Minbar
A pulpit in mosques used for sermons and symbolizing authority.
A minbar (Arabic: منبر; sometimes romanized as mimber) is a pulpit in a mosque where the imam (leader of prayers) stands to deliver sermons (خطبة, khutbah). It is also used in other similar contexts, such as in a Husayniyya, where the speaker sits and lectures the congregation. The word is a derivative of the Arabic root نبر n-b-r ('to raise, elevate'); the Arabic plural is manābir (مَنابِر).
- field
- Islamic religious architecture
- known_for
- Pulpit in mosques used for sermons and as a symbol of authority
Lore & Background
It consisted simply of two steps and a seat, resembling a throne. After Muhammad's death, this minbar continued to be used as a symbol of authority by the caliphs who followed him. The Umayyad caliph Mu'awiya I (r. During the Umayyad period, the minbar was used by the caliphs or their representative governors to make important public announcements and to deliver the Friday sermon (khutba).
Reader's Guide
Minbars quickly developed into a symbol of political and religious legitimacy for Muslim authorities. It was one of the only major formal furnishings of a mosque and was therefore an important architectural feature in itself. More importantly, it was the setting for the weekly Friday sermon which, notably, usually mentioned the name of the current Muslim ruler over the community and included other public announcements of a religious or political nature. As a result, later Muslim rulers sometimes invested considerable expense in commissioning richly decorated minbars for the main mosques of their major cities. The oldest Islamic pulpit in the world to be preserved up to the present day is the minbar of the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Kairouan, Tunisia. Thanks to its age and the richness of its decoration, it is considered an important piece of historic Islamic art.
Did You Know?
- The minbar is located to the right of the mihrab, a niche in the far wall of the mosque that symbolizes the direction of prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Minbar in Islam?
A Minbar is a raised pulpit found in mosques (and sometimes Husayniyyas) where the imam or a speaker stands or sits to deliver sermons and lectures to the congregation. It functions as the physical focal point for the khutbah, the formal Friday or special-occasion address.
Where does the word 'Minbar' come from?
The term derives from the Arabic root n-b-r, which carries the sense of raising or elevating something. Its plural form is manābir, and the word has been used in Islamic religious architecture since the early 7th century.
Why is the Minbar more than just a piece of furniture?
Beyond its practical function of elevating the speaker so the congregation can hear and see them, the Minbar serves as a powerful symbol of religious authority and the communal bond between the imam and the faithful. Its presence in a mosque marks the space as one dedicated to public teaching and collective worship.
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