MASJID JAMEK

INTERVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHIC

DOCUMENTARY
1. Interview Questions
a) What are the elements of the mosque that links man to God?
Which part of the mosque is spiritual?
b) How does the spatial planning of a mosque allow for communal and
social gathering?
Which spaces allow for people to gather and have events?
c) How do the presence of religious authorities affect the spatial planning
of a mosque?
Is the imam involved in designing the mosque?
d) Do the religious authority have a more elaborate space within the
mosque?
Where does the imam stay? What does it look like? Is it very special?
e) Is there significance to the placement and location of the mosque?
f) What are the ideas of Islam that reflect the design of the mosque?
Which part of the mosque is (tawhid, haya etc.)?
g) Does lighting play an important role in the spiritual and visual experience
of the mosque?
Do you feel like light is important during your prayers?
h) What is the cultural significance of geometry in the mosque?
Why does the mosque use (Square, rectangle, etc.)?
i) Is there a general floor plan that a mosque has to abide to?
j) How does the scale of the mosque affect the spatial experience?
What do you feel is better for prayers, small or big mosques?
2. Interviewee answers
The first interview was with Sister Fardowsa Bille, who works at Masjid Jamek as a tour
guide.
a) She said that the main prayer hall was the most spiritual place because it allowed for
the worshippers to concentrate on connecting with God due to its enclosed space.

b) The mosque is open to public at designated timings to allow for ease of administrative
duties but some parts of the mosque are dedicated to Muslims only.
c) The shura council will provide religious guidelines as to design the mosque. However,
the imam is a congregational leader and would offer his opinions on the design of
sacred spaces. A British Architect, however, designed the mosque.
The second interview was conducted with the head imam of Masjid Jamek, Mohd Faisal
Bin Tan Mutallib and answered a majority of the questions.
a) The most emotional and spiritual place would have to be the main prayer hall. It allows
for all the Muslim community to congregate at one place and perform solat to become
closer to God. However, the entire mosque is spiritual to both the Muslims and NonMuslims as long as they enter with pure intentions to seek guidance.
b) There are different guidelines as to allow public spaces with different mosque. Due to
the mosque being a historical building located in the center of the city, they need to
accommodate tourists. For ease of operation, designated timings are set. From 9am
12.30pm and 2.30pm 4.30pm. This allows the staff to go for lunch and perform their
prayers.
c) The imam appointed by the Government would aid in the designing of a mosque. The
most important guideline would have to be that the land has to be a wakaf, which is a
property of someone that is willing to transfer the ownership to the Islamic Affairs
Department.
d) The imam stays in a modest family quarters located inside the Mosque.
e) The mosque was built due to the expansion of the community of Kampung Rawa that
flourished due to the conjoining of the two rivers, the Gombak river and the Klang river.
It was once a cemetery. Masjid Jamek was named the New Mosque, and was the
second mosque to be built during the time due to the increase in population.
f) Tawhid is represented through the orientation of the mosque facing the Kaabah as well
as the location of the mosque being the center of the city, so it is a focal point. Ilm and
Ikhlas is represented through the activities conducted by the mosque that meets the
peoples needs such as language courses as well as counseling sessions. A gallery is
also to be opened up with exhibitions regarding the mosque. Haya and Ihtiram is
represented through two definitions, modesty and life. Modesty can be seen through
the use of robes and sarongs to cover up the aurat for people who enter the Mosque.
In terms of life, the mosque believes in regenerating the journey of life so they offer
counseling sessions to people who intend to start over. Dikr can be seen through the
representation of repetitive elements as well as performing the prayers together. This
allows the worshippers to remember that they are not alone and that Allah swt. Is
watching. The imam defined Iqtisad as communication. He said that they represent
Iqtisad by keeping close contacts with the visitors of the mosque. In terms of Urf, the
mosque has undergone renovations to accommodate the needs of the people such as
the handicapped and tourists.

g) Yes, natural lighting allows for a more comfortable environment, which would result in
the worshippers being more focused on connecting to God.
h) The mosque was based of Arabesque architecture to represent infinity, which can also
be seen by the official logo of Masjid Jamek.
i)

Yes, the mosque should be easy to access by the people and due to modernization it
should be eco-friendly as well. The land has to be wakaf and basic facilities should be
provided such as and ablution station, community spaces and parking spaces. MUFTI
determines all these decisions.

j)

It depends on the community in which the mosque is located. Personally, he feels that
the mosques should fulfill the needs of the people.

3. Photographic Documentation