The mosque dais(kursi) is an architectural element used for the imam to preach or lecture, especially in mosques and madrasas. The pulpit has become an indispensable part of mosques over time and has begun to be used with different meanings in many areas.
This change in meaning is not unrelated to the actual usage meaning. For example, the movable ladder at the door of the Kaaba, the birth chair, three or four-legged stools, small tables, and benches with backrests are also called dais.
In addition, the place where the sultan’s name is written on the tughra, the capital, the illuminator bench, and similar areas are also named the dais. However, today, the first architectural element that comes to mind when talking about daises is the place used to address people in mosques, madrasahs, and university classrooms.
Mosque daises, designed and produced in every detail by mosquebuild.com masters, add color to the environment.
The History of Mosque Dais
The mosque dais is more commonly known as the ‘’Preaching pulpit’’. Imams, who were assigned to give sermons in the mosque, especially on Fridays, were called “dais sheikh” thanks to this job and were appointed as a new civil servant. The daises used in mosques in history differ in terms of both material and construction phases.
The oldest known dais in the history of Islamic art, Turisina St. is located within the Catherine Monastery. The pulpit preserved in the mosque inside the monastery belongs to the Fatimid period. For this reason, it is thought that daises have started to become widespread since the Fatimid period.
The shapes used for decoration on the daises vary according to the area where the dais is located,
and the material used in the construction of the dais. When the classical period was taken as a basis in Ottoman architecture, the foot part of the daises was made of lattice-carved geometric ornaments, and the body part was made of geometric ornaments with mother-of-pearl inlay.
The Parts That Make Up the Dais
In Turkish architecture, daises are fixedly attached to the wall or to the support foot. Access to the dais is provided by a few steps. The sections that make up the dais are:
- Dais foot
- The dais body or dais stone
- Cedar section
- Railing
- Rahle
Dais foot; while the body of the dais, the dais body, or the dais refers to the body of the daises. The seat on the dais is the cedar section, and the material that this section is surrounded by for security is the railing. The section used for placing books and notes is called rahle.
Even if the material or construction technique of the dais changes, there is no change in the parts of the dais. The sermon platforms considered indispensable elements of mosques, have been developed using different building materials from mosque to mosque.
What Are the Raw Materials in Mosque Dais?
Tile, marble, and wood are used in mosque dais. Recently, glass dais in newly built mosques attract attention. These materials were chosen according to the typology and characteristics of the mosque. Also, the effect which should be created affects the material type of the dais.
The mosque dais(Masjid Kursi) design is made by considering the effects desired to be captured in the mosque. While designing the shape and typology of the lectern for the effect, it is also decided which materials will reflect this effect the most.
The aesthetics brought by woodworking and the simplicity and modernity brought by marble workmanship ensure that private spaces are created in mosques. Tile lecterns, which contain different pieces of art, create a pleasant appearance in the mosque. Many factors should be considered when choosing the pulpit for the mosque.
Mosque dais models that designed by masters, have a pleasant appearance as well as longevity.
Things to Consider in Choosing Mosque Dais
Things to consider when choosing a mosque pulpit are indicated below.
- Other architectural elements used in the area should be considered. In this way, a holistic design is achieved.
- Based on the size of the area, the color and model of the lectern are preferred. In this way, the environment is prevented from being eye-tiring.If the area is small, the lectern, pulpit and mihrab elements can be combined to make the environment more spacious and more people can benefit from the area.
- Materials that are in harmony with the materials used in the construction of the mosque should be used. Thus, the mosque design will not deteriorate.
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