<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">mosques</topic></authority><related type="narrower"><topic>[mosques by form]</topic></related><related type="narrower"><topic>[mosques by function]</topic></related><related type="other"><topic>mosques</topic></related><related type="other"><topic>mosque complexes</topic></related><related type="broader"><topic>religious buildings</topic></related><variant type="other"><topic>mosque</topic></variant> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ Muslim places of worship. Public mosques consist of an area reserved for communal prayers, frequently in a domed building with a minaret, and with a niche (mihrab) or other structure indicating the direction of Mecca. There may also be a platform for preaching (minbar), and an adjacent courtyard in which water is provided for the obligatory ablutions before prayer. Since representations of the human form are forbidden, decoration is geometric or based on Arabic calligraphy. ]]></note></mads>