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== Function and form == The minbar is symbolically the seat of the [[imam]] who leads prayers in the mosque and delivers [[sermon]]s. In the early years of [[History of Islam|Islam]], this seat was reserved for the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]] and later for the [[Caliphate|caliphs]] who followed him, each of whom was officially the imam of the whole [[Ummah|Muslim community]]. It eventually became standard for all [[Jama masjid|Friday mosques]] and was used by the local imam, but it retained its significance as a symbol of authority.<ref name=":242" /><ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Petersen |first=Andrew |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eIaEAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA191 |title=Dictionary of Islamic architecture |publisher=Routledge |year=1996 |pages=191โ192 |chapter=minbar|isbn=978-1-134-61366-3 }}</ref> While minbars are roughly similar to [[Pulpit|church pulpits]], they have a function and position more similar to that of a church [[lectern]], being used instead by the imam for a wide range of readings and prayers. 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]] (i.e. towards [[Mecca]]). It is usually shaped like a small tower with a seat or [[kiosk]]-like structure at its top and a staircase leading up to it. The bottom of the staircase often has a doorway or [[Portal (architecture)|portal]]. In contrast to many Christian pulpits, the steps up to the minbar are usually in a straight line on the same axis as the seat.<ref name=":242" /><ref name=":1" /> In some mosques, there is [[Dikka|an elevated platform]] โ {{Transliteration|ar|dikka}} in Arabic or {{Transliteration|tr|mรผezzin mahfil}} in Turkish โ opposite the minbar where the assistant of the imam, the [[muezzin]], stands during prayer. The muezzin recites the answers to the prayers of the imam where applicable.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |title=The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2009 |isbn=9780195309911 |editor-last=M. Bloom |editor-first=Jonathan |volume=2 |location= |pages=549 |chapter=Mosque |editor-last2=S. Blair |editor-first2=Sheila}}</ref>
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