Muslim Australians - Religion Cultural Diversity Resource Manual

Mosques in Australia
There are more than one hundred
mosques and a large number of other
prayer facilities throughout Australia.
Most mosques are in Sydney and
Melbourne, but all capital cities
in Australia have mosques. Most
mosques are non-sectarian; that is,
they do not belong to one particular
religious group or legal school.
Usually, any Muslim, whatever his
or her ethnicity, culture, theological
orientation or legal school, may
go and pray in any mosque. At a
typical mosque you may find a Sunni
Muslim praying side-by-side with
a Shi`a Muslim, or someone from
Africa praying next to someone who
was born in Australia.
A mosque may be run by a society
dominated by one ethnic group,
such as Pakistanis, Bosnians or
Afghans. However, the congregation
is not made up of any one ethnicity.
Muslims living in that area, regardless
of their ethnic background, usually
attend the local mosque.
Islamic decoration in the art and architecture of mosques
Calligraphy: Calligraphy is considered one of the most important of the
Islamic arts. Nearly all Islamic buildings have some type of surface inscription
in the stone, stucco, marble, mosaic and/or painting. The inscription might
be a verse from the Qur’an, lines of poetry or names and dates. An inscription
also might be contained in a single panel. Sometimes single words such as
Allah or Muhammad are repeated and arranged into patterns over the entire
surface of the walls.
Geometric patterns: Islamic artists developed geometric patterns to a degree of
complexity and sophistication previously unknown. These patterns exemplify
the Islamic interest in repetition, symmetry and pattern.
Floral patterns: Islamic artists reproduced nature with a great deal of accuracy.
Flowers and trees might be used as the motifs for the decoration of textiles,
objects and buildings.
Light: For many Muslims, light is the symbol of divine unity. In Islamic
architecture, light functions decoratively by modifying other elements or by
originating patterns. Light can add a dynamic quality to architecture, extending
patterns, forms and designs into the dimensions of time.
Water: In hot Islamic climates, the water from courtyard pools and fountains
cools as it decorates. Water not only reflects architecture and multiplies the
decorative themes; it also serves as a means of emphasising the visual axes. 29
In Australia there are three different
types of mosques. The largest have
several facilities such as classrooms, a
bookshop and offices. There are also
smaller mosques that have no extra
facilities, and, finally, there are prayer
rooms, such as at workplaces and
universities.
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http://www.islamicart.com/main/architecture/index.html
54 Muslim Australians:THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS