Information AboutMinaret |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MINARET | |
| islamic architecture | |
| mosque architecture | |
| architectural elements | |
| arabic words and phrases | |
For the mountain formation, see Minarets (California) . Minarets ( Arabic ''manara'' (lighthouse) منارة, but more usually مئذنة) are distinctive architectural features of Islam ic Mosque s. Minarets are generally tall spires with onion-shaped crowns, usually either free standing or much taller than any surrounding support structure. FUNCTIONS OF MINARET , Egypt , with minarets.]] As well as providing a visual cue to demarcating a Muslim community center and territory, the call to prayer is traditionally given from the top of the minaret. In some of the oldest mosques, such as the Great Mosque Of Damascus , minarets originally served as watchtowers illuminated by torches (hence the derivation of the word from the Arabic ''nur'', meaning "light"). In more recent times, the main function of the minaret was 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 in the minaret, but in the Musallah , or ''prayer hall'', via a Microphone and Speaker system. In a practical sense, these are also used for natural air conditioning. As the sun heats the dome, air is drawn in through open windows and up and out of the shaft, thereby causing a natural ventilation. Minarets have been described as the "gate from heaven and earth", and as the Arabic Language letter ''alif'' (which is a straight vertical line). The world's tallest minaret (at 210 Meter s) is located at the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca , Morocco . The world's tallest brick minaret is Qutub Minar located in Delhi , India . There are two 230 meter tall minarets under construction in Tehran , Iran . CONSTRUCTION in Hyderabad, India .]] |
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