Traditional mosques were not just a space to pray, but they served as a pillar for the community that encouraged deep spiritual contemplation. The mosque being a public space meant that early Islamic architecture embodied sustainability principles by ensuring that environmental, social, and cultural factors were considered during the design stage. During construction, a similar approach was taken by ensuring the space would adequately serve the community whilst also being a reminder of the Islamic presence in its geographical location by using native construction materials. There are many aspects of traditional mosque architecture that we could learn from today, particularly when we look at the environmentally friendly and human focused design aspects we can observe in older mosques.

To understand what aspects of traditional Islamic architecture we can adopt in the construction and renovation of mosques, we must first understand what needs the mosque must meet. A mosque’s ultimate purpose is to provide a space for worship and religious education. As part of this, a mosque should prioritise the comfort of its occupants by addressing key factors that affect comfortability such as air quality, temperature, and lighting. Additionally, furnishings and interior design of mosques should be tailored to the needs of the people in the area. As secondary purposes, the mosque should be a space that enhances the health and wellbeing of its occupants, explicitly by ensuring that they do not come to harm in the mosque (pollution, toxic materials, and unfit buildings) and passively by adopting healthy building design. This would ultimately lead to a more comfortable experience in mosques. In order to uphold the Islamic principle, whereby Muslims are told to be caretakers/guardians of the Earth, mosque design should also consider its impact on the environment and sustainability factors. Mosques should strive to be energy efficient with minimal waste and environmental footprint.

Traditional Islamic architecture incorporates the factors discussed with the key features of traditional mosques, domes, minaret, arches, and courtyards. Each feature symbolises elements of sustainability and human focused architecture. The first is the use of natural materials, traditional mosques often used building materials that are native and sustainable including the use of clay and wood. The second is the use of passive heating and cooling design elements (domes, courtyards) that increased ventilation and optimised thermal comfort. Additionally, the correct use of natural lighting (arches, courtyards) to ensure a well-lit space that doesn’t overheat is a feature of many traditional mosques. The presence of fountains in courtyards is also a feature of traditional Islamic architecture that allows for an efficient use of water which acts as a coolant for the space.

In today’s day and age, there are many standards and regulations that can be adhered to in the construction process which allows for a more energy efficient and sustainable mosque to be built. However, with the prescriptive nature of many of these regulations and guidelines, it could be useful to look towards principles and features in traditional Islamic architecture for inspiration. To ensure that sustainability is an integral aspect of new-build mosques, we must always remember that it is an Islamic duty to ensure you are not having a negative impact on the earth. By adopting and adhering to sustainable standards and regulations, mosques can be beacons of both spiritual guidance and sustainability which ultimately emphasizes the connection between faith and the natural world.