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Cordoba Great Mosque

As-salaamu alaykum (Peace be upon you)

INTRODUCTION
A warm welcome to Cordoba Great Mosque. For the benefit of those who use the masjid (mosque) as a place of worship, we kindly request that visitors behave with same level of respect as they would visiting a mosque in real life. It is neccesary for people entering a masjid to remove their shoes. Your courtesy is much appreciated and we hope you enjoy your visit. Please feel free to return at any time and bring your friends!

The owner/designer/builder of Cordoba Great Mosque was Marino Nuvolari. There are also a number of officers and friends of the masjid who can provide information about the mosque and Islam: Khawla Masala, Moro Atkey, muhammedyussif Wikinger

The DESIGN of Cordoba Great Mosque was inspired by a real life structure, La Mezquita in Cordoba Spain. A short history of La Mezquita is narrated below.

LOOKING ROUND EL ANDALUZ MOSQUE
Things to look out for during your visit to the Second Life masjid:

Mawdh'a (Fountain)
This is the wall holding the fountains which Muslims use to perform wudu (ablutions) prior to salah. There are two Mawdh'a in Chebi Mosque, inside the main courtyard.

Manarah (Minaret)
The tower situated at the corner of the masjid structure, from which the Muezzin makes the adhan (call to prayer). You can listen to an adhan by clicking play on the music icon at the bottom of your screen.

Mihrab
The ornamental arched niche set into the qibla or wall that indicates the direction of Makkah (Mecca). The five daily salah (Muslim prayers) are made facing Makkah.

Minbar
The steps from which the Friday khutbah (sermon) is delivered.

Qur'an
The Qur'an displays the 27th surah (chapter), called An-Naml (the Ants) in Moroccan calligraphy. If you click on the Qur'an (but not the stand), you can get contact with an online recital of this verse in Arabic with an English translations.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(1) Is this a "real" mosque?
Islam is a way of life and people do not stop being Muslim simply because they enter virtual reality. When avatars meet and talk in-world, it is no different to Muslims talking on the telephone - and indeed, one of the officers of the mosque uses the skype telephone service to communicate with other avatars! Cordoba GreatMosque is currently the most important meeting place for Muslims on Second Life - so this is a "real" mosque in many ways. However, it is not exclusively for use by Second Life Muslims. Anyone can visit - at any time.

(2) Do Muslims perform salah (pray) in Cordoba Great Mosque?
Yes, they do. If you right click on a ball marked "pray" above one of the prayer mats, you avatar will automatically kneel and bow. However, the opinion seems to be that such prayers do not count as fard (obligatory) salah, but are either nawafil (supererogetary) or the equivalent to du'a (a prayer which can be said almost anywhere and in any language).

(3) Is there Jumu'a salah at Cordoba Great mosque?
There has been in the past. The mosque is open to anyone who wishes to organise Jumu'a, providing all are welcome.

(4) Are there other mosques on Second Life?
There are eight other mosques:

(a) Hassan II. The design is inspired by the Hassan II mosque in Morocco, and is part of an island created by a real life American University:

(b) Fort Malaya. Part of a museum inpsired by an 18th century fort that I gather was the scene of battles between Sultanate, Portuguese and Acehnese forces.

c) On the turkish island there also an enchanting mosque constructed august 2007.

d) We have a French mosque

e-h) And at least but not last are the IslamicInline.net island with four mosques and a Hajj instruction area

(5) Does Cordoba Great Mosque have an Imam?
No.

(6) Where can I buy traditional Muslim clothes on SL?

From muhammedyussif Wikinger you can get free outfit for women suited for mosque visit

(7) I would like to support the mosque and help the Muslim community on Second Life. What can I do?
If you speak more than one language, you could help act as a translator to people visiting the mosque for the first time. There is also a library project. If you have any skills you think might be useful, please talk to the owner or one of the officers.

HISTORY OF LA MEZQUITA
Construction of the Cordoba masjid was begun in 784 by 'Abd al-Rahman I (756-788), but there were numerous changes by subsequent rulers: Abd ar-Rahman III ordered a new minaret, while Al-Hakam II enlarged the plan of the building and enriched the mihrab in 961. The last of the Muslim reforms was carried out by Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir in 987.

After conquering Cordoba, the Roman Catholic King Ferdinand III consecrated La Mezquita as the city's cathedral in 1236, after plans to demolish it were quashed at the behest of the people of Cordoba. Today, La Mezquita is also a world heritage site, attracting visitors from around the world. It can be easily viewed using Google Earth.

The reproduction in Second Life was inspired by the sections of the masjid constructed during the rule of 'Abd al-Rahman I (756-788) and his son Abd al-Rahman II (792-852).

For more information about Islam and other faiths in Second Life, visit the religions resource at the InfoIsland Library

"Narrated Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: We have been made to excel (other) people in three (things): Our rows have been made like the rows of the angels and the whole earth has been made a mosque for us, and its dust has been made a purifier for us in case water is not available. And he mentioned another characteristic too." Hadith (saying) of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)
Recorded in Sahih Muslim, 250

Peace be upon you all.