Mosque

Mosques serve as the main place of worship for all Muslims. The first mosque was the courtyard of the house Muhammad, located in Medina, Saudi Arabia. The wall of the courtyard facing Mecca called the qibla wall—had a roof covering the area where prayers were recited. The other three walls were covered with shallow arcades. This setup has became the mosque design throughout time. In Islamic societies, mosques also serve as social and political centers. They serve as courts, schools, and assembly halls. Libraries, hospitals, and treasuries are often connected to the mosques.