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Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · Religious Institutions and Roles

Mosque

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/mɒsk/nounCore term

In religious studies & theology, mosque means: A building where Muslims gather for prayer, especially the Friday congregational prayer, which often also serves as a centre for education and community life.

In Turkish: cami, mescit

How it is used

You go to, attend or pray at a mosque. Architectural terms often appear with it: minaret, dome, courtyard, mihrab (prayer niche showing the direction of Mecca) and minbar (pulpit). Scholars use masjid for any place of prayer and Friday mosque or congregational mosque for a large jami.

Example sentences

  1. The Süleymaniye Mosque was designed by Mimar Sinan in the sixteenth century.

  2. Many European mosques run Qur'an classes and social services for young people.

Common collocations

  • go to the mosque
  • Friday mosque
  • local mosque
  • mosque community
  • mosque architecture
  • imamIn Sunni Islam, a person who leads prayers in a mosque; in Shia Islam, also one of the divinely guided leaders from the Prophet's family, such as Ali and Husayn.
  • prayerCommunication addressed to God or the divine, either in one's own words or in a fixed ritual form, such as the five daily prayers in Islam.
  • IslamA monotheistic religion that began in seventh-century Arabia with the Prophet Muhammad; Muslims regard the Qur'an as God's word and follow practices such as the Five Pillars.
  • sermonA talk on a religious or moral subject given by a preacher or religious leader, usually as part of a worship service.

More terms: Religious Institutions and Roles

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