Mihrab
This article refers to the architectural element Mihrāb. For the Iranian ruler Mihrāb, see Mihrab (mythology).
Mihrāb (Arabic محراب, DMG miḥrāb, plural: محاريب, DMG maḥārīb) is the Islamic prayer niche in mosques that indicates the direction of prayer (qibla).
The etymology of the term has not been conclusively clarified. The root حرب has the meaning "to fight" in stem III and "to wage war" in stem IV. As nouns derived from it are حرب "war" and حربة "lance". محراب is interpreted by some scholars (Lane, Goldziher) as "battlefield", in the sense of ğihād an-nafs (i.e. fighting against one's drive-soul, inadequacy). Some also suspect a loanword from Old Ethiopian (Dillmann) or Hebrew חרבה churba (Beer, Daiches) with a diffuse reference to buildings.
Mihrāb in the Aljafería, Zaragoza
Mihrāb at the Colourful Mosque in Tetovo
Mihrāb in the Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba
Use of the word in Arabic
In pre-Islamic or early Islamic times the word was interpreted in various ways, for example as a palace, as in the following Qur'anic quotations:
"Did not the story of those who quarreled with each other come to your ears? (Then) when they entered (over the wall) into the palace!"
- Koran, Sura 38:21
or palaces
"They made for him what he wanted: palaces, effigies, bowls [...]"
- Koran, Sura 34:13
The Qur'an also uses mihrāb in the sense of "temple", for example "[...] As often as Zechariah (now) came to her in the temple, he found sustenance with her [...]" (Sura 3:37) and "Then, while he was standing in the temple performing prayer, the angels called to him: God proclaims to you John [...]" (Sura 3:39) (both of which are frequently found as inscriptions on mahārīb), and "Then he came out of the Temple to his people [...]" (Sura 19:11).
In addition, one finds the meanings niche, recess, balcony, gallery, important part or special place in a palace or a chamber, highest, first or most important place, space between two columns and burial place. Today the word almost exclusively refers to the prayer niche in the mosque, rarely also "sanctuary".
Architecture
A mihrāb consists of an arch or vault supported by two or more columns. The space between the columns is flat or recessed, giving the impression of a doorway or passageway. Many mihrab niches are integrated into the wall and do not appear to the outside.
