The Niujie Mosque - Minaret 3

Assalaamu alaikum [peace be to you],

I was planning to post more photos of the Niujie Mosque in Beijing but I didn't have much time. Anyway, now I'm going to add more photos to the gallery, in sha'Allah.

This photo here is of the gate of the Minaret.

A Minaret is the tower from which the people are called to prayer five times each day by a mu'ezzin (or caller). Such a tower is always connected with a mosque and has one or more balconies or open galleries. At the time of the last prophet of Islam, Moḥammed -peace be upon him-, the call to prayer was made from the highest roof in the vicinity of the mosque.

as you can see from the other photos of the Minaret of Niujie Mosque, the Chinese style minarets are different from minarets of other common mosques.



On the board near the gate, it's written that this Minaret, originally named as Zunjingge, was built in 1068-1077 by Arab Scholars. the reconstruction was finished in 1496. this calling tower is called Xuanlilou, or Huanlilou.


More photos: nayzak.deviantart.com/gallery/…