The sustability of decorative patterns for saf in mosque / Muhammad Izzat Abdul Aziz

The recent rapid development in the past decades has resulted in diverse architectural expressions of mosque in Malaysia. Most of the mosques built locally are modest in scale to cater the surrounding population. But certain mosques are built in large scale to serve as important landmarks of a particular place such as Masjid Shah Alam and Masjid Putrajaya. These mosques tend to be heavily decorated with geometrical and floral motives from the exterior to the interior space. This paper aims at analyzing the suitability of such decorative patterns particularly on the carpet of saf in such mosques. The analysis answers the following questions: Are decorative patterns suitable for saf and how do decorative patterns on saf affect the concentration of solat (prayer)? Furthermore, what are the suitable patterns and colors for saf and what are the suitable ways to define the saf lines? The methods used in the analysis were (1) field observation, (2) field measurement, and (3) field survey, which were held in three selected mosque in Perak namely Masjid Ubudiah Kuala Kangsar, Masjid Daerah Kinta Batu Gajah, and Masjid Sultan Idris II Ipoh. These mosques were chosen for their use of decorative patterns for saf in their prayer halls. The results suggest the most suitable types of decorative patterns that can be applied in the design of flooring finishes of mosques.