The architectural term for a mosque tower traditionally used to give the call to prayer is minaret. The word refers to a tower associated with a mosque, often featuring a balcony from which the muezzin historically made the call.
Minarets have taken many forms across the Islamic world, including square towers in North Africa, pencil-shaped Ottoman towers, and spiral or stepped examples in Iraq and South Asia. Their designs reflect local materials, construction traditions, and historical periods.
A minaret is often confused with other mosque features. The mihrab is the niche indicating the direction of prayer, while the minbar is the pulpit used for sermons. An iwan is a vaulted hall open on one side, found in many religious and civic buildings. Modern mosques may use loudspeakers, but minarets remain important visual symbols of mosque architecture.