IDENTIFYING KEY DIMENSIONS IN THE MOSQUE'S CONTRIBUTION TO MUSLIM SOCIETY AND UMMAH DEVELOPMENT: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the major dimensions of a mosque’s roles that can be the used as benchmark in promoting Muslim society and Ummah growth, particularly their responsibilities at the level beyond the traditional worship function. A qualitative methodology was employed, involving experts’ interviews and thematic analysis using VOSviewer. Purposive sampling technique selected ten experts that represented a variety of nationalities, educational backgrounds, positions, and experiences. Seven critical dimensions have been identified for this study: Spiritual Excellence, Community Engagement, Design and Facilities, Social Welfare and Support, Education and Knowledge Dissemination, Management and Transparency, and Economic Aspect. The identified dimensions reflect multifaceted roles of mosque that have potential scope of making spiritual, social, educational, and economic contributions significantly. A limitation of the study is dependency on qualitative data from a limited number of regions, resulting in a possibility that not all regional or cultural aspects are captured. Future research can adopt the dimensions backed by quantitative methodology to develop an excellence model. The findings offer important guidance to mosque administrators, policymakers, and scholars regarding the areas to improve the functions of mosques. The study is unique to provide comprehensive framework for the multi-dimensional roles of mosques and handling the gaps in the literature related to their engagement in community and Ummah development. Theoretical and practical implications arise for increasing the mosque's utilisation to contribute to Muslim society and mankind.