The Role of Mosques in Social Sustainability: Evaluation and Framework Development

Elif Dilara Durmus, Asli Pinar Biket

Abstract


This research aims to examine the role of mosques in the concept of social sustainability. Mosques are one of the important elements that shape the social structure of society. However, from a sustainable development perspective, the role of mosques in social sustainability and how they can be evaluated in this context have not been adequately addressed. This study aims to develop a social sustainability measurement framework comprising three main components: compliance with societal needs, protection of cultural heritage, and social interaction, by examining studies on ensuring and measuring social sustainability. Additionally, as part of this study, a survey is being conducted to understand how mosques can be evaluated for social sustainability. This survey aims to reach a wide range of participants, including mosque users and surrounding residents. The data obtained are analyzed using SPSS. This data will provide an important resource for understanding the current status of mosques in terms of social sustainability and potential areas for improvement.

Keywords


Social sustainability; cultural heritage; mosque

Full Text:

PDF

References


[1] G. Karyagdı, “Sustainable Effects in Interior Design,” Sustainable Approaches in Space Design, M. Geçimli, Ed. Ankara: İKSAD Publishing, pp. 119, 2022.

[2] E. Eizenberg and Y. Jabareen, “Social sustainability: A new conceptual framework,” Sustainability, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1–16, 2017. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9010068

[3] M. Stender and A. Walter, “The role of social sustainability in building assessment,” Building Research & Information, vol. 47, no. 5, pp. 598–610, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2018.1468057

[4] N. Akbulut and A. Erarslan, “Innovative approaches in contemporary mosque architecture design in Turkey,” Istanbul Aydin University Journal, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 33–59, 2017. https://doi.org/10.17932/IAU.IAUD.13091352.2017.9/35.33-59

[5] M. Karatas, “Mosques in Terms of Their Contribution to Non-Formal Religious Education,” Bitlis Islam Journal, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 1–21, 2022.

[6] A. Akin, “An essay on the mosque and its functions in the historical process,” Hitit University Faculty of Theology Journal, vol. 15, no. 29, pp. 177–209, 2016. https://doi.org/10.14395/hititilahiyat.268627

[7] A. K. Acar, “Building a mosque in the postmodern era,” Journal of the Faculty of Theology, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 201–224, 2023. https://doi.org/10.46353/k7auifd.1255663

[8] A. S. Arslantas and I. Aycam, “A Study on the Analysis of Contemporary Mosque Architecture within the Scope of Sustainability Principles,” in 2nd International Mediterranean Scientific Research and Innovation Congress, Kyrenia, Cyprus, 2022.

[9] S. O. Keitumetse, “Cultural resources as sustainability enablers: toward a community-based cultural heritage resources management (COBACHREM) model,” Sustainability, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 70–85, 2014. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6010070

[10] R. L. H. Chiu, “Social sustainability, sustainable development and housing development,” in Housing and Social Change: East-West Perspectives, Routledge, p. 221, 2003.

[11] P. Naghipour et al., “Sustainability in Historical Islamic Architecture: Lessons from Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque’s Construction Techniques,” Journal of Islamic Architecture, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 585–603, 2025. https://doi.org/10.18860/jia.v8i3.29053

[12] F. Indrarani, S. S. Saria, A. L. Lukmana, and S. Sahid, “Assessing social sustainability in mosque as religious building: Case study: Al-Lathiif Mosque, Bandung–West Java, Indonesia,” Journal of Islamic Architecture, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 627–642, 2025. https://doi.org/10.18860/jia.v8i3.26570

[13] R. Altunisik, R. Coskun, S. Bayraktaroglu, and E. Yildirim, Research methods in social sciences: SPSS applied, Sakarya Publishing, 2007.

[14] A. Field, Discovering Statistics Using SPSS, 3rd ed., London: Sage Publications Ltd., 2009.

[15] S. Buyukozturk, Handbook of Data Analysis for Social Sciences - Statistics, Research Design, SPSS Applications and Interpretation, 15th ed., Ankara: Pegem Academy, 2011, p. 171.

[16] A. Colantonio, “Social sustainability: a review and critique of traditional versus emerging themes and assessment methods,” in Sue-Mot Conference 2009: Second International Conference on Whole Life Urban Sustainability and Its Assessment: Conference Proceedings, Loughborough University, pp. 865–885, 2009.

[17] S. Mckenzie, “Social Sustainability: Towards Some Definitions,” Hawke Research Institute Working Paper Series, Publication No: 27, 2004.

[18] A. Fung, “Sustainable development and the protection of natural and cultural heritage,” in Sustainable development in Hong Kong, T. Mottershead, Ed., Hong Kong: University of Hong Kong Press, pp. 387–420, 2004.

[19] S. Chan and K. Lee, “The Role of Personality Traits and Perceived Values in Persuasion: An Elaboration Likelihood Model Perspective on Online Shopping,” Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, vol. 36, 2008. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2008.36.10.1379

[20] C. Weingaertner and A. Moberg, “Exploring social sustainability: Learning from perspectives on urban development and companies and products,” Sustainable Development, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 122–133, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.536

[21] N. Dempsey, G. Bramley, S. Power, and C. Brown, “The social dimension of sustainable development: Defining urban social sustainability,” Sustainable Development, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 289–300, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.417

[22] M. Stubbs, “Heritage-sustainability: developing a methodology for the sustainable appraisal of the historic environment,” Planning Practice and Research, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 285–305, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1080/0269745042000323229

[23] C. Landorf, “Evaluating social sustainability in historic urban environments,” International Journal of Heritage Studies, vol. 17, no. 5, pp. 467–479, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2011.563788

[24] N. Jaffar, M. S. Abdullah, and N. A. Salleh, “Enlivening the mosque as a public space for social sustainability,” Planning Malaysia, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 277–288, 2020. https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v18i13.700

[25] M. Ahmad, T. Malik, H. Lamit, A. Keyvanfar, and A. Shafaghat, “A social sustainable assessment model for mosque development in Malaysia,” OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, vol. 4, no. 9, pp. 29–34, 2012.

[26] M. Cetinkaya and N. Efeoglu, “Mosques and society: Cambridge Central Mosque: ‘A British mosque for the 21st century,’” Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 781–793, 2024. https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.1385973

[27] K. Dowllatyarian, M. H. Yazdani, A. Qhafarigilandeh, and H. Nazm Far, “The Role of Mosques as Public-Cultural Spaces in Promoting Social Sustainability in Islamic Cities: A Thematic Analysis (Case Study: Khorramabad),” Islam and Social Sciences, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 218–263, 2025. https://doi.org/10.22081/jiss.2025.69760.2100

[28] A. Mahfooz, “The development of mosque library in Nigeria: With reference to Abuja National Mosque,” Journal of Asian and African Social Science and Humanities, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 39–45, 2020.

[29] U. C. Lehmann, “Women's rights to mosque space: Access and participation in Cape Town mosques,” Journal of Asian and African Social Science and Humanities, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 39–45, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004209367_025




DOI: https://doi.org/10.18860/jia.v9i1.35948

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Elif Dilara DURMUS, Asli Pinar BIKET

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

 

EDITORIAL OFFICE

Department of Architecture, Faculty of Science and Technology
Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang
Jalan Gajayana 50 Malang, Jawa Timur, Indonesia 65144
Phone (+62) 341 558933, Facsimile (+62) 341 558933
e-mail: journal.islamicarchitecture@gmail.com / jia@uin-malang.ac.id

 

 Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.