What Is a Masjid? The Mosque in Islam

Masjid (Arabic: مسجد) is pronounced MAS-jid. The English word “mosque” comes from it, via Spanish and French.

Meaning

Masjid comes from sujud, “prostration” — the moment in prayer when Muslims place their foreheads on the ground before God. So a masjid is, literally, “a place of prostration”. The Qur’an describes mosques as houses in which God’s name is remembered:

فِى بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ ٱللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْءَاصَالِ ﴿٣٦﴾

[Such niches are] in mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings

What happens there

The main purpose of a mosque is prayer. Muslims gather there for the five daily prayers and, on Fridays at midday, for the congregational prayer called Jumu’ah, which includes a short sermon. Inside, there are no pews, statues or pictures — just a clean carpeted hall where worshippers stand in rows. A niche in the front wall, the mihrab, shows the direction of the Ka’bah in Mecca, and a raised pulpit, the minbar, is used for the sermon.

Many mosques are also community centres: they hold classes on the Qur’an and Arabic, collect and distribute charity, host weddings and funerals, and welcome new Muslims. Visitors are usually welcome too — simply dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering the prayer area.

Example

“Shall we pray Maghrib at the masjid tonight?”

To learn the prayer performed in every mosque, read How to Pray, and see Salah.