Arabic mesjid in Islam, a place of worship.
Chief features are: the dome; the minaret, a
balconied turret from which the faithful are
called to prayer; the mihrab, or prayer
niche, in one of the interior walls, showing
the direction of the holy city of Mecca; and
an open court surrounded by porticoes. The
earliest mosques were based on the plan of
Christian basilicas, although different
influences contributed towards their
architectural development. Mosques vary a
great deal in style in various parts of the
world.