First Mosque Built by Woman in Turkey
For the first time in the history of Turkey, a mosque will be built which is designed by a woman. In the past, only men were allowed to design mosques because many Muslims believed mosques, and especially their design, to be the domain of men.
Zeynep Fadillioglu is one member of a team of interior designers and architects overseeing the construction of the Sakirin Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. She has worked with other female designers on the grand project of decorating this new, beautiful mosque.
“I think I don’t know of any other person — a woman — who has designed a mosque before,” she told NPR.
That could very well be because there aren’t many of them.
Here’s the mosque, designed completely by women:
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I heard the story but what struck me was, she’s a secular muslim or at least a “non-practicing” muslim. I my have my disagreements with the religion but what does it mean to have a house of worship for a religion that may not be for the practice of the religion.
Its like a secular church. I think that’s called an arena.
don’t get me wrong its a beautiful building but I would not be surprised if some devout Turks aren’t a little upset.
Why would they be? It is a beautiful mosque designed for practice of the religion.
If they are not willing to practise the religion in this mosque just because it is designed by a woman appearing to be non-practising then they are not real Muslims inside.
Thanks Michael for the informative article, I have not read it elsewhere yet.
c3: how can it be a secular mosque? It’s a secular mosque because the achitects were secular (according to you) Muslims? They don’t wear a headscarf; does that make them ’secular’? If so, I’ll inform you a bit about early Islam and about the Islam at it is practiced by millions of women today.
And what if they were non-practicing Muslims? How does that do anything about the mosque, influence? It’s not as if they are going to give the Friday sermons in it; they designed the mosque, that’s all.
Following your reasoning, half of the Churches in Europe and the US should be considered ’secular’ because the ones who designed them were (Leonardo da Vinci anyone?).
“Following your reasoning, half of the Churches in Europe and the US should be considered ’secular’ because the ones who designed them were (Leonardo da Vinci anyone?).”
Maybe I was trying to raise/discuss an issue somewhat separate from the “who’s the architect” issue. (We have a church in Phx that is beautifully designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) But your example of European churches is apt. Many older churches in Europe and frankly some in America are now primarily tourist destinations as opposed to “houses of worship”. That’s fine from one sense, but we need to be careful to understand the distinction between a place thats “nice looking and gives you a good, metaphysical feeling” versus ” a place of worship”. My critique was not at all directed at Islam.
c3 you still don’t get it I’m afraid: listen, this mosque isn’t going to be a tourist attraction (as such – ‘as such’ because all big mosques in Istanbul are popular among tourists): it will be used on a massive scale by practicing Muslims. It will be overly full on Fridays, with people even having to pray outside, etc.
I have just returned from Turkey and I had the honor of visiting the mosque on my last day. This building though not finished is a beautiful and sacred space. I visit places of worship all over the world some are buildings where people pray and others are sacred spaces where people pray. This building definitely falls into the latter category. It is a wonderful gift to the world when someone uses their art to honor the sacred. I suggest you go a visit if you have the opportunity it is well worth the time-about 45 mins by tram, ferry, bus and walking from the Blue Mosque. Blessings on your day.