Mosque: An Architect's Exploration of Form, Faith and Meaning

A journey through the mosque’s history and representation around the world, its role in society, and its forms, ancient to contemporary, through the eyes of a young Syrian architect.

Today, there are an estimated 3.6 million mosques around the world, which vary enormously in shape, size, and design. Told from an architect's perspective, this book offers an illuminating account of mosques―from the history and setting of significant structures to reflections on identity, modernity, and aesthetics. Elegant line drawings provide easy-to-digest information on the mosque's form, function, and features.

The mosque lies at the heart of any Islamic city―a place for group prayer, serenity, and spiritual connection. Its exterior serves as a symbol of faith, a landmark, and a point of gathering. Since the first mosque was built by the Prophet Muhammad in Medina in 622 CE, mosques have been spaces where worship and social life flourish side by side.

In this book, Syrian architect and author Marwa Al-Sabouni shares her personal experiences and reflections to bring readers inside the mosque to understand its spiritual meaning, social significance, and enduring cultural value. The role of any religious building is essentially social: worship otherwise can be practiced at home, in solitude.

This is not simply a study of architectural form, but an exploration of the mosque's meaning and essence. The chapters examine the mosque through diverse lenses―from society to the environment, art to modernity―and conclude with a powerful reflection on how mosques might help rebuild Syria, scarred by decades of war but now entering a new period of hope, however fragile.

60 black-and-white illustrations

Marwa Al-Sabouni is an award-winning author, architect, and international speaker based in Syria. She holds a PhD in architectural design and Islamic architecture and runs a private architecture studio in Homs. The Battle for Home, her first book published by Thames & Hudson, was chosen by The Guardian as one of the best architectural books of 2016. Her second book, Building for Hope, was published in 2021. Al-Sabouni’s TED Talk has been viewed over one million times.