A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. The
primary purpose of the mosque is to serve as a place where Muslims can
come together for prayer. Mosques are widely recognized for their
importance in the Muslim community and in Islamic architecture. They
have evolved significantly from the open-air spaces of the Quba Mosque
and Masjid al-Nabawi of the 7th century, and most modern mosques have
elaborate domes, minarets, and prayer halls. Mosques originated on the
Arabian Peninsula, but can now be found on all six inhabited
continents. They are not only places for worship and prayer, but also
places for believers to interact and to learn about Islam. Other
faiths' places of worship, such as synagogues and churches, have often
been converted into mosques.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1214:
Philip II of France (pictured) decisively won the Battle of Bouvines
and took undisputed control of the territories of Anjou, Brittany,
Maine, Normandy and the Touraine.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bouvines)
1865:
A group of Welsh settlers arrived at Chubut Valley in Argentina's
Patagonia region.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_settlement_in_Argentina)
1921:
University of Toronto researchers led by Frederick Banting announced
the discovery of the hormone insulin.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/insulin)
1953:
A cease-fire was established in the Korean War.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War)
1996:
Centennial Olympic Park bombing: A pipe bomb exploded during the 1996
Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, killing two and
injuring 111.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Olympic_Park_bombing)
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Wikiquote of the day:
"In soft deluding lies let fools delight. A shadow marks our days,
which end in Night." -- Hilaire Belloc
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Hilaire_Belloc)