Prayer Hall Research Articles

The Assessment of Acoustical Characteristics for Recent Mosque Buildings in Erbil City of Iraq

The study of mosque acoustics, concerning acoustical features, sound quality for speech intelligibility, and additional practical acoustic criteria, is commonly overlooked. Acoustic quality is vital to the fundamental use of mosques, in terms of contributing toward prayers and worshippers’ appreciation. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the acoustic quality level and the acoustical characteristics for two modern mosque buildings constructed in Erbil city. This work investigates and examines the acoustical quality and performance of these two mosques and their prayer halls through room simulation using ODEON Room Acoustics Software, to assess the degree of speech intelligibility according to acoustic criteria relative to the spatial requirements and design guidelines. The sound pressure level and other room-acoustic indicators, such as reverberation time (T30), early decay time, and speech transmission index, are tested. The outcomes demonstrate the quality of acoustics in the investigated mosques during semi-occupied and fully-occupied circumstances. The results specify that the sound quality within the both mosques is displeasing as the loudspeakers were off.

A comparative study on integration of courtyard in creating environmental sustainability space for eclectic buildings

Buildings are categorised into various types such as residential, educational, assembly and etc. This paper is described one type of assembly building namely mosque and its elements. The mosque is comprising of several elements such as courtyard, prayer hall, arcades, minaret, dome, the ablution rooms and toilets. It should be designed to accommodate the worshipper to feel comfortable and humble in the presence of God while performing the ‘solah’. In tropical region, especially in Malaysia; the existence of the courtyard in traditional mosques is still questionable whether it has fully considered the environmental benefits or it is simply a trend adopted from the Middle East. Previous studies have found that the purpose of having a courtyard inside a mosque is either for spatial reasons or it may be negligible. Hence, this study is conducted to understand the courtyard in a specificity of architectural style and the effects on spatial organization in traditional mosque design. The observation methods are used at the fieldwork in selected traditional mosques. From the observation two types of building indicator of space and form are identified for better understanding of courtyard characteristics of selected traditional mosques.

Study of indian rock-cut architecture

The rock-cut structures are the most magnificent item of Indian art. Most rock-cut monuments were intimately linked to different faiths and religious activities. At the start, magnificent Buddhist and Jain rock-cut monuments were constructed in places such as Bihar to the east and Maharashtra to the west. The Buddhist monks dug many caverns for worship and housing reasons. Chaityas (Prayer Halls) and Viharas are the finest examples (monasteries). The windows, balconies and portals were sculpted in these rock-cut buildings as enormous arch shaped apertures.

The identity of architectural and lighting solutions of stone mosques of the late XVIII – early XX centuries in Kazan

The work aims to analyze the influence of translucent fences on the light environment in the prayer hall and internal premises with the traditional volumetric-spatial solution of stone mosques of the late XVIII - early ХХ centuries in Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan, Russia). Based on the study of stone mosques in Kazan it was revealed that the main factor was the creation of a complete architectural image of the mosque following the temporary style and solution of the internal light environment through windows and stained-glass windows. Windows and stained-glass windows were scaled using architectural elements and decor for the holistic perception of the object. The significance of the obtained results for architecture is to present recommendations for the organic use of the studied techniques and methods of work on the objects of the architectural heritage in the restoration and design of modern mosques.

ОЦЕНКА АКУСТИКИ ХРАМОВЫХ ЗДАНИЙ И СООРУЖЕНИЙ НА ОСНОВЕ ПАРАМЕТРА МЕРЫ ВЫСОТЫ

In this paper, based on the analysis of the results of field surveys of the acoustics of canonical prayer halls of the Orthodox and Muslim confessions, a proposal for an objective assessment of the specific sense of sacredness of religious events is developed. A new parameter for assessing this feeling is presented-the so - called "height measure" of the perception of the sound of the temple, with the method of its calculation and measurement. The relationship of this parameter with the known volume criteria of echo formations is estimated, depending on the geometry of the church (first of all, on the height of the main dome) and the signal-to-noise ratio for the characteristic areas of the parishioners 'accommodation.

TRAVELLERS' PERCEPTION OF WORSHIP FACILITIES FOR MULTIMODAL USERS OF MRT SBK LINE

The complete opening of the new Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT) Sungai Buloh - Kajang (SBK) of Klang Valley, Malaysia since July 2017 has been supported positively by transit researchers and public transport advocators alike. Multimodal public transport users make trips, usually involving transferring at interchanges. These interchanges are provided with several amenities facilitating each trip leg. This research recorded the perception of users of worship facilities provided at an interchanging node where several rails, bus, taxi, and other paratransit systems meet. This new rail system intersects with the other systems at Muzium Negara station. Using intercept off-board face to face questionnaire survey method, perception of the quality of worship facilities was captured between May and August 2019. Several explanatory variables such as socio economic and trip characteristics were set against the perception to identify factors influencing the perception. Results of the correlational analysis showed that both socio-demographic and trip characteristics influenced perception to various statistical significance degrees. Findings suggested that worship facilities were most utilised by passengers of MRT who relatively lower income, engaged in the public, specifically educational sector. Usage of MRT for commuting within the Klang Valley on monthly basis. The improvements in ventilation systems, prayer hall size and design, floor cleanliness, lighting and mirror design as well as shoe rack/clean area design were most sought by these passengers. As such, these should be the focus of strategies to be promptly adopted by interchanging nodes building managers to increase the quality of worship places provision.

Acıyurt Mosque in Sivas-Ulaş and its Decorations

Bu çalışmada Sivas ilinin Ulaş ilçesine bağlı Acıyurt köyünde yer alan cami tanıtılacak ve değerlendirilecektir. Acıyurt Köyü Camisi, 1877-1878 Osmanlı-Rus savaşı sırasında Ahıska’dan göç ederek bölgeye yerleşen Karapapak Türkleri tarafından 1899-1900 yılları arasında inşa edilmiştir. Yapı, doğu-batı yönünde dikdörtgen planlı ve iki bölümlü son cemaat yeri ile kuzey-güney yönünde dikdörtgen planlı harimden oluşur. Harim, iki sıra halindeki dört ahşap sütunla, ortadaki daha geniş üç sahna ayrılmıştır. Cami, doğu ve batı cephedeki üç, güney cephedeki iki pencereyle aydınlatılmıştır. Dıştan kiremit çatılı yapının kuzeybatı köşesinde, yapıya sonradan eklenen yamuk kaideli, silindirik gövdeli ve tek şerefeli minaresi vardır. Kabayonu kesme taş ve moloz taş dolgu duvar tekniğinde inşa edilen yapı, ahşap tavanlıdır. Yapının sütun başlıklarında, mahfili taşıyan kiriş ve konsolların harime bakan yüzlerinde, tavanlar ile minber ve vaaz kürsüsünde ahşap ve kalemişi tekniğinde yapılmış bezemeler vardır. Bezemelerde çiçek ve yaprak gibi bitkisel motifler, Zülfikar, teber gibi sembolik eşyalar, Kâbe gibi kutsal alanlar ve cami gibi mimari tasvirler görülür. Yapı, mimarisinden çok Kâbe, Zülfikar ve Teber gibi sembolik motiflerin de olduğu ahşap üzerine kalemişi tekniğinde yapılmış bezemeleri açısından önem taşımaktadır. Zülfikar motifi Anadolu’nun yanı sıra Ahıska bölgesindeki camilerde de yaygın olarak kullanılmıştır.

Experiences and Felt Needs of Women During Childbirth in a Tertiary Care Center: a Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

Childbirth experience is unique to every woman. Negative experience is detrimental to both mother and child. This study was undertaken to understand the positive and negative experience and felt need of women undergoing labor and the factors affecting them. This cross-sectional descriptive quantitative study was conducted among women who delivered in JIPMER and consented to participate through a questionnaire that captured four areas of childbirth experience. The study was carried out before the LaQshya guidelines were implemented. Three hundred and seventy women completed the study. The mean age of women in this study was 24.5years and 60% were primipara. Five women (1.3%) experienced physical abuse. Another 47 (12.7%) experienced disrespect in the form of scolding/insult/discrimination or nonconsented care. Three-fourths of the women wanted a relative (majority preferred their mother) with them, and 54% wanted a prayer hall in the labor room. On univariate analysis, no significant determinant was found for negative experience constituting disrespect and abuse. Complete pain relief as a need was found to be significantly higher (X2 = 11.0783, p < 0.004) in women of lower parity. The women educated beyond scholastic level felt that information given about delivery is inadequate when compared to participants who were illiterate or had primary education only. In our hospital 12.7% women undergoing labor experienced disrespectful behavior and 1.3% experienced physical abuse. Need for prayer hall, complete pain relief and presence of relative was felt by more than half of the participants. We did not find any specific factor influencing the negative experience.

Review: Ottoman Baroque: The Architectural Refashioning of Eighteenth-Century Istanbul, by Ünver Rüstem

Review: <i>Ottoman Baroque: The Architectural Refashioning of Eighteenth-Century Istanbul</i>, by Ünver Rüstem

URDU-A RESEARCH ANALYSIS IF MAKING ROWS (SAF) FOR THE CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER WITH REFERENCE TO COVID-19

Making and properly straightening of rows (Saf) is integral part of congregational prayers. The rows can either be physically jointed&nbsp;or can be implied in case people have to stand in a distance for example people offering prayer inside and outside the prayer hall. The important thing is to be under proper discipline while making rows for prayer. There should not be any unnecessary gap in the rows. But it is permitted in case if inevitability. Unnecessary&nbsp;gap is considered to be Tahrim Takrihi. Now a days it has emerged as a big issue in wake of the prevailing Pandemic; COVID-19. Scholars&nbsp; are if the opinion that it us not only permitted to observe medical instruction while making rows for prayer but it is the desired and suggested option under the circumstances. This is because the current Pandemic can speedily spread in case social distancing is not practiced. The current article will focus on this issue in detail.

THE NORMATIVE GEOMETRIC CRITERIA FOR THE SHAPE OF THE PLAN IN DESIGNING THE ‘SALAT’ SPACE IN MODERN MOSQUES, IN LIGHT OF ISLAMIC LAW

In this essay, we sought to infer the method to design the most fitting geometrical shape for the plan of a ‘Salat’ space in the prayer hall in a mosque, from relevant scripture, and from textbooks of A’emah of Fiqh, making use of basic rules of analytic geometry. We established that any shape for the ‘Salat space’ plan besides the Orthogonal Polygon which takes the complete undivided ‘Musalliah unit’ for a strict module in its composition, would yield juristically unfavorable effects in the way rows of Musalleen are lined up behind the Imam, and would diminish the use that can be made of Waqf money in hosting the largest possible number of ‘Musalleen’ within the bounds of available space.

Repairs of Fethiye Camii From the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century to Post-1894 Earthquake in the Light of Ottoman Manuscripts

Bu makalede Fethiye Camii’nin 19. yüzyılın ikinci yarısından 20. yüzyıl başına uzanan süreçteki onarımlarına ışık tutan arşiv belgeleri değerlendirilmiştir. 16. yüzyıl sonunda Orta ve Geç Bizans Dönemlerine ait iki kiliseden dönüştürülmüş olan Fethiye Camii, İstanbul’da, Fatih İlçesi’nin Çarşamba Semti’nde yer alır. Cumhurbaşkanlığı Devlet Arşivleri’nin Osmanlı Arşivi ve Atatürk Kitaplığı Evrak Koleksiyonu taranarak ulaşılan belgelerden yapının 1862, 1861-1874 yılları arası ve 1894 depremi sonrasında onarım gördüğü tespit edilmiştir. Bu belgelerden elde edilen bilgiler, yazılı kaynaklar, arşiv fotoğrafları ve yapının kendi üzerindeki izler ile karşılaştırılarak söz konusu süreçte yapının geçirmiş olduğu değişiklikler yorumlanmaya çalışılmıştır. Tarihi yapıların geçmiş onarımlarıyla ilgili yeterli bilgiye ulaşmak her zaman kolay değildir. Çok çeşitli bilgi kaynakları özenle taranarak çoğu zaman sadece ufak bir bilgi kırıntısı elde edilebilmektedir. Arşiv belgeleri, fotoğraflar üzerinden elde edilen bulgularla birleştirilince yapının geçirdiği değişikliklerin yorumlanmasında somut bir temel oluşturmaktadır. Aynı zamanda bu belgeler dönemlerinin yaklaşım ve anlayış biçimlerinin öğrenilmesine, kullanılmış olan malzemelerin ve ihtiyaç duyulan tamirlerin niteliğinin anlaşılmasına katkı sunarlar. Bu makale kapsamında incelenen belgelerde görülmüştür ki: Emanet usulü ile bir ustaya/kalfaya teslim edilmiş olan bir yapının onarımı, o kişiye bir şey olması durumunda yapılamamaktadır. Bu bilgi, ilgili dönemde bir yapının onarımına yaklaşımı ortaya koyması açısından oldukça ilginçtir. Yapının 20. yüzyılda görülen son iki dönem kalem işi bezemesi, hünkâr kasrı ve son cemaat yeri çatısı onarımları ile minaresinin görünümündeki değişikliklerin değerlendirildiği bu makale koruma uzmanı bir mimar ile bir tarihçinin ortak çalışması sonucu ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu çalışmanın disiplinler arası ortak çalışma ve işbirliğinin verimliliği konusunda da iyi bir örnek oluşturduğu düşünülmektedir.

“A Tenacious Reputation for Unreliability:” Re-Viewing Evliya Çelebi’s Description of the Diyarbakir Ulu Cami in the Seyahatname

This article examines the role of seventeenth-century writer Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname (Book of Travels) as an architectural source by “re-viewing” the passages pertaining to his visit to the Great Mosque of Diyarbakir in 1655. Evliya’s intriguing description of a mosque with a dome does not match the surviving main prayer hall with its gabled roof. I parse the apparent discrepancies in Evliya’s presentation of the physical structure by comparing his entries to other historical accounts of the mosque and placing these alongside the evidence provided by the building itself. Countering criticisms of Evliya’s skills of observation, I argue instead that the Seyahatname described what the mosque meant in the context of its Ottoman Islamic history, and how it was received and understood by visitors to Diyarbakir.

Compliance of Indoor Air Contaminants within the Main Prayer Halls of Mosques in Malacca with Malaysia's Indoor Air Quality Standard

Compliance of Indoor Air Contaminants within the Main Prayer Halls of Mosques in Malacca with Malaysia's Indoor Air Quality Standard

Characteristics of Irregular Column Capitals in Ottoman Mosques with Courtyards

The aim of this article is to examine the construction techniques of the irregular column capitals which are located at the junction of portico and courtyard arcades ( revak ) of six Ottoman mosques. The porticos height of the closed-courtyard mosques built during the Ottoman period regarding is mostly equal. However, in six cases, the porticos of the mosques are higher than their side porticos, which led alternative solutions to keep the continuity of the arcade surrounding the courtyard. The first phase of this study focuses on the construction techniques and materials of the column capitals in Ottoman architecture and the second phase deals with irregular capitals including their characteristics (sizes, materials, and relations with other building elements). For this purpose, detailed drawings were prepared through the site examinations and the literature review. As a result, despite that their size and shape vary depending on construction period, the relationship between last prayer hall and courtyard, structural aspects, and visual concern, their construction techniques, materials, and components show similar properties.

حضور النساء في المساجد من منظور القرآن الكريم دراسة تحليلية

The participation of women in five times congregational prayer and attending Friday Sermon improve their understanding of Islam culminated with contributions for the betterment of Muslim society. This study attempts to explore and analyze the participation of women in Muslim prayer hall from the Qur’anic perspective. It responds to the prohibition interpretations and allegations raised by some Muslim Indian scholars who overlook the Qur’anic notion concerning women’s activity in the mosque. In order to grasp the correct understanding of women participation in mosque, this study adopts an inductive method to survey the Qur’anic verses as well as analytical method for scrutinizing Qur’anic verses that related to this issue. The study found that women have a great contribution in developing glorious history of Muslim Prayer Hall. The story of Hajar, Prophet Ibrahim’s wife, and Maryam, Prophet ‘Isa’s mother is among great lesson of establishing this matter. While scholars who disallow women in the mosque referred to some prophetic traditions ahead of the Qur’anic verses as the primary source. In particular, this matter can reach proper solution with reference to the hierarchy of evidence.

Dependency of Biological Contaminants on Temperature and Relative Humidity within Praying Halls of Mosques

The widespread use of Air Conditioning Split Units (ACSU) to cool the air inside mosques may pose potential adverse health effects, secondary to exposure to biological contaminants. To address this issue, the dependencies of biological contaminants (bacteria and fungi) on temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) of the ‘mosques’ indoor air were evaluated. A total of 25 mosques were investigated during the periods in which their respective congregators were performing Zohor or Friday, and Asar prayers. The recorded average indoor bacteria and fungi concentrations were 382.6±143.9 cfu/m3 and 229.4±165.5 cfu/m3, respectively. However, the study found that masses of bacteria aerosol within the indoors of certain mosques (10 out of 17 ACSU mosques and 1 out of 8 non-ACSU mosques) exceeded the limit recommended by Malaysian standard for indoor air quality (500 cfu/m3). Meanwhile, the results of regression analyses suggested that T and RH of the indoor air have high influence on airborne bacteria and fungi. The variations in bacteria concentrations due to the influence of T and RH in ACSU mosques (T= 92.3%; RH= 90.3%) were higher than in non-ACSU mosques (T= 82.75%; RH= 81.7%) whereas the variations in fungi concentrations in non-ACSU mosques (T=70.45%; RH= 71.45%) were higher than in ACSU mosques (T= 66.05%; RH= 60.7%). This research shows that the growth of bacteria and fungi within the prayer halls of mosques in Malaysia is very much dependent on its indoor T and RH.

Unity and Multiplicity in Islamic Geometric and Calligraphic Expression: A Photographic and Visual Journey of Space in Nusantara Mosques

The paper describes how the experience and philosophy of Islamic unity and multiplicity are heightened through a photographic compilation of surface patterning; geometric and calligraphic in Mosques in the region. It then focuses on two mosques to highlight their particular contributions to achieved a contextualisation of such a universal aesthetic design and expression. Both masjid Negara Kuala Lumpur and the Istilal Mosque, Jakarta, represent key innovation, of prayer hall expression and decoration due to the contextualisation, and regionalization of essential geometric patterning, which departs from the usual stereotypical Islamic geometry to embrace and forward a Nusantara identity that resonates with minimalism and modernization in the industrialized world.

STUDYING THE HUMAN SCALE AND PROPORTIONALITY OF MOSQUE BUILDINGS: SOME SELECTED CASE STUDIES IN ERBIL CITY

Human scale and proportion have an important role in building design as they provide and create aesthetics and sense of place. In architecture, the human scale and proportion are based on the dimensions and proportions of the human body. The mosque is an important institution of Islam and is considered as a symbol of Islamic architecture. Also, it is a place of spiritual connection with God. This study aimed at addressing whether the human scale and proportionality have been used in mosques in the past and present. The objective of this research is to show if mosques in Erbil city built in different periods were concentrated on human scale and proportion to achieve aesthetic and comfort inside its prayer halls. To achieve it, three cases (the Great Mosque of Erbil Citadel, Rashad Mufty Mosque, and Madina Mnawara Mosque) were selected. The golden ratio was used as a technique method to measure and to see if the human scale and proportion were applied. From the three selected mosques, results show that none of them used the golden ratio completely in their designs. The highest value of golden ratio was achieved in the prayer hall of Rashad Mufty mosque with (82%) and the Great Mosque of Erbil citadel with (74%) consequently, while only 61% of the golden ratio was achieved in Madina Mnawara mosque. This study prompts the new generation of architects in Erbil city to consider human scale and proportionality through the application of a certain method, such as the golden ratio in the design of buildings in general and mosque buildings in particular.

Statics of space syntax: Analysis of daylighting

Space syntax involves a set of techniques for analyzing the spatial configurations of various spaces at building and urban scales. Religious spaces, such as prayer halls, are examples of buildings where observers experience space mostly from a single point of view. Furthermore, traditional space syntax is mainly used in the analysis of visibility and space cognition in terms of isovists and graph-based measures. The other aspects of space cognition, such as day lighting, artificial lighting, and glare, are carried in the isolation of the space syntax analysis. This paper proposes the scaling of the space syntax field for the inclusion of other parameters, such as daylighting, and integration of the associated performative measures to space syntax analysis of the mosque typology to aid in the studying of overall space cognition based on comfort and environmental parameters. We present a case study on a typical mosque layout using multi-objective optimization. The analysis presented in the paper has implications for the architectural designs of spaces with respect to glare management and daylight potential. Moreover, it is unique and builds on our previous work for the exploration of comfort, visibility, and proximity thresholds for stationary observers.