Read on Twitter
Riwaq
The gallery (or riwaq | رواق) is an interesting traditional feature of masajid and madrasas. Analyzing its purpose also helps to illustrate the foolishness of imitating the kuffar.
The riwaq is a covered area surrounding a courtyard, usually lined with pillars.
/1
The gallery (or riwaq | رواق) is an interesting traditional feature of masajid and madrasas. Analyzing its purpose also helps to illustrate the foolishness of imitating the kuffar.
The riwaq is a covered area surrounding a courtyard, usually lined with pillars.
/1
The courtyard was a feature of the masjid of the Prophet ﷺ during his lifetime, so later generations of Muslims took this as a model. This open structure allows the breeze to enter on hot days, while protecting from the rain and sun. (below is a reconstruction)
/2
/2
The riwaq extended this concept to create a covered area around the entire courtyard. Sometimes pools of water were placed in the center of the courtyard, which were used for wudhu, but also cooled the breeze entering from above, which then circulated through the riwaq.
/3
/3
Usually the riwaq has multiple doors, which allows large numbers of worshipers to leave the salah without traffic jams forming at the doors. It also allows someone to walk through the entire masjid protected from sun and rain.
/4
/4
The riwaq was also a classroom and study area. Scholars and teachers would sit in the shade and give lessons.
Each pillar in the riwaq could be associated with a scholar who would sit and teach at it: "This is the pillar of Sheikh Fulan."
/5
Each pillar in the riwaq could be associated with a scholar who would sit and teach at it: "This is the pillar of Sheikh Fulan."
/5
When the Christians conquered the Muslim lands, they imported classrooms. An enclosed room was ideal for the cold climate of Northern Europe, but it didn't make sense most of the year in North Africa, the Arabian peninsula, and many other regions.
/6
/6
Since the classrooms were uncomfortable, electric fans and air conditioners were imported from from Europe, or industrial equipment imported to produce them locally.
The design of masajid has changed to trap air conditioned air inside, which results in reduced air quality.
/7
The design of masajid has changed to trap air conditioned air inside, which results in reduced air quality.
/7
Now the ruwaq are empty, and the classrooms are full. Lower air quality results in higher rates of allergies and asthma, and dependence on electric cooling wastes energy and resources and causes pollution.
And what do we trade to the kuffar in exchange for their corruption?
/8
And what do we trade to the kuffar in exchange for their corruption?
/8
They take a hefty share of our natural resources in exchange for spreading their dirty and unhealthy way of life, and many Muslims end up as wage slaves in kaffir countries, saving or sending money home to afford air conditioning, Western style furniture and construction...
/9
/9
...materials, and school fees for Western education.
So may Allah cause us to hate the blind imitation of the kuffar, and to love to follow the example of the early Muslims in sitting, studying, and building.
/10
So may Allah cause us to hate the blind imitation of the kuffar, and to love to follow the example of the early Muslims in sitting, studying, and building.
/10
