For centuries, mosque designs have followed a well-trodden path. They feature a sahn/shaan (courtyard), a mihrab or a niche in the wall that guides worshippers towards the qibla (the direction of Mecca), a water source for ablution and most notably, a minaret used by the muezzin to recite a call to the daily prayer. The mosque also typically includes a dome that symbolizes the vault of heaven. The Indian subcontinent is home to historic mosques, some built by the Mughals like Jama Masjid in Delhi and Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, others like Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad by Qutb Shahi dynasty or the multi-domed Shait Gambuj Mosque in Bangladesh designed in the quintessentially Tughlaq style at the height of Bengal Sultanate.
Mosque aesthetics have remained largely unchanged for centuries, although in recent decades, many talented South Asian architects have added a contemporary touch to traditional mosque architecture, attesting to the fact that major stylistic shifts are underway. Here's rounding up three boundary-bending South Asian mosques with contemporary expressions that are heralding an exciting new chapter of mosque designs.
Mayor Mohammad Hanif Jame Mosque, Dhaka
Rafiq Azam and his Dhaka-based architectural firm Shatotto envisioned this holy sanctuary to reflect the most essential elements of Islamic mosque architecture — spirituality, faith, tradition, nature and culture. Even though inspired by the Mughal legacy, Azam attempted to rethink the design by infusing distinctive features of the Mughal style with contemporary and sustainable elements. Among the several pioneering things Azam has introduced in this project, one was to reframe sahn/shaan — a characteristic unique to Mughal mosques — as a tribute to the social fabric of old Dhaka. "The shaan, acting as a threshold, harmonises opposites (life and death, noise and silence), evoking an ambience conducive to prayer and meditation, fostering deeper submission," explains Azam, adding that he was also influenced by the 18th-century philosopher Lalan Fakir whose writings explored the distinction between the body and the soul, mind and thought. Built using brick, a material commonly found in Bengal long before the Mughal era, this mosque has perfectly combined traditional values with modern aesthetics to become one of Dhaka's newest architectural marvels.
"Many designers shy away from tackling challenges related to religious structures, often due to a lack of understanding," admits Rafiq Azam, the award-winning Bangladeshi architect who reimagined the idea of a mosque with his design for the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Jame Mosque in Dhaka. "In Islam," he further explains, “the concept of nothingness is profound — it's about deeply comprehending and feeling the presence of God through natural creations like the sun, moon and the movements of the universe. Yet, despite this emphasis, there's no tangible form to configure God.”
Azam argues that architects tend to prioritise traditional architectural elements such as domes, arches and minarets in their design and planning instead of fostering a connection between humanity and nature and encouraging prayers in the open fields and under the sky (rather than within built structures). That was the original conception of a religious building in Islam and the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Jame Mosque in Dhaka draws inspiration from Islamic history to reconnect humans with their natural surroundings.
Masjid-E-Zubaida, Raichur
The contemporary architectural landscape is awash with ultramodern and show-stopper designs. But are they truly innovative, in the way that they push the limits of form and function? Or are they just spectacles, full of visual grandeur and uprooted from their indigenous habitats? Islam promotes modesty in its way of living and Masjid-E-Zubaida in Raichur, Karnataka upholds the Islamic principles of ostentatious design and heritage. Designed by the Surat-based architectural firm NEOGENESIS+STUDI0261, the mosque is unlike any you might have seen. The modest and serene building emphasises meditation and spiritual purification. Though it is defined by highly functional elements associated with Islamic design etiquette such as Ibadat Khana, Minbar, Mihrab and the Minaret it does away with the dome which is an important visual marker for a mosque.
According to architect Chinmay Laiwala who designed Masjid-E-Zubaida along with his colleagues Jigar Asarawal and Tarika Asarawala, his self-effacing clients did not want the mosque for its monumental value. "A dome can signify grandness, so we opted for a clean form which also gives the building a sense of individuality," explains Laiwala. The exterior is made of exposed brick jali which showers sunlight on the faithful as they kneel to pray inside the mosque. Laiwala adds, “We also contemporized the design of the minaret to feature a triangular, twisted tower.”
Ismaili Jamatkhana, Mumbai
Constructed in 2021 across a built-up area of 2,850-square-metres, the Ismaili Jamatkhana & Community Centre in Mumbai transcends preconceived notions about Islamic mosque architecture. Envisioned by architect Nuru Karim of the Mumbai-based NUDES, this religious edifice harmoniously combines structural design, light and Islamic geometric patterns to create a dynamic style that is rooted in Islamic principles even as it reinterprets traditional vision and knowledge systems. Karim divided the architectural space into three core areas of functionality: religious, social, and educational. A distinctive triangular entrance foyer extends outward, forming a striking cantilevered skylight canopy. The use of mashrabiya furthers the Islamic connection.
"Mashrabiya patterns, prevalent in Islamic architecture, serve a dual purpose of aesthetic beauty and functional utility. The interplay of light and shadow through mashrabiya showcases the seamless integration of mathematics and architecture in Islamic design ethos," explains the founder of Nudes. The project's facade is adorned with intricate Islamic geometric patterns, whispering stories of the 8-pointed star geometry revered in Islamic culture. "The 8-pointed star carries deep symbolic meanings in Islamic culture. It is often associated with cosmic order, balance, and harmony, reflecting the principles of Islamic art and architecture. The regularity and symmetry of the 8-pointed star are believed to convey a sense of unity and equilibrium, underlying the core values of Islamic theology," says Karim.
