the muslim religion.
2007-01-16 09:38:05 · answer #4 · answered by Hatchet Man 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its our place of worship.
2007-01-16 15:53:05 · answer #5 · answered by ♦Bl!nd PoeT♦ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think it is a their temple...like churh for catholics
2007-01-16 09:38:36 · answer #6 · answered by blue121 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋