One building that is particularly important in Islamic practices is the mosque. The mosque is a building in Islamic cultures used for religious prayer. There are two types of mosques, the masjid and the jami, but they share some basic components.
Most mosques contain a courtyard known as a sahn (4). In Islamic religion, Muslims pray several times a day, facing Mecca. So, the mosques also have qiblas (1), or prayer walls that face Mecca. This qibla is most often accompanied by a mihrab (2), or niche (recess in the wall). The larger or jami mosques contain a minbar, which is where a religious teacher would teach from. Mosques also usually contain at least one minaret (5). The minarets were tall structures from which a muezzin would call the Muslims to prayer each day. In certain mosques such as the Hagia Sophia, the minarets were built after it was changed from a church. Another feature prominant in Ilamic mosques are the hypostyle halls (3), which are halls supported by rows of columns. An elaborate presentation of the hypostyle halls is present in the Great Mosque.
A unique feature that is present in the Great Mosque are the double arches in the hypostyle halls. These arches were colored in a way that gave the look of movement in the small space. In 961 the caliph built an area by the mihrab that was reserved for the caliphs. This area is illustrated by three domed chambers.
The lobed arches leading to the dome chambers have mosaics that were inspired by Byzantine. The architects of this building were particularly interested in the geometric structure and patternings present, which became present in Islamic mosques built after the Great Mosque.
Most mosques contain a courtyard known as a sahn (4). In Islamic religion, Muslims pray several times a day, facing Mecca. So, the mosques also have qiblas (1), or prayer walls that face Mecca. This qibla is most often accompanied by a mihrab (2), or niche (recess in the wall). The larger or jami mosques contain a minbar, which is where a religious teacher would teach from. Mosques also usually contain at least one minaret (5). The minarets were tall structures from which a muezzin would call the Muslims to prayer each day. In certain mosques such as the Hagia Sophia, the minarets were built after it was changed from a church. Another feature prominant in Ilamic mosques are the hypostyle halls (3), which are halls supported by rows of columns. An elaborate presentation of the hypostyle halls is present in the Great Mosque. 
A unique feature that is present in the Great Mosque are the double arches in the hypostyle halls. These arches were colored in a way that gave the look of movement in the small space. In 961 the caliph built an area by the mihrab that was reserved for the caliphs. This area is illustrated by three domed chambers. 
The lobed arches leading to the dome chambers have mosaics that were inspired by Byzantine. The architects of this building were particularly interested in the geometric structure and patternings present, which became present in Islamic mosques built after the Great Mosque.
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