Investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in Malaysia

Muslim women participation in masjid, a place where the community congregates interacts and a place for education, is allowed but non-compulsory in Islam. In Malaysia, women as part of the community frequented the masjid for different activities at a daily basis. Therefore, their presence and needs...

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Main Authors: Mohd Nawawi, Norwina, Abdul Rahim, Zaiton, Abdul Majid, Noor Hanita, Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shireen
Format: Proceeding Paper
Language:English
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/37747/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/37747/1/Norwina.pdf
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author Mohd Nawawi, Norwina
Abdul Rahim, Zaiton
Abdul Majid, Noor Hanita
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shireen
author_facet Mohd Nawawi, Norwina
Abdul Rahim, Zaiton
Abdul Majid, Noor Hanita
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shireen
author_sort Mohd Nawawi, Norwina
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
description Muslim women participation in masjid, a place where the community congregates interacts and a place for education, is allowed but non-compulsory in Islam. In Malaysia, women as part of the community frequented the masjid for different activities at a daily basis. Therefore, their presence and needs should form an integral part of the masjid space planning and design provisions. However, from observations and personal experience, the design of masjids is frequently gender insensitive as there is no definite guideline on space provision for women. This paper examines the issues on space planning of masjid in relation to the requirements for women. The objectives of this paper are; (i) to investigate how spaces and requirements for women in the masjid are derived from the original sources of Islam (Quran and Hadith); and (ii) how its’ essence has been applied in masjid in Malaysia. Qualitative method namely analytical analysis of layout and observation was adopted for this research due to its exploratory nature. Data collected are analysed through comparative method to derive trends on planning and design on selected traditional and contemporary masjid in Malaysia. Findings indicate that in general the design of the masjid is gender insensitive towards women such as obscured access; temporal nature of prayer space; location of ablution area away from the prayer area; and inaccessibility for the disable and elderly women.
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format Proceeding Paper
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institution International Islamic University Malaysia
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language English
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publishDate 2014
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spelling iium-377472018-06-19T07:00:54Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/37747/ Investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in Malaysia Mohd Nawawi, Norwina Abdul Rahim, Zaiton Abdul Majid, Noor Hanita Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shireen H Social Sciences (General) NA100 Architecture and the state NA2599 Architectural criticism Muslim women participation in masjid, a place where the community congregates interacts and a place for education, is allowed but non-compulsory in Islam. In Malaysia, women as part of the community frequented the masjid for different activities at a daily basis. Therefore, their presence and needs should form an integral part of the masjid space planning and design provisions. However, from observations and personal experience, the design of masjids is frequently gender insensitive as there is no definite guideline on space provision for women. This paper examines the issues on space planning of masjid in relation to the requirements for women. The objectives of this paper are; (i) to investigate how spaces and requirements for women in the masjid are derived from the original sources of Islam (Quran and Hadith); and (ii) how its’ essence has been applied in masjid in Malaysia. Qualitative method namely analytical analysis of layout and observation was adopted for this research due to its exploratory nature. Data collected are analysed through comparative method to derive trends on planning and design on selected traditional and contemporary masjid in Malaysia. Findings indicate that in general the design of the masjid is gender insensitive towards women such as obscured access; temporal nature of prayer space; location of ablution area away from the prayer area; and inaccessibility for the disable and elderly women. 2014-07 Proceeding Paper PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/37747/1/Norwina.pdf Mohd Nawawi, Norwina and Abdul Rahim, Zaiton and Abdul Majid, Noor Hanita and Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shireen (2014) Investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in Malaysia. In: XXVth International Union of Architects World Congress, 3-7th August 2014, Durban, South Africa. http://www.uia2014durban.org/resources/docs/Proceedings%20Book.pdf
spellingShingle H Social Sciences (General)
NA100 Architecture and the state
NA2599 Architectural criticism
Mohd Nawawi, Norwina
Abdul Rahim, Zaiton
Abdul Majid, Noor Hanita
Jahn Kassim, Puteri Shireen
Investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in Malaysia
title Investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in Malaysia
title_full Investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in Malaysia
title_fullStr Investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in Malaysia
title_short Investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in Malaysia
title_sort investigation on women's space in masjid architecture: case study of selected masjids in malaysia
topic H Social Sciences (General)
NA100 Architecture and the state
NA2599 Architectural criticism
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/37747/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/37747/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/37747/1/Norwina.pdf