THE MINARET
Minaret of Nabawi Mosque
Minaret of Sheikh Zaid Mosque, U.A.E.
Minaret of King Hassan II, Morocco
Minaret of Suleymaniye Mosque, Turkey
Minaret of Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore
Minaret of Badashi Mosque
Minaret at night
Minaret of Baybars Mosque, Cairo
Minaret of Al-Azhar Mosque, Cairo
Another Minaret
I S L A M I C - A R C H. C O M
A Photo Collection of Notable Islamic Architectures
A Photo Collection of Notable Islamic Architectures
MINARETS
Minarets are distinctive architectural features of Islamic mosques. Minarets are generally tall spires with onion-shaped crowns, usually either free standing or much taller than any surrounding support structure. The main function of the minaret is to provide a vantage point from which the muezzin can call out the adhan, calling the faithful to prayer. In most modern mosques, the adhan is called not from the minaret, but from the musallah, or prayer hall, via a microphone and speaker system. In some of the oldest mosques, such as the Great Mosque of Damascus, minarets originally served as illuminated watchtowers. Minarets also function are as air conditioning mechanisms: as the sun heats the dome, air is drawn in through open windows then up and out of the minaret, thereby providing natural ventilation.
Minarets are distinctive architectural features of Islamic mosques. Minarets are generally tall spires with onion-shaped crowns, usually either free standing or much taller than any surrounding support structure. The main function of the minaret is to provide a vantage point from which the muezzin can call out the adhan, calling the faithful to prayer. In most modern mosques, the adhan is called not from the minaret, but from the musallah, or prayer hall, via a microphone and speaker system. In some of the oldest mosques, such as the Great Mosque of Damascus, minarets originally served as illuminated watchtowers. Minarets also function are as air conditioning mechanisms: as the sun heats the dome, air is drawn in through open windows then up and out of the minaret, thereby providing natural ventilation.