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

Abstract

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.