Temple vs. Mosque — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 26, 2023
A temple is a place of worship in various religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and ancient religions. A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. Both serve as spiritual centers but cater to different religious practices.
Difference Between Temple and Mosque
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Temples and mosques are significant religious structures in different cultures and religions. They both offer spaces for devotion, prayer, and community gatherings but differ in their origins, practices, and architectural features.
A temple is often associated with religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and several ancient religions. These structures can be diverse, reflecting the vast array of traditions and practices they represent. In Hindu temples, for instance, there are sanctums housing deities, while in Buddhist temples, there may be a statue of Buddha. Temples often have a rich history, with some dating back thousands of years, serving not just as religious centers but also as markers of cultural heritage.
On the other hand, a mosque is exclusive to Islam and is a place where Muslims gather for communal prayers, especially the Friday prayer known as Jumu'ah. Unlike temples, mosques are generally devoid of statues or religious icons, adhering to the Islamic prohibition of idolatry. The central feature in many mosques is the mihrab, an indentation in the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca, towards which Muslims pray.
To summarize, while both temples and mosques are centers for spiritual reflection and community, temples cater to a range of religious practices across various religions, and mosques are specific to Islamic worship. Their distinct religious practices and beliefs have led to unique architectural and internal features that set them apart.
Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Place of worship in various religions
Islamic place of worship
ADVERTISEMENT
Features
May house deities or religious icons
Generally devoid of statues or icons
Architectural Element
Diverse, depending on religion
Features like the minaret, mihrab, and dome
Origins
Found in multiple religions, ancient to present
Originated with the advent of Islam
Community Role
Spiritual, cultural, and community gatherings
Spiritual, communal prayers, and community events
Compare with Definitions
Temple
A temple (from the Latin templum) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Islam (whose temples are called mosques), Judaism (whose temples are called synagogues), and ancient religions such as the Ancient Egyptian religion.
Mosque
A symbol of Islamic faith and devotion.
The mosque stands as a testament to the community's faith.
Temple
Either of the sidepieces of a frame for eyeglasses that extends along the temple and over the ear.
Mosque
A place of worship for Muslims.
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul is an architectural marvel.
Temple
A sacred place dedicated to a deity in religions like Hinduism or Buddhism.
The Golden Temple in India is visited by millions annually.
Mosque
A center for Islamic community events and teachings.
Children attend the mosque to learn the Quran.
Temple
A place of worship in ancient religions.
The temples in Greece were dedicated to gods like Athena.
Mosque
A structure featuring elements like minarets and domes.
The mosque's towering minaret can be seen from afar.
Temple
A place for religious practices and ceremonies.
The temple was decorated for the upcoming festival.
Mosque
A place of gathering for Friday communal prayers.
Muslims congregate at the mosque for Jumu'ah prayer.
Temple
A symbol of devotion and faith for believers.
Many journey miles to offer prayers at the temple.
Mosque
A mosque (; from Arabic: مَسْجِد, romanized: masjid, pronounced [masdʒid]; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of worship for Muslims. Any act of worship that follows the Islamic rules of prayer can be said to create a mosque, whether or not it takes place in a special building.
Temple
A building devoted to the worship of a god or gods.
Mosque
A Muslim place of worship.
Temple
A group of buildings in Fleet Street, London, which stand on land formerly occupied by the headquarters of the Knights Templar. Located there are the Inner and Outer Temple, two of the Inns of Court.
Mosque
A building used as a place of Muslim worship.
Temple
The flat part of either side of the head between the forehead and the ear
A man with curly hair greying at the temples
Mosque
(Islam) A place of worship for Muslims, often having at least one minaret; a masjid.
There's a mosque near where I live.
Temple
A device in a loom for keeping the cloth stretched.
Mosque
A Mohammedan church or place of religious worship.
Temple
A building dedicated to religious ceremonies or worship.
Mosque
(Islam) a Muslim place of worship
Temple
Temple Either of two successive buildings in ancient Jerusalem serving as the primary center for Jewish worship.
Temple
(Judaism) A synagogue, especially of a Reform congregation.
Temple
Mormon Church A building in which the sacred ordinances are administered.
Temple
Something regarded as having within it a divine presence.
Temple
A building used for meetings by any of several fraternal orders, such as the Freemasons.
Temple
A building reserved for a highly valued function
The library, a temple of learning.
Temple
Temple Either of two groups of buildings in London, the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple, that house two of the four Inns of Court and that occupy the site of a complex used by the medieval Knights Templars.
Temple
The flat region on either side of the forehead.
Temple
A device in a loom that keeps the cloth stretched to the correct width during weaving.
Temple
A house of worship, especially:
Temple
A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith.
The temple of Zeus was very large.
Temple
(Judaism) synagogue, especially a non-Orthodox synagogue.
How often do you go to temple?
Temple
(Mormonism) As opposed to an LDS meetinghouse, a church closed to non-Mormons and necessary for particular rituals.
Temple
(in Japan) A Buddhist monastery, as opposed to a Shinto shrine.
Temple
A meeting house of the Oddfellows fraternity; its members.
Temple
(figurative) Any place regarded as holding a religious presence.
Temple
(figurative) Any place seen as an important centre for some activity.
A temple of commerce;
A temple of drinking and dining
Temple
(figurative) Anything regarded as important or minutely cared for.
My body is my temple.
Temple
(figurative) A gesture wherein the forefingers are outstretched and touch pad to pad while the other fingers are clasped together.
Temple
(anatomy) The slightly flatter region, on either side of the human head, behind of the eye and forehead, above the zygomatic arch, and forward of the ear.
Temple
(ophthalmology) Either of the sidepieces on a set of spectacles, extending backwards from the hinge toward the ears and, usually, turning down around them.
Temple
(weaving) A contrivance used in a loom for keeping the web stretched transversely.
Temple
(transitive) To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; to temple a god
Temple
A contrivence used in a loom for keeping the web stretched transversely.
Temple
The space, on either side of the head, back of the eye and forehead, above the zygomatic arch and in front of the ear.
Temple
One of the side bars of a pair of spectacles, jointed to the bows, and passing one on either side of the head to hold the spectacles in place.
Temple
A place or edifice dedicated to the worship of some deity; as, the temple of Jupiter at Athens, or of Juggernaut in India.
Temple
The edifice erected at Jerusalem for the worship of Jehovah.
Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
Temple
Hence, among Christians, an edifice erected as a place of public worship; a church.
Can he whose life is a perpetual insult to the authority of God enter with any pleasure a temple consecrated to devotion and sanctified by prayer?
Temple
Fig.: Any place in which the divine presence specially resides.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?
The groves were God's first temples.
Temple
A building dedicated to the administration of ordinances.
Temple
A local organization of Odd Fellows.
Temple
To build a temple for; to appropriate a temple to; as, to temple a god.
Temple
Place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity
Temple
The flat area on either side of the forehead;
The veins in his temple throbbed
Temple
An edifice devoted to special or exalted purposes
Temple
(Judaism) the place of worship for a Jewish congregation
Temple
A structure representing religious and cultural heritage.
The temple ruins tell tales of a bygone era.
Common Curiosities
Are there any icons or statues in a mosque?
Typically, mosques avoid icons or statues, following Islamic teachings against idolatry.
Is it mandatory for Muslims to visit a mosque?
While it's encouraged, especially for Friday prayers, daily prayers can be performed anywhere.
Can temples belong to multiple religions?
Yes, temples can be found in Hinduism, Buddhism, ancient religions, and more.
Do all religions have temples?
No, the term "temple" applies to specific religions, not all.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Drivel vs. Dribble
Next Comparison
Celebrations vs. CelebrationAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
