“There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Prophet of God.”
Islamic statement of faith
Islamic statement of faith
"Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, with over 1 billion followers. It is a monotheistic faith based on revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad in 7th-century Saudi Arabia. The Arabic word islam means “submission,” reflecting the faith's central tenet of submitting to the will of God. Followers of Islam are called Muslims." -Religion Facts
An explanation about what a Islam sacred space is and what you would expect to find in one
They pray at home (basically any room except bathrooms/washing areas), and in mosques. And if there is more than one person in a household praying, the men in the family will pray together while the women in the family will pray behind them. The men particularly are encouraged to go to the mosque on Friday in high afternoon to give a communal prayer, which is called the Juma prayer. A mosque is like a church for christians, but a masjid for muslims. Call for prayer is given 5 times a day and every Muslim is asked to answer the call and bow before their Lord. No statues or any pictures of living being will be seen inside a mosque. In the front is a special prayer place called 'Mihrab' for the one leading the prayer.
Examples of Islamic sacred spaces.
Karbala - Shia Muslims consider Karbala to be one of the holiest places in the world, second only to Mecca and Najaf. Karbalā'.Its is located in Iraq, located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad (32.61°N, 44.08°E.) The capital of Al Karbala Province, the city of Karbala had an estimated population in 2003 of 572,300 people.
Mecca - The most sacred place in Islam is the Ka'ba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Ka'ba is a mosque (built by Abraham according to Muslim tradition) constructed around a black stone. The prophet Muhammad designated Mecca as the holy city of Islam and the direction (qibla) in which all Muslims should offer their prayers. The Ka'ba is believed to be the first place that was created on earth and the place at which heavenly bliss and power touches the earth directly.
Medina - Medina is the second holiest site in Islam. "Medina" means the "City of the Prophet," is in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. It was to Medina city that Muhammad fled when he was initially driven out of Mecca, and the place where he attracted his first followers. Medina currently has a population of about 600,000 people and is the home of "The Prophet's Mosque."
Difference between Christian and Islam Sacred Spaces
The difference between and christian sacred space and an islamic sacred are the following. The Christian sacred space is usually a building (church) which is in the shape of a triangle or has triangular side which leads to high or tall roofs. The Islamic Sacred Space (mosque) is shaped as a rectangular prism with a dome shape on the roof with two large pillars coming out of each end. Instead of a tall large building the mosque will usually have different levels or stories to the building. Inside a church there are most likely rows of long wooden seats called "pews" and an altar out the front with a cross and a podium for the priest. Inside a Mosque a large sculpture or pillar of Mohammad in the middle of the mosque, there are also special mats placed around the middle for prayer. The mosque is also much larger and can contain a lot more rooms then a church. Some rooms include a room with a fountain, The petition chamber and also and the hall of princes which are all used for prayer or worship in different ways. like Catholic Church in the old days, Men and Women were segregated, also Children below certain age are with their Mothers. Depending on the Mosque design, women worshiping area are located on the second floor, while the men take the main hall nearest the Mihrab or the wall where the direction of Mecca is. You have to be a muslim to pray in the mosque unless your a female where you can enter as a visitor.