The professional muezzin is chosen to serve at the mosque for his good character, voice and skills; however, he is not considered a cleric, but rather comparable to a Christian sexton. When calling to prayer, the muezzin faces the Qiblah (direction of the Ka'bah in Mecca) while he cries out the adhan. During worship, the muezzin in some mosques stands on a special platform (called the müezzin mahfili in Turkish), opposite the minbar and gives responses during the imam's sermon (khutbah).