Talk:Mosque

This article is a good article. This means the community feels it is written well.

I think there is still a lot of room for expansion here. Different styles of architecture could be mentioned. The general layout of a mosque should be shown... I am not a muslim, I am therefore probably not the best candidate to do these expansions. --Eptalon (talk) 00:20, 6 July 2008 (UTC)

I removed the statement: "Some mosques look very beautiful when seen from the outside, but can be simple and plain on the inside." This can be true of any structure and there is no reason to believe that this is special of mosques. EhJJ^TALK 04:16, 15 April 2009 (UTC)

Missing refs

A few online references have disappeared over the years, and help is needed in renewing/updating them.

• 9 - reference needed for facilities for shoes and coats in a mosque (searched and found a video showing people stealing shoes from mosques, but nothing in print so far)

Removed the ref to the facilities, but added one about having to take off shoes during prayer. The Musalla having no furniture now has no ref. --Eptalon (talk) 16:55, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

• 22 - attacks on US mosques found replacement
• 31 - eating garlic before prayer is undesirable

Replaced by two other refs. --Eptalon (talk) 17:09, 27 April 2009 (UTC)

• 35 - The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is one of only two mosques in Morocco currently open to non-Muslims
• part of 37 - Link to Liyakatali Takim, was at University of Denver

--Peterdownunder (talk) 22:43, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

37 - removed link to Takim at UDenver.

A few comments

"Many mosques are known for their Islamic architecture. The earliest mosques in 7th century were open-air spaces. They are the Quba Mosque and Masjid al-Nabawi. Later mosques were buildings that were specially designed. Now, they can be found on every continent."

I highly doubt a mosque can be found on Antarctica. Maybe change to every inhabited continent?

Reference 51 is a dead link. Albacore (talk) 01:32, 15 October 2010 (UTC)

Dead link removed; sentence rephrased. --Eptalon (talk) 09:54, 15 October 2010 (UTC)

Comments =)

Hello, Eppy sweetie pie! =) I've just found a few small flaws in this article, and decided to put them up here. The content seems very carefully and simply written; it takes up most of my approval. I could hardly find much to comment about - so I'm sure you'll be able to fix them soon and get the page into GA status. Well, then, here goes!

Architecture

• Centre is linked the second time mentioned; it should be linked at the first time.

• Dome is linked twice.

Arab plan

• Many early mosques had a square or rectangular plan. They also have a prayer hall and an enclosed courtyard. In the first sentence, the mosques are mentioned with had, as it is in the early past. However, in the second sentence, the word have is used instead. :) Change either one of them; I'd suggest have -> had in the latter sentence.

• Support should be linked at first mention.

Central dome

• The first paragraph has a little too much abrupt sentences - such as, for example, There are smaller domes, too. These can be off-center over the prayer hall. Try making these two sentences flow together comfortably and naturally.

Parts of Mosques

Minarets

• Why is this picture hidden from the reader's view? -> <!-- [[Image:Somaliamosque11.jpg|thumb|The Islamic Solidarity Mosque in [[Mogadishu]] with a tall [[minaret]].]] -->

• The description of the photograph in the section that says, The Great Mosque in Aleppo,Syria. missed a blank after the comma.

Prayer hall

• Mat is a red link.

• Mihrab and Imam are both linked twice or more.

• In the photograph explanation it says that A simple old mosque in the Australian outback is different to the grand designs of older Islamic communities. If the "simple old" mosque is different to the "older Islamic communities", how can the mosque be "old"? If you are meaning it in the other way, such as "Belinda is such a bothersome old editor", it could be thought of as a point of view. In any case, you can take out the old part from the first bit of the sentence.

Washing

• Please explain in the article why washing is not allowed in the mosque; some readers may want to know about it.

• In the prayer halls, people must not wear shoes for much the same reason. What is the same reason? The article never explains why washing is not allowed in the mosque, and so nobody would know why people must not wear shoes, either.

Modern feautures

• It would be nice to have this part more expanded with references.

• Modern mosques should appeal to the community they serve. This sounds like you are stating your own opinion, not a fact - perhaps a change of the word should -> usually? Or the word "normally" could be used as well. Only make it sound more neutral, and I'm quite satisfied.

The inside of mosques

• Usually there are no seats. This is because Muslims pray kneeling down on mats. Hmm, these two sentences sound much too short and abrupt as well. Maybe it would sound more smooth if you could put them together so it would be something like "Usually there are no seats, because Muslims pray kneeling down on mats". However, I'd also like to point out that the fact that Muslims pray kneeling down on mats was already explained before.

Religious functions

Prayers

• There are exceptions for those for which perofrming the prayer is difficult, for example those who are ill. Well, even though I am "perofrming" my opinions, I think I can leave you to guess what word is spelt wrong here. ;)

• Imam is linked again... But you certainly are not forced to fix this, as I said before. :)

Ramadan events

• During the last ten days of Ramadan, larger mosques within the Muslim community will hold i'tikaf. Is Itikaf supposed to be spelled as i'tikaf?

Political functions

• Once again, something is hidden in the article. This is a disadvantage to readers who do not care or think enough to change the article and see its inside. Please take out the <!---s in the article that are unnecessary - the one I was mentioning is this: <!-- {{see also|Political aspects of Islam}} -->

• Mosques are used to preach political messages, like peaceful co-existence with non-believers. This is even when there are problems. This, too, could be put together, such as ...with nonbelievers, despite the problems happening now and then. However, it would be nice if you could explain what is the "problem", or just link them to an article through one of the words.

Saudi influence

• Hmm. Another hidden "See also". <!-- {{see also|Wahhabism}} -->

Washing

• And another one... <!-- {{see also|Taharah}} -->

• All mosques have rules about cleanliness. <-- Do you think it would sound more simple if you could change "cleanliness" to "being clean"?

Men and women pray in different parts

• Muhammad said, women should pray at home, not at the mosque. Muhammad thought women should not be forbidden in mosques. This claiming needs a reliable reference, because Muhammad is rather famous.

I'm not very smart about references and those such, so I'll stop here. :) Overall the article seems pretty nice, and I can't find any more issues; however, if you respond soon enough, I'll look over it one more time to see if I overlooked anything. Your thoughtful and loving editor, Bella ^{tête-à-tête} 07:29, 27 October 2010 (UTC)

Mosque visiting rules and ethiquette in Turkey for non-muslims

The article says that "In modern Turkey non-Muslim tourists are allowed to enter any mosque, but must obey the rules of decorum. Visiting a mosque is allowed only between prayers; visitors must wear long trousers and take off their shoes; women must cover their heads; no photos; no loud talk is allowed. No references to other religions are allowed (no crosses on necklaces, no cross gestures etc.)" I wander what is the reference for such information. I live in Turkey and have not have heard any rule about reference to other religions in the mosques. Neither in historic/touristic mosques nor in ordinary mosques i don't see any warning or any mechanism for checking crosses on necklaces or such things... Taking photo in the mosques is allowed as well. However,it's true that people should not be photographed or filmed when they are praying whether in the mosque nor in another place. It's also impolite to stand in front of a praying person or walk around a worshipper; therefore it's advised people to visit mosques between the prayers.