The Making and Meaning of Muslim Space

During the month of Ramadan, the CCMS and Open City events offers members of the Muslim community the opportunity to connect online.

About this event

SFU's Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies and Open City Events offer members of the Muslim community the opportunity to connect with one another over shared interests during the month of Ramadan.

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‘Space’ is often understood as a material phenomenon defined by area, distance, height, depth, and, via plans, grids and schedules. But space is also socially produced by all kinds of practices, maps, routines, sounds, tempos, regulations, economic conditions and patterns. For centuries, Muslims have created cities, architecture and homes that reflect ideals, traditions and values. We are all intimately familiar with how we experience different kinds of spaces, physically, bodily, emotionally, intellectually. How do we experience spaces as Muslims? Thinking about space is also to think about power, control and hegemony, but also all the everyday, quotidien and often-invisible forces that demarcate and define ‘space’. Connecting online, we will consider how Muslims in the Lower Mainland engage with space. How do we deal with contestations around space? How do we shape spaces to reflect our faith and cultural identities - be they in mosques, nature, cities or online? What do our spatial aspirations say about our engagement with the world?