This is the Muradiye mosque, by the greatest Turkish architect, Sinan. It is one of his last works, from 1582-1585, who built it for Murat III.


On the picture: In the center stands the mihrab (prayer niche, indicating the direction of Mecca).
To the right: the minber. To the left: a ‘vaaz kürsüsü’ (= pulpit of the sermon). ‘Minber’ and ‘vaaz kürsüsü’ are both pulpits, from where sermons are given. The difference is that the minber is obligatory for the ‘Friday sermon’, held during the most important common prayer of Islamic week. All other sermons can be held from the smaller ‘kürsü’.
The presence of a minber is essential for an Islamic house of prayer to be called ‘cami’ (= Friday mosque). In the absence of a minber, the house of prayer is unfit for the solemn Friday prayer and is called ‘mescit’ (= small mosque).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: Vikipedia.