How did rows of columns make the hypostyle mosque adaptable in size?

The hypostyle mosque was a highly flexible architectural unit that addressed the need for a large, centralized space for a growing community. Because the roof of a hypostyle structure rests on rows of columns, the building could be easily expanded or diminished in size simply by adding or subtracting these columns.1

This modular design allowed the hypostyle mosque to be adapted to the specific needs of different settlements, whether square or rectangular in shape, without requiring the complex structural changes that might be necessary in other architectural forms.1