Search Results (13)

This study explores the sustainability of Islamic decorative arts by examining the symbolic, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of botanical decorations in Makkah’s architectural heritage. Grounded in Carl Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious and Lamya Al-Faruqi’s philosophy of Tawhid, the research uncovers the profound psychological and spiritual meanings embedded in these motifs. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study integrates symbolic analysis, cultural interpretation, and historical documentation, supported by digital design tools, to assess the relevance of these decorations in contemporary urban contexts. Findings reveal that botanical motifs, such as palm trees and pinecones, reflect universal archetypes of resilience and growth while symbolising divine unity through abstraction and harmony. The research highlights their integral role in architectural structures and their potential in cultural tourism and educational initiatives. However, challenges such as urbanisation necessitate urgent documentation and innovative preservation strategies. This study offers valuable insights into sustaining Makkah’s architectural identity by bridging psychological and philosophical perspectives. Its recommendations align with Saudi Vision 2030 and global sustainability goals, advocating for the revival and integration of these motifs into modern urban design to ensure the continued appreciation and recognition of Makkan architectural heritage. Full article

Historic urban cities face increasing pressure from tourism, necessitating sophisticated approaches to visitor management that protect both heritage values and local communities. The current study develops new sustainable metrics—sustainable visitor capacity (SVC) and Sustainable Visitation Index (SVI)—to provide a multifaceted assessment of heritage destination management beyond simple visitor volume calculations. The SVC considers operating hours, site capacity, and walking time, while the SVI holistically evaluates time efficiency, spatial distribution, and physical comfort. Applying these metrics to seven routes through the historic Mamluk monuments revealed significant variations in sustainability performance, with SVI scores ranging from 48.9 at Al-Ṣalῑba/Al-Sayyida Zaynab Streets to 92.8 at Northern Al-Mu’izz Street. The findings demonstrate that while the recommended daily visitor capacity ranges from 1286 to 2182 visitors across different routes, actual visitation frequently exceeds these thresholds, particularly in commercial zones. Geographic analyses and on-site studies identified the integration of tourist activities with commercial, residential, and religious uses as a critical factor contributing to overcrowding, especially evident in areas like Al-Ṣalῑba Street, where low SVI scores reflect challenges with unorganized markets and local congestion. The study offers site-specific recommendations for heritage managers, focusing on dynamic visitor management systems and zoning strategies that consider the dual function of these historic corridors as both tourist attractions and vital local thoroughfares. This research provides heritage managers with practical tools to quantify and enhance the sustainability of visitor experiences while preserving site integrity within complex urban heritage contexts. Full article

The latest cellular technology, known as 5G-NR, is intended to significantly speed up and improve the effectiveness of wireless systems. A revolution in the telecom industry has been sparked by the widespread use of and increased reliance on cellular communication technology. Moreover, 5G and B5G technologies are expected to utilize an even higher-frequency range to achieve faster data transmission and lower latency communication. Consequently, while transmitting signals across various types of equipment and infrastructure, the general public is exposed to much higher frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. The increasing need for 5G NR base stations (gNodeB) has heightened public anxiety over potential negative health impacts. This study reviews recent research on the effects of electromagnetic waves on humans, particularly focusing on how these effects influence cognitive functions. Most research to date has not found significant differences in cognitive performance due to ubiquitous mobile communications. However, current research has largely been limited to 4G technologies, and the health effects of exposure to 5G user equipment (UE) and base stations in higher-frequency bands remain unexplored. If subsequent research suggests that exposure to high-frequency wireless networks significantly impacts cognitive functions, the deployment and acceptance of these technologies may face challenges and constraints. Therefore, such investigations are crucial for determining whether next-generation technologies pose no risk to individuals. Full article

Building on previous studies on a mid- and late-twentieth-century recasting of Islam’s doctrine of monotheism, or tawhid, as a distinctly Islamic framework for liberative praxis, this article considers the interplay between the particular and the universal in the tawhidic paradigms of Iranian lay theologian Ali Shariati (1933–1977) and African-American pro-faith and pro-feminist theologian amina wadud (b. 1952). The article proposes that although it was developed in a distinctly Islamic register by means of Quranic exegesis and intrareligious conversations, the tawhidic paradigm has always been conversant with a range of non-Islamic liberative paradigms, and these conversations have been integral to the negotiation of a more inclusive concept of tawhid. To continue to recast tawhid in a more inclusive register, the article further argues, requires taking account of the non-Muslim ‘other’ as an equal moral agent in liberative struggles and embracing Islam’s theological and ideological ‘others’ as equally significant repositories of liberative potential. Full article

In this article, I discuss the topic of Divine preservation of the Qur’an in the context of exegesis verse 15:9: ‘Indeed, it is We who sent down the reminder (dhikr) [i.e., the Qur’an], and indeed, We will be its guardian’. First, I will briefly examine Muslim and non-Muslim perceptions regarding authentic transmission of the Qur’an. I question some Western researchers, who problematise Muslims’ approaches to the history of the Qur’an with various polemics, and the Muslim perception, which compresses the notion of Divine preservation of the Qur’an into the narrow meaning of verse 15:9 with dogmatic and apologetic reflexes. Then, I chronologically analyse interpretations of the verse from linguistic, historical, theological and sociological aspects of the exegeses from the classical period to the modern times. The main argument of this article is centred on verse 15:9, which, in my opinion, deals with the first route of Qur’anic revelation from God to the Prophet through Angel Gabriel, and the Prophet’s perfect memorisation of it together with his flawless transmission to the Companions. The next processes (post-Prophetic developments in transmission of the revelation) were left to the foresight of the Muslim community, ummah. I believe, while the vertical process (revelation from arsh to farsh (heaven to earth) is guaranteed by God, responsibility for the horizontal process (from the Companions to the following generation and so on) is left to the Muslim community. The use of the same Qur’anic text by Sunnis, Shi’ites, Ibadis, etc., from northern Kazakhstan to West Africa, from Asia Pacific to the Balkans, is the clearest proof that Muslims are preserving the book entrusted to them. They demonstrate the reflection of their understanding of tawhid (Oneness of God) in their faith on the Qur’an by their consensus on a single mushaf. Full article

Government authority plays a significant role in ensuring the aim of being a famous Islamic tourism destination is achievable with proper planning and implementation. However, challenges to sustain Islamic tourism destination could be triggered if the government fails to manage localities where it will probably face participatory unwillingness among the society in terms of tourism development. Therefore, this paper carried out an exploratory study on the significance of considering the locality to promote an Islamic tourism destination from the Islamic perspective in Malaysia. Document analysis was chosen in this qualitative research that involves retrieving the data from the journal articles, government reports, and any reliable sources on websites. This study found that the spirit of governing tourism destinations aligns with Shariah principles as well as other sustainability motives, which leads to success where understanding the local context plays a significant role in realizing this mission. Full article

This paper will examine Muslim women’s engagement in Islamic scholarship by reviewing the foundational source of Islamic knowledge while referencing Somali female activists I interviewed in my 2017 published thesis. In particular, Somali women’s active participation within the realm of Islamic scholarship in the diaspora will be reviewed, including how the contribution of religious knowledge has enhanced Somali women’s faith and their active leadership in their communities. Moreover, I will analyze the orthodoxy limitation that has attempted to erase their scholarship. Full article

Food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices among hospital food service staff are crucial in the prevention of foodborne disease outbreaks, as hospitalized patients are more vulnerable to potential hazards. This study, therefore, sought to assess the food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of food service staff in Bangladeshi hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 191 food service staff from seven different hospitals in Dhaka and Chattogram from October 2021 to March 2022 using pretested questionnaires. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the factors associated with the food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices. The findings showed moderate knowledge but high levels of attitudes and practices of food safety among hospital food handlers. Food safety knowledge was significantly higher among males, participants from private hospitals and participants working in a hospital that had a food service supervisor and dietitian in charge of food service operations. Moreover, participants from private hospitals and participants working in a hospital that had a food service supervisor and dietitian in charge of food service operations had more positive attitudes and better practices regarding food safety. Hospital management should consider these factors for enhancing food handlers’ knowledge and increase training and supervision on food safety practices to reduce foodborne diseases and outbreaks. Full article

One of the most popular cultures in Islam is the genre of “hymns” or “invocations” (pl. ibtihalat, sing. ibtihal), which has recently been amplified on social media platforms. The ibtihalat are Arabic short poems performed by a sheikh known as the “supplicator” (mubtahil). They air regularly on Arabic TV stations and more frequently on radio stations, especially those broadcasting about the Qur’an, its recitation, and its interpretation. In Egypt, the Qur’an’s radio station, which has millions of followers, launched a YouTube station that airs ibtihalat before and after dawn prayer daily. The viewership of one ibtihal like that of Sheikh Sayyid al-Naqshabandi’s “My Lord” (Mawlay) reached 11 million on YouTube. The ibtihalat are also integral parts of Islamic festivities during the two Eids and Ramadan. Focusing on al-Naqshabandi’s ibtihal “My Lord” (Mawlay), this paper discusses the genre of Islamic hymns as a popular culture approach to study Islam as a lived experience based on the inclusion, not the elimination, of difference. To that end, I explore how the ibtihal becomes a domain for contemplating the place of the self in the present moment without the gaze of authority and how this reconfiguration of authority within the self has deep roots in the Islamic notion of “unicity of God” (tawhid). Full article

This article challenges the dominant organization-centered focus of the study of Islamic movements, and argues for a turn towards social practice. To do so, it traces the rise and spread of Egypt’s leading Salafi movement, Ansar al-Sunna al-Muhammadiyya (e. 1926) and its role in popularizing a series of distinct practices between 1940 and 1990. Based on the full run of this movement’s magazine, al-Hadi al-Nabawi (the Prophetic Guide, 1936–66) and al-Tawhid (Monolatry, 1973–93), the article explores the conditions in which practices such as praying in shoes and bareheaded, gender segregation and the cultivation of a fist-length beard were both politically viable and strategically advantageous. In doing so, it not only casts light on the trajectory of this movement, but also shows how and why the articulation and performance of distinct social practices are central to how Islamic movements shape society. Full article

Automatic identification of garment design class might play an important role in the garments and fashion industry. To achieve this, essential initial works are found in the literature. For example, construction of a garment database, automatic segmentation of garments from real life images, categorizing them into the type of garments such as shirts, jackets, tops, skirts, etc. It is now essential to find a system such that it will be possible to identify the particular design (printed, striped or single color) of garment product for an automated system to recommend the garment trends. In this paper, we have focused on this specific issue and thus propose two new descriptors namely Completed CENTRIST (cCENTRIST) and Ternary CENTRIST (tCENTRIST). To test these descriptors, we used two different publically available databases. The experimental results of these databases demonstrate that both cCENTRIST and tCENTRIST achieve nearly about 3% more accuracy than the existing state-of-the art methods. Full article

It is essential that the interfaces of low carbon vehicles particularly fully Electric Vehicle (EV) support new users while they adjust to a different type of driving experience. Use of EV is not yet widespread and little is known about the user requirements for Human Machine Interfaces. One of the common concerns is driver anxiety about his/her vehicle’s ability to cover the distance required. However the problem is one of perception and driver experience in the context of new technologies, EV’s limited range and an immature charging infrastructure. Nevertheless eliminating range anxiety for the EV owner is one of a major design challenges for future Low Carbon Vehicle manufacturers. The current study found that drivers who had some experience of driving an EV have less anxiety than those who had never driven an EV. Experienced drivers develop strategies to ensure that they only undertake those journeys that they are confident about having enough range to complete and aware of the factors that could potentially impact on the range. It is clear from users’ feedback that estimated range of the vehicle is one of the most critical pieces of information for a driver. Combining this with battery state of charge information can provide the driver with a better understanding of the current range of their EV. However accuracy is a key factor to gain trust in range information. EV drivers need dynamic information on factors that influence available range. There is also a requirement for information that will enable drivers to drive economically. While designing the EV driver information system, designers must overcome the information complexity issue. Concerns were raised that complex information in current EVs could potentially lead to driver distraction and may increase anxiety further. In conclusion providing reliable, relevant and prioritise information can help to minimise range anxiety. Full article