In the fall of 2025, the Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women opened its doors in Doha, Qatar.
It is the first known mosque specifically designed for women anywhere in the world and was inspired by a figure in the Quran, Surat Al-Mujadilah, which means “She Who Discourses.”
The space will offer a women-focused worship space, and host a variety of programs centered around dialogue, prayer, and study, even including an annual summit for international Muslim voices to come together and discuss the role of Muslim women in public life.
A library and study space inside the Al-Mujadilah Center. Photo by Iwan Baan for DS+R
“In these challenging times, communities of faith are essential to fostering cohesion between societies and helping individuals navigate increasingly complex social questions. To do so, however, requires the creation of new frameworks and brave spaces where these conversations can unfold in a meaningful and religiously informed way,” the center’s executive director, Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui, a scholar of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, said in a statement.
“Through our research, programming and outreach initiatives, we seek to foster a Muslim society where all women are engaged, their participation and contributions acknowledged and recognized, and their concerns and perspectives shape contemporary Muslim thought and open public discourse.”
The design of the mosque itself is a fresh re-envisioning of “what a woman experiences when she walks into a mosque,” Siddiqui said in a video.
@sheengurrib
On my last trip to Qatar I had the chance to visit the Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women. It’s the first purpose-built contemporary mosque for women in the Middle East, and being there was an incredible experience. Walking through those doors, I felt the energy, the focus, and the calm. Al-Mujadilah Center & Mosque for Women is a space where women can come together, reflect, and feel supported. Being there reminded me how important it is to have spaces where women can connect, recharge, and grow. I left feeling inspired and grateful to witness something truly historic.
♬ original sound – Dr Sheen Gurrib
Designed by New York-based firm DS+R, a large flowing roof covers the building, perforated with 5,500 small openings to diffuse natural light throughout the prayer hall and education space.
Inside the open and sprawling building, visitors can see two olive trees intentionally planted to symbolize a connection to knowledge and nature.
The design team behind the building conducted extensive surveys among Muslim women to best confront the challenges and needs they have in a space like this. The women wanted it to build community and be welcoming.
An exterior view of the Al-Mujadilah Center. Photo by Iwan Baan for DS+R
For instance, in most mosques, women enter through a separate entrance or side door, but at Al-Mujadilah, Siddiqui said, “you come in, and you’re in the space.”
And in the Al-Mujadilah worship space, instead of having separate prayer mats that Siddiqui said “felt divisive,” there is one giant, traditional red prayer mat, for everyone to join in together.
“It’s powerful to be in a space that was designed for you,” Siddiqui said.
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A version of this article was originally published in The 2026 Feminist Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
Header image by Iwan Baan for DS+R
