Cairo is known as the City of 1,000 Minarets because of its many mosques. Many of these mosques are open to visitors, and in fact, Cairo has an ongoing program for the restoration of ancient mosques, a few of which ranks as some of the oldest to be found in the world. Certainly some are the grandest to be found anywhere.
Yet, because Egypt has seen many influences from different ruling empires, including Abbasid, Fatimid, Ayyubid Mamluk and Ottoman and others, and because Cairo specifically is a city of the Islamic world, Egypt offers a varieties of mosque styles. Furthermore, its mosques date from the earliest periods of Islam up to and of course, including modern varieties.
Some mosques in Egypt are actually complexes that include a number of other structures that may, or may not be found attached to other mosques. For example, many mosques include an Islamic school facility, called a madrasa. Others may have tombs, and even hospitals (maristan), along with other structures within the complex.
Other mosques may be located in strange places. There is a mosque (Abu Al-Haggag Mosque), which creates a strange appearance inside the Temple of Luxor in Upper Egypt, and in the Sinai, a Fatimid mosque is incorporated into the famous St. Catherine's monastery.
Basic components of a Mosque
The Demarcated Space
Prayer is an essential element of Islam, and the demarcated space allows a space for congregational prayer. In formal mosques, the demarcated space is partially roofed, and partly open to the sky. The covered prayer hall usually differs relative to the size of the open courtyard (sahn). The courtyard is most often surrounded on three of its sides by colonnades, or arcades, with the fourth side opening into the covered sanctuary. The prayer hall, which is normally rectangular or square, may take the form of a hypostyle hall with its roof supported by a number of columns. In this design, a system of horizontal beams known as architraves, a system of arches support the ceiling. In other designs, the roof may consist of a single large dome or instead, by more smaller domes.
The size of the covered prayer hall and the open courtyard is dependent both on the size of the congregation and the climate of the region where the mosque is located. Obviously, in wetter or colder climates a smaller open courtyard would be required and for example, a city such as Cairo, where rain is rare and the climate is usually hot even in winter a larger open courtyard would be required.
Mosques throughout the world have a standard orientation. Within the prayer hall, one wall must face Mecca, the direction in which Muslims should face in order to pray. This wall is called the qibla wall, and at its midpoint is a niche known as the mihrab. The mihrab basically takes the form of a niche, with a semicircular arched at the top. It should be noted that the mihrab is not considered to be a sacred element of the mosque. It prescribes the sacred direction for prayer to Mecca in prayer, Muslims will form row after row facing the qibla wall.
The Minbar
The minbar is a pulpit and is always located to the right of the mihrab. It takes the form of a staircase leading to a small platform from which the imam leads prayers and also delivers the oration (khutba), which take place on Fridays and it is partly sermon and partly a political message. An imam may be defined as any adult male who leads a congregation in prayer. In actuality, the imam usually leads the prayers not from the platform at the top of the minbar, but from a step below. This is because the platform itself is symbolically reserved for the Prophet Muhammed, himself.
The minbar may differ in height depending on the congregation's size, to allow the congregation to more easily hear the imam's words. The minbar may, or may not have handrails leading up the staircase to the platform. The small platform is often covered with an attractive shape, such as a dome style roof. As a side note, in historical times, the minbar was used for the coronation, or inauguration for a new caliph, a political ruler.
The Dikka
The dikka is a raised platform form which the respondents repeat the ritual postures of the imam and speak the responses so that the stages of prayer may be transmitted to larger congregations, it is aligned with the position of the mihrab.
The Kursi
The kursi is basically a bookstand on which the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an, is placed. The kursi is generally set next to the dikka, so that the sheik read and recite form the Qur'an.
The Fountain
Water for ablutions before prayer is provided in most large mosques, though these days its function is sometimes purely decorative. The fountain allows a number of worshippers to wash under running water. The pool is usually located at, or near the center of the open courtyard.
The Minaret
The towering minarets are the most visible part of a mosque, Used to call worshippers to prayer (adhan) by the muezzin, the minaret provided a means to ensure that the voice of the muezzin (caller) can be heard at a maximum distance .Today, many calls to prayer are issued through loudspeakers.
The Portal
Mosques are always surrounded by high walls. Enclosure walls, sometimes functioning for the purpose of fortifications, are and were common.
Visiting Mosques
Tourists are welcome to visit many of the ancient mosques. There are very few that cannot be entered, but visitors should conform to certain dress codes and observe mosque etiquette. In reality, the same etiquette applies when visiting ancient Christian churches in Egypt. Mostly, it is a matter of clothing, or coverage.
While shorts and short dresses are common on the streets of Cairo and other tourist locations, both men and women should have their legs covered. Revealing tops should also be avoided, and shoulders covered. These are simply the basic requirements.
As a matter of respect for another's religion, it is also custom to cover the arms, and particularly for women, also the hair.
You will also be asked to remove your shoes prior to entering the mosque, and will usually be offered a pair of slippers. Don't worry, your shoes will be safe, but a small tip of an Egyptian pound or two should be given to the shoe keeper when leaving the mosque.
Besides these restrictions, use your common sense. Obviously, the mosque is a place of tranquility and is sacred, so playing around and yelling should be completely avoided. Photography is, however, usually allowed, though depending on the mosque, there may be a fee.
Yet, because Egypt has seen many influences from different ruling empires, including Abbasid, Fatimid, Ayyubid Mamluk and Ottoman and others, and because Cairo specifically is a city of the Islamic world, Egypt offers a varieties of mosque styles. Furthermore, its mosques date from the earliest periods of Islam up to and of course, including modern varieties.
Some mosques in Egypt are actually complexes that include a number of other structures that may, or may not be found attached to other mosques. For example, many mosques include an Islamic school facility, called a madrasa. Others may have tombs, and even hospitals (maristan), along with other structures within the complex.
Other mosques may be located in strange places. There is a mosque (Abu Al-Haggag Mosque), which creates a strange appearance inside the Temple of Luxor in Upper Egypt, and in the Sinai, a Fatimid mosque is incorporated into the famous St. Catherine's monastery.
Basic components of a Mosque
The Demarcated Space
Prayer is an essential element of Islam, and the demarcated space allows a space for congregational prayer. In formal mosques, the demarcated space is partially roofed, and partly open to the sky. The covered prayer hall usually differs relative to the size of the open courtyard (sahn). The courtyard is most often surrounded on three of its sides by colonnades, or arcades, with the fourth side opening into the covered sanctuary. The prayer hall, which is normally rectangular or square, may take the form of a hypostyle hall with its roof supported by a number of columns. In this design, a system of horizontal beams known as architraves, a system of arches support the ceiling. In other designs, the roof may consist of a single large dome or instead, by more smaller domes.
The size of the covered prayer hall and the open courtyard is dependent both on the size of the congregation and the climate of the region where the mosque is located. Obviously, in wetter or colder climates a smaller open courtyard would be required and for example, a city such as Cairo, where rain is rare and the climate is usually hot even in winter a larger open courtyard would be required.
Mosques throughout the world have a standard orientation. Within the prayer hall, one wall must face Mecca, the direction in which Muslims should face in order to pray. This wall is called the qibla wall, and at its midpoint is a niche known as the mihrab. The mihrab basically takes the form of a niche, with a semicircular arched at the top. It should be noted that the mihrab is not considered to be a sacred element of the mosque. It prescribes the sacred direction for prayer to Mecca in prayer, Muslims will form row after row facing the qibla wall.
The Minbar
The minbar is a pulpit and is always located to the right of the mihrab. It takes the form of a staircase leading to a small platform from which the imam leads prayers and also delivers the oration (khutba), which take place on Fridays and it is partly sermon and partly a political message. An imam may be defined as any adult male who leads a congregation in prayer. In actuality, the imam usually leads the prayers not from the platform at the top of the minbar, but from a step below. This is because the platform itself is symbolically reserved for the Prophet Muhammed, himself.
The minbar may differ in height depending on the congregation's size, to allow the congregation to more easily hear the imam's words. The minbar may, or may not have handrails leading up the staircase to the platform. The small platform is often covered with an attractive shape, such as a dome style roof. As a side note, in historical times, the minbar was used for the coronation, or inauguration for a new caliph, a political ruler.
The Dikka
The dikka is a raised platform form which the respondents repeat the ritual postures of the imam and speak the responses so that the stages of prayer may be transmitted to larger congregations, it is aligned with the position of the mihrab.
The Kursi
The kursi is basically a bookstand on which the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an, is placed. The kursi is generally set next to the dikka, so that the sheik read and recite form the Qur'an.
The Fountain
Water for ablutions before prayer is provided in most large mosques, though these days its function is sometimes purely decorative. The fountain allows a number of worshippers to wash under running water. The pool is usually located at, or near the center of the open courtyard.
The Minaret
The towering minarets are the most visible part of a mosque, Used to call worshippers to prayer (adhan) by the muezzin, the minaret provided a means to ensure that the voice of the muezzin (caller) can be heard at a maximum distance .Today, many calls to prayer are issued through loudspeakers.
The Portal
Mosques are always surrounded by high walls. Enclosure walls, sometimes functioning for the purpose of fortifications, are and were common.
Visiting Mosques
Tourists are welcome to visit many of the ancient mosques. There are very few that cannot be entered, but visitors should conform to certain dress codes and observe mosque etiquette. In reality, the same etiquette applies when visiting ancient Christian churches in Egypt. Mostly, it is a matter of clothing, or coverage.
While shorts and short dresses are common on the streets of Cairo and other tourist locations, both men and women should have their legs covered. Revealing tops should also be avoided, and shoulders covered. These are simply the basic requirements.
As a matter of respect for another's religion, it is also custom to cover the arms, and particularly for women, also the hair.
You will also be asked to remove your shoes prior to entering the mosque, and will usually be offered a pair of slippers. Don't worry, your shoes will be safe, but a small tip of an Egyptian pound or two should be given to the shoe keeper when leaving the mosque.
Besides these restrictions, use your common sense. Obviously, the mosque is a place of tranquility and is sacred, so playing around and yelling should be completely avoided. Photography is, however, usually allowed, though depending on the mosque, there may be a fee.
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق