The Evolution of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Mosque: Sacred, Profane and Gender Relation Part 2 Dissertation 2015 Fatima Ladak Birmingham City University | UK The early Arabian mosque was intended as a place of worship and a public centre for secular activities, ranging from religious education, political debates and recreation i.e. it was seen as a social and sacred hub for both the Muslim and non-Muslim community, inclusive of both genders. However, as the Islamic community has grown and spread across the world, it is evident that the typology of the mosque has altered based on the culture it has adopted. One such Muslim community which encompasses a variety of cultures and traditions is the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri (KSI) community (established in the late 19th century). Originating from Gujurat in India, the community has migrated across the globe to East Africa and then onto parts of Europe and North America. While embracing new lands, this unique group of people have created Islamic centres of their own wherever they settled. Thus, with a variety of influences, each centre depicts different architectural methods to form spiritual and social atmospheres, which were key in the design of the early mosque. This paper studies the evolution of the mosque typology within the KSI community, focusing on the transformation of the sacred, profane and gender relations. Tutor(s)Prof Mohsen Aboutorabi