Mosques of Barka — places of worship built in traditional style
Mosques play an important role in the daily life of Omanis — they serve as places of prayer, religious schools and as a meeting place for the community. Mosques are special places where Muslims gather together to learn about their Deen (Islamic way of life and thoughts) and worship God together, thus cementing unity and facilitating social interaction. Most mosques have a domed roof and a tall tower called minaret. The believers are called to prayer from the minaret. The man who calls them to prayer is called a muezzin.
There are no pictures or statues inside a mosque. They are decorated with calligraphic works of verses from the Quran.
Most mosques have a Quran school where the children are taught recitation and commentary of the Quran. The mosque is also used for meetings and quiet meditation. There is always a Qiblah wall which is the one facing Mecca. It has an empty arch to signify the direction. Near that arch there is often a Minbar, a pulpit with steps, from where a sermon is delivered at midday on Friday.
Before the act of prayer Muslims undertake Wadhu (a ritual washing of hands and face). In Oman, mosques provide separate prayer rooms for men and women. Like all villages and cities, Barka has a large number of mosques with Islamic architecture.
During the month of Ramadhan, special religious lectures are held in mosques. These lectures call on Muslims to organise their time in the holy month and devote a lot of time for the worship of God to get cleansed of all sins.
And also in holy month, Muslims go to offer night prayers which women also attend.
One day I saw a number of women in a mosque. I asked one of them about the reason for the huge turnout. She said: “Today one of the women speakers came to deliver the religious lecture”. After the lecture I asked many women about the benefit they got from attending the lecture and they said “We get deep insights about various Islamic practices and concepts through such lectures”.
So, the mosque is not only for praying. It is also for learning about Islamic practices and concepts.
Islamic concepts
Islam is derived from the Arabic root “Salam”, which mean peace, purity, submission and obedience. In short, Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to His laws (Shariah). >>
Oman
— at Barka OmanMosques play an important role in the daily life of Omanis — they serve as places of prayer, religious schools and as a meeting place for the community. Mosques are special places where Muslims gather together to learn about their Deen (Islamic way of life and thoughts) and worship God together, thus cementing unity and facilitating social interaction. Most mosques have a domed roof and a tall tower called minaret. The believers are called to prayer from the minaret. The man who calls them to prayer is called a muezzin.
There are no pictures or statues inside a mosque. They are decorated with calligraphic works of verses from the Quran.
Most mosques have a Quran school where the children are taught recitation and commentary of the Quran. The mosque is also used for meetings and quiet meditation. There is always a Qiblah wall which is the one facing Mecca. It has an empty arch to signify the direction. Near that arch there is often a Minbar, a pulpit with steps, from where a sermon is delivered at midday on Friday.
Before the act of prayer Muslims undertake Wadhu (a ritual washing of hands and face). In Oman, mosques provide separate prayer rooms for men and women. Like all villages and cities, Barka has a large number of mosques with Islamic architecture.
During the month of Ramadhan, special religious lectures are held in mosques. These lectures call on Muslims to organise their time in the holy month and devote a lot of time for the worship of God to get cleansed of all sins.
And also in holy month, Muslims go to offer night prayers which women also attend.
One day I saw a number of women in a mosque. I asked one of them about the reason for the huge turnout. She said: “Today one of the women speakers came to deliver the religious lecture”. After the lecture I asked many women about the benefit they got from attending the lecture and they said “We get deep insights about various Islamic practices and concepts through such lectures”.
So, the mosque is not only for praying. It is also for learning about Islamic practices and concepts.
Islamic concepts
Islam is derived from the Arabic root “Salam”, which mean peace, purity, submission and obedience. In short, Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to His laws (Shariah). >>
Oman
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