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Arab Culture/Mosque question

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Expert: Le Anne Clausen - 12/10/2008


Question
Hello,

I live in Arizona and I was wonder, is there a reason why many mosques have tall thin towers around them?

Thank you,

John

Answer
Greetings John, and thanks for your question.  The tall towers around mosques are called minarrets, and they function a lot like bell towers do in churches.  In older and more traditional mosques, a muezzin, or caller, would climb the stairs to this tower and call everyone to the mosque before each prayer time.  If you have ever heard this chant, it is called the 'call to prayer.'

Even though many mosques today now use loudspeakers, the asthetic of the towers is quite nice and has been retained as a symbol of the worship center as a mosque.

I hope this helps!

peace,

Le Anne

Arab Culture

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Le Anne Clausen

Expertise

I can answer questions on Arab culture, including differences in cultures among Arab countries and sub-groups. I can also answer questions on Christian-Muslim relations, interfaith issues in general, and human rights and peacemaking issues in the Middle East.

Experience

I was a human rights worker for four years in the Middle East, and have spent time in Palestine, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. I speak intermediate Arabic; some Hebrew; and am starting Persian (Farsi, Dari). I have led a half-dozen educational delegations to the area for North American groups; and I have led trainings for nearly a thousand international human rights volunteers coming into the area over my years there. I am now working to launch an interfaith peace-teams based human rights organization, hopefully in the next two years. I am also currently editing the manuscript for my first book, a firsthand account of my time in the Middle East

Publications
"Be the Healers," (next steps after Abu Ghraib) The Lutheran magazine, July 2004. www.christian-muslim.net www.seminaryaction.org www.young-activist.blogspot.com Multiple press releases which I wrote from the field, as well as media interviews/articles about my work are also available via Google search.

Education/Credentials
I have an MA in Christian-Muslim relations; and I am now continuing my studies at Chicago Theological Seminary (www.ctschicago.edu). I also have a BA in Religion concentrating in global service, from Wartburg College, (www.wartburg.edu).

Awards and Honors
I received the Dell Award for Peace and Justice from Wartburg College. I have spoken and led workshops and trainings at over one hundred church congregations, colleges, schools, organizations

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