Noorlissa bt Mohd Kamel. 0814356 Are Malay Houses In Line with the Elements and Characteristics of Islamic Principles.

Introduction And Allah has made your habitations homes of rest and quite for you
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Al-Quran, Surah An-Nahl: 80

Islam is an easy religion as it never causes difficulties to the believer. It is only the people who make it difficult. If there is any problem, there is always a solution behind it. Thus, the housing aspect is also included in.

Basically, a house can be defined as a structure serving as a dwelling for one or more persons, especially for a family. It plays a role as a shelter from rain, storm, and draught for people on Earth. From the Islamic perspective based on the verse from the Al-Quran above, besides functioning as a place to cherish our moment at home with family, to settle down any problem at work and relax, a house also must be a place where people can do their worship, teach, learn and spread the message of Islam. In addition, a house should be protected with privacy, protection and security as an example, Islam stress much on the separation of male and female as part of the privacy in a house. Therefore, those criteria are important in order to make a house in line with the Islamic principles. What makes a house Islamic depends on the plan, design form, and function which have been inspired primarily by Islam. Not just that, an Islamic house must be flooded with the Islamic spirit and stand for the embodiment of the Islamic principles and values. Such a house has been perceived and formed in order to facilitate, foster and stimulate its occupants continual worship activities entrusted to them by God, therefore, helping them to elevate their status over that of the angels and honorably live up their reputation as the vicegerent on Earth. the overall physical appearance is therefore inferior and matters only when it comes into complete conformity with the said criteria. The house, thus, ought to be perceived by designers, planners, builders and final users alike as sheer means, an instrument, a carrier of the spiritual, not a goal itself. The goal is a much nobler and heavenly one. Based on the Al-Quran in Surah At-Taubah verse 24, the dwellings in which you delight is referred as one of the potential obstructions in Allahs cause, in

that man;s heart is prone to clinging to it in this world together with wealth and prosperity, commerce, and kith and kin. And if it be that any of these turns out to be obstructions. Literature review. I did a research and proper studies regarding to this topic, Are Malay houses in line with the elements and characteristics of Islamic Principles. According to Spahic Omer (2009), erecting houses in Islam rests within the category of permissibility and remains there so long as something does not come about and causes it to infringe some of the divinely prescribed norms and hence renders it prohibited. Cases that can make building houses forbidden are building on illegitimate places, building for the purpose of spreading depravity and wickedness, and building for the purpose of causing harm to others. In the Studies in the Islamic Built Environment book (2009), Islamic perception of life is strikingly optimistic and positive. Man in no way stands in any conflicting relation with divinity. Allah s.w.t is joyfully acknowledged as the Lord and Creator of everything including man. He is the Owner of everything, while man possesses nothing. Therefore, everything around him has been subjected to him. There are a few consideration that make a hose Islamic such as the arrangement of inner spaces, house spaciousness, comprehensive excellence, arrangement of entrance as well as windows. In addition, the housing area should respect the right of neighbors around us. According to Ismawi Zen, Shireen Jahn Kassim, & Norwina Mohd Nawawi (2009),
the issue of Islamic is amongst other aims to emphasize on the privacy, seclusion and segregation of women. The Arabic word, Sakan (peaceful and holy) and the word of haram (sacred area) should be emphasized in the design of the house. The house should be design to enhance the safety and comfort to the owner as wel as ensuring its tidiness and cleanliness. Hence the design of the Islamic housing should adopt the concept of universal design.

According to Ahmad Hariza Hashim, & Zaiton Abdul Rahim (2008), privacy and good manners in public contribute to the highest virtues, and are part of Muslim duties. The subject of sex ethics and manners is the determining factor in the segregation of males and females in the Islamic society. Therefore, the concept of privacy is introduced, perceived, and judged accordingly. Privacy in the house is needed for the concealment of interfamily life from strangers, separation between men and women in sitting arrangements during social interaction but not for those of the same family, separate sleeping areas for male and female family members, for parents and children, and for normal functioning of daily activities. . The lack of dened territory should not be seen as a lack of privacy as privacy in the traditional Malay society is not bounded by physical environment, but more

importantly shared societal values that govern privacy behavior among the homogeneous society.

Methodology This study is held to observe whether houses in Malaysia nowadays are following the elements and characteristics of Islamic principles. Research instrument In conducting the study on this issue, several instruments were used as an aid throughout the research process to gain the best possible result. Observation was made on existing housing area to find out whether the houses existed nowadays are following the elements and characteristics of Islamic principles. The house is evaluated based on its safety, privacy, social interaction as well as the climatic constraints. The observation includes both indoor and outdoor surrounding of a house, such as the layout of the house, entrance and window placing, openings, neighborhood and such. Interview session with experts in this issue is also being held by preparing some questions regarding to this matter. The explanation and suggestion from them are also included to be part of suggestion which is relevant for the authorities in order to make the houses in Malaysia in line with the elements and characteristics of Islamic principles. Survey forms are distributed to random students in IIUM in order to investigate and get confirmation about the houses that they live in. surveys help a lot to know what people see in house they live nowadays. People who live in know better about the house.

Data Collection Procedures The interview is carried out in one day with the selected experts; Prof Dr Ar Asiah bt Abd Rahim and Spahic Omer. Question will be asked regarding on the elements and characteristics of a house and at the same time asking whether houses in Malaysia nowadays are in designed according to the Islamic considerations. Suggestions from both of them are also being asked in order to reapply the Islamic principles in house design.

Data Analysis. Findings From the observation made at the housing area nearby IIUM; taman sri gombak

Conclusion Basically, there is no such a particular definition of Islamic housing design, or even the direct or clear translation about it. However, it does incorporate Islamic principles in the process of designing as well as the result of the design. The design of housing can be said Islamic as long as it adheres on

Islamic requirements and basic preservation, and of course provision of convenient, comfort,safe and protection are vital to the dwellers of the house. In a nutshell, a house must not astray men from remembering Allah and practices their lifestyle as Muslim. It should help the necessity in building a better and proper family which later building the neighborhood and ultimately produce better society. As the society preserve the Islamic value which started from home that function as a base venue of Islamic education therefore ensure a better city or town to live in

Spahic Omer. (2009). Islam, Architecture & Urban Planning. Resource Centre, KAED Spahic Omer. (2009). Resource Centre, KAED Hashim, Ahmad Hariza and Mohamad Ali, Harlina and Abu Samah, Asnarulkhadi (2009) Urban Malays` User-Behaviour and Perpective on Privacy and Spatial Organization of Housing. Retrieved from
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/7023/

Ahmad Hariza Hashim, & Zaiton Abdul Rahim(2008), The Influence of Privacy Regulation on Urban Malay Families Living in Terrace Housing. Retrieved from https://archnet.org/gws/IJAR/8941/files_8301/2.2.07%20-a.hashimz.%20rahim-pp94-102.pdf Ismawi Zen, Shireen Jahn Kassim, & Norwina Mohd Nawawi. (2009). An Anthology of Essays on Integrating Islamic Values. KAED