Seeking to Learn More About Islam

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Hello my name is Ely and I have been assigned a project for my interior architecture and design course to design a Islamic Mosque for the Sunni sect. I have a few questions for actual followers to help me make the most functional and beautiful space possible!

1. What is the main difference between Sunni and Shiite muslims?
2. What is the primary goal for believers?
3. How is this goal achieved? Prayer, charity, worship, etc?
4. What are worship spaces in a mosque usually like?
5. In your opinion, how should believers feel when they walk into a worship space? Happy, humbled, fearful, etc?
6.What suggestions would you make for the design of a mosque?
7. What is one thing a mosque would be incomplete without?

Thanks so much!
 
Hi,

I am just a 20 year old sunni Muslim from birth, so take my post with a grain of salt.

1. At the death of our prophet Mohammed, there was a divide between the people as who should rule the land. Long story short, sunni think that Abu Bakr, father of Aisha was and should be the first following ruler. While the Shia, think that Ali should have been the ruler after Mohammed. (simpler than this I can't make it.) Note that every muslim, shia or sunni follow the same five pillars of Islam, it the extra rules that are up to interpretation that differ between them.

2. The primary goals of any Muslim, is fulfilling the five pillars of Islam.

3. Depends on the pillar.

4. You come into the mosque, take wudu, which is a simple washing of the hands, feet and more if not done already. Sit somewhere and listen the the imam (Islamic pastor) until the we hear the ezan (call to prayer) and then pray.

5. That is for oneself to decide. I just come there and the things I was asked to do. It's that simple.

6. As a young muslim, I would rather see a modern twist on our mosques, almost to the point of it being futuristic. My personal opinion though.

7. A place for prayer of course! Note that mosques are not only for prayer, they are also used for Islamic related classes and even more various things.
 
Hello Ely, welcome to the forum :)

1. The main difference initially started out politically in regards to who should be the next ruler of the Islamic empire.Over time the two groups diverged more and as shia beliefs also started to change and become different then that of Sunni Islam. This can be a lengthy topic to discuss. Here is a short chart showing th difference between there two:

http://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/youth/bridges/workshop14/185663.shtml

2. The primary goal is to get to paradise. This life is seen as temporary and a test for all with you getting the final grade of pass or fail on Judgement day and then going to where you will end up for eternity.

3. This goal is by following Islam and it's pillars. Which includes doing your obligatory duties, such as 5 daily prayers and voluntary duties such as charity. Allah commands us in the Quran to 'enjoin good and forbid evil', so as civic citizens of this planet we try to emulate the life of the Prophet Muhammad :saws1: as an example to follow.

4. Mosques usually have a carpeted prayer hall for one to sit and read the Quran, listen to sermons and lectures and to stand up and pray in. Normally the female have their own separate prayer area, usually on the second floor over looking the bottom prayer hall. Mosques these are more than just a prayer hall, the whole building consists of an office for administration, restrooms with ablution area, a community multiple purpose hall and maybe an islamic school too if the community is large enough and has the resources. You can find lot of pictures online of inside of a mosque. Here's a few:

http://www.asergeev.com/pictures/archives/2013/1187/jpeg/20.jpg
http://inspirationseek.com/wp-conte...eikh-Zayed-Grand-Mosque-Interior-Pictures.jpg
https://www.prophetpbuh.com/wp-cont...ide-Qatar-State-Mosque-Doha-Qatar-Picture.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Inside_london_central_mosque.jpg

5. The mosque is a house of worship and is regarded as the house of God. So one feels happy and excited while also calm and humbled at the same time.

6. The mosques are usually decorated with calligraphy. Depending on the location (east vs west) and resources, some mosques can be very fancy looking while others can be low key blending in with other buildings type. It depends on the community as well, if it's a Muslim majority community or Muslim friendly community then they can be more islamic in design but with current islamophobia trend in the west, usually making the mosques more average and blended in type is the norm. Here are some examples:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/104919866297444692/
https://67.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq5699dVMw1qeynhvo1_500.jpg
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/ara...ade-painted-mortar-attached-side-34799676.jpg
https://thoughtscontinuum.files.wor...calligraphy-inscribed-all-over-the-walls1.jpg


7. Mosques are known by their minarets. That is where the caller of prayer used to go to make the call for prayer so it can be heard far and wide. In Muslim countries, they have speakers up there now. In the west, they are shown as a symbol of the building being a mosque. There are some who don't have it and totally blend in so as to not attract attention but that also has the negative effect of no one being able to tell if it's a mosque or just some building, making new comers to the city or travelers who need to prayer to miss out on knowing there is a mosque there.


I hope that helps. If you have more questions, please do ask.
 
Helo, Ely. Thank you for coming to our forum.

1. I think one of the biggest differences is in who they pray to. Sunnis pray exclusively to Allah, whereas shi'a often pray to their twelve imams for help (like imam Ali, imam Hussein, etc). The shi'a associate divine qualities to the twelve imams; for instance, they believe that the imams can hear all prayers. The All-Hearing is one of Allah's names, so they are associating partners to Allah, which is a huge sin.

2. To worship selflessly

3. Worship encompasses everything. We follow the commandments in the Qur'an and we try to imitate the example of our prophet, Muhammad [peace be upon him]. We take part in the Shahada which is the declaration of faith and we also do daily prayers, give to charity, go on the Hajj pilgrimage and fast during Ramadan. We believe in Allah, the books He sent down, Heaven and Hell, angels, Judgment Day, the prophets and predestination.

4. It's a quiet place where people read books, do devotional practices and talk to each other (in a quiet manner).

5. Excited. You're entering a place where the Lord of the Universe is worshiped. :)

6. It doesn't matter what it looks like. As long as it is clean, that's what matters most, in my opinion.

7. A place to pray. We segregate the genders. Women pray with women and men pray with men.
 

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