Mihrab is an important and blessed part in temples and mosques, which represents the direction of Qibla and the place of prayer. The design and construction of the altar, as a part of religious architecture, requires precision, beauty, and cultural importance. Professor Akbar Mataifi Fard, in this article, we will examine the beautiful and important characteristics of altars and their construction methods.
Beautiful characteristics of altars
The beauty of altars has a significant effect on people’s relationship with religious places. Some beautiful features that altars can have:
Unique design: Altars created with a unique design have the ability to attract attention. Special patterns and designs add beauty to the altar.
Use of quality materials: The use of quality materials for the construction of the altar, in addition to its longevity, also contributes to its beauty and durability. The use of precious stones, quality wood, and other materials help to enhance the beauty of the altar.
Artistic design: artistic principles in the design of altars can increase their beauty. The use of lines, shapes, and artistic motifs help to decorate altars.
Proper lighting: Proper lighting of the altar helps to emphasize the importance of this important part of the temples. The right choice of lights and colors keeps the beauty of the altar fresh and attractive.
Altar construction steps
The construction of the altar is a precise and sensitive process that has cultural importance and mosque design. Below we will discuss the steps of making the altar:
Choosing the place: The right place for placing the mihrab must be chosen carefully to ensure the harmony with the direction of Qibla and prayer.
Preparation of materials: The materials required for the construction of the altar are prepared in advance. It is very important to choose quality materials that match the design.
Design and drawing: according to the desired design, drawings and designs are applied on the materials. This step requires precision and professionalism.
Assembly: different parts of the altar are connected together and the final altar is formed. This step requires attention to detail and precision.
Decorations and finishing: The final decorations are applied to the altar. Among these decorations, we can mention artistic motifs, coloring, and lighting.
Altitude position: Usually, the altar is located in a part of the mosque that is at a higher height than the rest of the mosque’s scenes and sardars. This high position gives more value and glory to the altar.
Formatting: The altar is usually placed in a significant part of the middle of the mosque wall and is distinguished from other parts by using different decorations and designs.
Technical details: The altar usually consists of three parts. The part of the ground where the worshiper is placed, the back part which is decorated with artistic decorations, and the part of the roof which usually goes up with Qutdriji and may be decorated with logs and other decorations.
What motifs and decorations are usually placed on altars?
Mihrabs are usually decorated with beautiful and Islamic art decorations. Patterns and decorations usually include the following:
Geometric motifs: Geometric motifs, such as lines and various geometric shapes, are used as the main decorations of the altar. These motifs usually include curved lines, compound lines, crossed lines and various geometric patterns.
Quranic verses: some altars are decorated with recitations of the Quran and spiritual verses from the Holy Quran. These verses are usually displayed using beautiful lines and geometric designs.
Flower motifs: Flower decorations are also used on altars. These decorations usually include flower shapes, flowers, leaves, and plant branches that are placed on the altar as paintings or three-dimensional sculptures.
Architectural geometric decorations: In some altars, architectural geometric decorations such as mosaics, tiling and stone carvings are used. These decorations are placed on the altar in the form of patterns, geometric designs and color combinations.
Letters and words: some altars are also decorated with letters and holy words from Arabic and Persian languages. These letters and words are usually placed on the altar using beautiful lines and proper arrangement.
The decorations of the altars are different according to the culture and artistic style related to the region and the time when the mosque was built. However, geometric motifs, Quranic verses, floral motifs, architectural geometric decorations and letters and words are common decorations that are usually seen on altars.