L to R: The Blue Mosque in Istanbul; Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo; Islamic Center of Washington in the USA; Shia Mosque of Imam Ali in Najaf, Iraq.
Mosques are Muslim places of worship and prayer. The word "mosque" comes from the Arabic masjid, which is related to the word for "prostration." Muslims are required to pray five times a day, preferrably in a mosque: morning, midday, afternoon, sunset, and evening. A muezzin calls the worshippers to prayer from a minaret (Arabic manara, a tower).
Some mosques do not admit non-Muslims into the buildings, but most of those listed below do allow tourists to enjoy their sacred spaces and beautiful interiors. This index is by no means exhaustive, but includes major mosques of interest to pilgrims and tourists. Mosques are listed alphabetically by city. Note: Included in this list are some Islamic places of worship that are not technically mosques, such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem (a shrine) and the Mezquita de Cordoba (now a cathedral).
