A01=Marwa Al-Sabouni
Author_Marwa Al-Sabouni
Category=AMX
eq_art-fashion-photography
eq_bestseller
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
forthcoming
Product details
- ISBN 9780500029664
- Dimensions: 153 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 13 Aug 2026
- Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
Secure
checkout
Fast Shipping
Easy returns
A journey through the mosque’s history and representation around the world, its role in society and its forms - ancient to contemporary - through the eyes of a young female Syrian architect.
The mosque lies at the heart of any Islamic city – a place for group prayer, serenity and spiritual connection. Its exterior serves as a symbol of faith, a landmark and a point of gathering. Since the first mosque was built by the Prophet Mohammad in Medina in 622, mosques have been spaces where worship and social life flourish side by side.
In this book, Marwa Al-Sabouni – architect, Muslim, Syrian, woman – interweaves her personal experiences and reflections to bring the reader inside the mosque to understand its spiritual meaning, social significance and enduring cultural value. Though some 3.6 million mosques exist around the world, varying enormously in shape, size and design, we are reminded that thoughtfully designed mosques – like any communal space – can still feel intimate and personal. With the ability to foster community and connection, they take on particular significance in times of division and fragmentation – a fact felt keenly by Al-Sabouni, whose home country witnessed decades of war before entering a new period of hope, however fragile.
The mosque lies at the heart of any Islamic city – a place for group prayer, serenity and spiritual connection. Its exterior serves as a symbol of faith, a landmark and a point of gathering. Since the first mosque was built by the Prophet Mohammad in Medina in 622, mosques have been spaces where worship and social life flourish side by side.
In this book, Marwa Al-Sabouni – architect, Muslim, Syrian, woman – interweaves her personal experiences and reflections to bring the reader inside the mosque to understand its spiritual meaning, social significance and enduring cultural value. Though some 3.6 million mosques exist around the world, varying enormously in shape, size and design, we are reminded that thoughtfully designed mosques – like any communal space – can still feel intimate and personal. With the ability to foster community and connection, they take on particular significance in times of division and fragmentation – a fact felt keenly by Al-Sabouni, whose home country witnessed decades of war before entering a new period of hope, however fragile.
Marwa Al-Sabouni is an award-winning author, architect and international speaker based in Syria. She holds a PhD in architectural design and Islamic architecture and runs a private architecture studio in Homs. The Battle for Home, her first book published by Thames & Hudson, was chosen by the Guardian as one of the best architectural books of 2016. Her second book, Building for Hope, was published in 2021. Al-Sabouni’s TED Talk has been viewed over one million times.
