Talk:Tag:place of worship=musalla
Differences mosque:musalla
Hi @Rtnf:
I'm interested in your distinction between mosques and musallas. Basically I'm wondering if the tag as currently used and described is based on local Indonesian/Malaysian usage (so buildings tagged there as musallas would be called mosques in other places), or whether it's a tag that's more widely applicable. The heavy concentration of tags in that region suggests the first of those possibilities.
In Arabic-speaking regions where I've travelled, a musalla is very informal, and usually small. It's space dedicated for prayer, but it doesn't have an adhan, a regular imam, or regular prayer times: people organise themselves or pray alone. You might find one at a road stop, or big department store, or hospital. When I hear the word used in the UK (and British English is OSM standard, I think), it is sometimes used like that: the prayer space at this university Islamic society is a good example. (More often we use 'musalla' to refer to the prayer hall of a mosque, as distinct from the other parts of the building; but that's a different use of the word and not relevant to OSM, I think.)
You mentioned that one important difference is that a musalla doesn't offer jumua prayer. In my experience there are many, many places that don't offer jumua prayer, but do have organised jamaats for the five daily prayers, and these would be called mosques in the UK, Morocco, and Tunisia. (I feel probably in greater Sham, too, but I don't think I paid close enough attention to be sure!)
Can I ask what experience and knowledge you've drawn on in coming to the definition given?
Thanks, eteb3 (talk) 07:29, 5 August 2024 (UTC)
- PS I've started a list of use cases on my wiki page here I hope to summarise the regional differences in due course. eteb3 (talk) 17:23, 5 August 2024 (UTC)
Hi @Eteb3: I'm from Indonesia, and your explanation aligns with my understanding. Very nice discussion.
In Arabic-speaking regions where I've travelled, a musalla is very informal, and usually small. It's space dedicated for prayer, but it doesn't have an adhan, a regular imam, or regular prayer times: people organise themselves or pray alone....and there are also organized jamaats for the five daily prayers.
However, in Indonesia, we call these prayer spaces musholla, langgar, or musalla, rather than mosques as long it doesn't offer Jumua prayer. I think that's the difference. That's all what I know from the local context. --Adiatmad (talk) 01:24, 6 August 2024 (UTC)
@Eteb3:Would like to chime in too. There are indeed mosques that doesn't offer any Jumua prayer in Malaysia too, but it is tagged accordingly as mosques, derived from its name (Masjid Ghairu Jamek). Here's its definition outlined by state of Kedah (where I dwell). AkuAnakTimur (talk) 17:51, 8 August 2024 (UTC)
- Extract from the regulations linked by User:AkuAnakTimur
- "masjid" has the meaning as defined in the Enactment
- "masjid jamek" means a mosque where Friday prayers are performed
- "masjid ghairu jamek" means a mosque where prayers are not performed;
- Extract from the parent legislation ("the Enactment"), Enakmen Pentadbiran Undang-Undhang Islam (Kedah Darul Aman) 2008, s. 2(1):
- "masjid" means a building—
- (a) which is used for Friday prayers and other prayers and activities ordered, recommended, or permitted by the Islamic religion; and
- (b) the use of which is authorized by the Council under section 61,
- and includes any surau, madrasah or other building designated by the Council as a mosque under that section;
- eteb3 (talk) 13:34, 9 August 2024 (UTC)
Many thanks, both, for your contributions. I'm going to have a longer think and reply substantively in due course. eteb3 (talk) 13:35, 9 August 2024 (UTC)