‘He governs all that exists, from the celestial space to the earth; and in the end all shall ascend unto Him [for judgment] on a Day the length whereof will be [like] a thousand years of your reckoning’
(Quran chapter 32: verse 5)
User-friendly facilities
The dictionary defines ‘user-friendly’ as being ‘easy to learn, use, understand, or deal with’. Architects talk about ‘form’ (how it looks) and ‘function’ (how it works). Both are important. Mosques have tended to give more attention to looks, and little, if any, to user-friendliness. User-friendliness is a part of function, a part that architects and mosque leaderships have generally ignored.
Environment
Saving energy is one of the key parts of moving to a more sustainable use of resources and caring for the environment. Mosques are typically large; they may be old or listed buildings that are used irregularly, and so can easily waste a lot of energy.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said “The world is beautiful and verdant, and verily God, be He exalted, has made you His stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves.” (Hadith Muslim)
- Use energy-efficient light bulbs
- Use sprinkler taps in washrooms (wudu area)
- Turn hot water and heating thermostats down
- Encourage worshippers to walk or cycle to the mosque
- Minimise the use of paper
- Get an energy survey done on the mosque