These panels come from one side of a minbar, which is the stepped pulpit found in a mosque. During the Friday mid-day prayers, a khutbah (sermon) would be read from the minbar, which is usually placed on the right of the mihrab (prayer niche). This architectural feature existed during Prophet Muhammad’s time. He used a minbar, which raised him above the congregation, so that his sermons could be easily heard. Scholars have suggested that it could also have served as a seat of honour for the Prophet as ruler of the Muslim community. Later Muslim rulers used the minbar as a symbol of authority. Indeed, formal mention of their names during the khutbah was important in legitimising their claim to power.
