The pulpit or minbar (Arabic: منبر) is a platform inside the mosque where Imam (chief of solat) stands to preach on Friday. and also the sermon of Aidil Fitridan Aidil Adha. The high pulpit allows the priest to see the congregation.
The pulpit is shaped like a tower and above it is domed or pyramid-shaped. The pulpit is always ornate and unique although the ancient pulpit only had stairs and a stand. The pulpit lies at the edge of the mihrab, and its position faces the direction of Qibla (Makkah).
In the middle of the pulpit also built into the walls of the mosque. This justifies more space for the congregation.
MIMBAR is an important tool in every mosque. It is based on the practice of the Prophet that he preached the sermon using the pulpit. He began to use the pulpit in the seventh year or after the renovated Nabawi mosque. There is also a declared use of the pulpit in the eighth year of hijriah after the khaibar. This pulpit was mainly used by the Messenger of Allah for the Friday sermon. As for the khutbah 'Id, the information of some hadiths explains the Prophet did not use it. The Prophet preached on his vehicle.
In general there are two forms of pulpit in many mosques. First, the rostrum with the rung model up front. This model looks in several forms: it consists of three stairs or more, wearing a roof and without a roof, and using a door or without a door. Secondly, the rostrum with the ladder is at the back, while the front is closed to half or one third of the preacher or preacher. Both forms of the pulpit are sometimes decorated with various carvings.
Some people distinguish the pulpit with the podium. This first model they call the pulpit, while the second model is called the podium. However, when viewed that the pulpit taken from the word nabara meaningful lift or elevate something, there is no different pulpit with the podium. All the high places for speeches or sermons can be found in the pulpit.
The pulpit is only the medium used for preachers and pilgrims to interact with the better. In the editors some hadith mentioned "so that people can see the Messenger of Allah and hear his sermon". Seeing the Prophet in the sermon certainly gives a sense of its own in capturing the content of the sermon rather than not seeing the Messenger of Allah. Moreover, the Prophet became an idol for the friends who really believe in Allah and the Messenger. With this face-to-face congregation who heard what was delivered by the Prophet would be more effective to capture his message.
In the time of the Prophet there was no loudspeaker as it is today, so the pilgrims heard the Prophet's talk naturally. As more and more worshipers, this kind of listening is no longer so effective. One simple way to make the Prophet's message more effective is to heed the place where the Prophet preached. Wallahu a'lam bi al-shawab.
