May 22, 2013
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Description
A mosque, sometimes spelt mosk, is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Also referred to as pallivasal or pallivaasal in Tamil.
There are strict and detailed requirements in Sunni fiqh for a place of worship to be considered a masjid, with places that do not meet these requirements regarded as musallas. There are stringent restrictions on the uses of the area formally demarcated as the masjid, and, in the Sharia, after an area is formally designated as a masjid, it remains so until the Last Day.
Quba Mosque is the first mosque in history, and mosques have developed significantly since Quba mosque. Many mosques have elaborate domes, minarets, and prayer halls. Mosques originated on the Arabian Peninsula, but are now found in all inhabited continents. The mosque serves as a place where Muslims can come together for salah as well as a center for information, education, and dispute settlement. The imam leads the prayer.
(via Freebase)
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![Suicide bombing targets Afghan mosque during Eid prayers [BBC Arabic, UK]](/images/image_cache/base-13083000/13083465/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=319fec7d511159c64d92310f1cd88bee)
![Muslims in Belgium mark Ramadan with festivities and prayers [Dubai TV, UAE]](/images/image_cache/base-7928000/7928218/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=33f6ee40d6f073c16fd4ccef961d6754)
![Greece forbids construction of mosques in Athens [Press TV, Iran]](/images/image_cache/base-7295000/7295170/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=f7a6e6410822a4812937767760e4bdaf)
![Israeli settlers torch and vandalize mosque in West Bank [Palestine TV, Ramallah]](/images/image_cache/base-5995000/5995471/thumbnail.width=304,height=171,grow=1,crop=center.jpg?sig=a4df186da80b353d3c9c0af3f28347b1)