Releasing the barriers of over sanctification of a sacred space re-evaluating functional configuration and usage of mosques in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

The mosque is a very important component for the Muslim community. Dhaka, the city of mosques is accommodating more than 6,000 mosques which refer to at least one mosque per 0.05km2 area. It has its great influence in the surrounding community and social life. Generally, we know mosque as a sacred place for worshipping for the Muslims. But over the period of time mosques have been over sanctified as a place of worship forgetting its subsidiary purposes in the context of Dhaka, Bangladesh. For this, a psychological barrier is being formulated gradually to its users which represents a wrong perception about the usage of mosques. Islamic history reveals its evidence about the multidimensional usage (like learning centre, centre of community, economic activities etc.) of mosques. There has been a failure to communicate the pristine view of Islam and it is oiling religious fanaticism. This study aims about how the psychological barrier of over sanctified mosques can be eradicated and explore the potential attachment of its users. Four different community mosques of Dhaka city are taken for studying this particular issue in this context. Their spatial layout and connectivity with urban morphology are being analysed super positioning the theory of space syntax. Questionnaire survey as quantitative research has done to the local users for the study of perception and usage of mosques. These analyses give a comparative conception about the relationship between the mosques and its user’s psychology. This paper discloses how both architectural elements and social morphology are influencing occupants’ behaviour and responses of that particular mosques. This inter-relationship between the architectural features and social assemblage can be designated to articulate future mosques in Dhaka city.