Analyzing the Role of Physical Signs in the Formation of a Sense of Sacredness in Contemporary Mosques of Tabriz: With Emphasis on Audience Perception

Abstract

A mosque in Islamic culture is not merely a place for performing religious rituals; it is also a setting for experiencing tranquility, concentration, spirituality, and connection with the sacred. In this context, physical signs and the way they are perceived by users play an important role in the formation of a sense of sacredness. The present study aimed to analyze the role of physical signs in shaping the sense of sacredness in Miane Maralan Mosque in Tabriz, with particular emphasis on audience perception. In terms of purpose, the research was applied, and in terms of method, it was descriptive-analytical. A mixed approach was adopted to integrate theoretical and field-based data. The data were collected through library studies, direct observation, physical analysis, a structured checklist, a Likert-scale questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews with mosque users. The analytical indicators included urban legibility, exterior form and mass, the minaret, entrance, mihrab, qibla axis, arches, Qur’anic inscriptions, tilework, brickwork, spatial organization, light, color, climatic comfort, tranquility, stillness, and concentration during worship. The findings showed that the mosque’s corner location, the presence of a minaret, the use of familiar materials, and the incorporation of symbolic elements enhanced its legibility within the surrounding urban context. In the interior, the orientation of the prayer hall toward the qibla, the absence of central columns, and the presence of the mihrab contributed to spatial concentration and continuity. However, insufficient emphasis on the entrance, the lack of a transitional space, and the incomplete centrality of the mihrab weakened the intensity of the sacred experience. The results further revealed that users did not associate sacredness solely with symbolic elements. Light, color, climatic comfort, stillness, and the possibility of concentration were also regarded as essential components of spiritual experience. Overall, the sense of sacredness in Miane Maralan Mosque emerges from the interaction among physical signs, spatial organization, environmental qualities, and audience perception.