Majlis

[Egisto Chancellor]

Majlis (Arabic: المجلس, pl. مجالس Majālis) is an Arabic term meaning "sitting room", used to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups of administrative, social or religious nature in countries with linguistic or cultural connections to the Muslim world. Majlis can refer to a legislature as well and is used in the name of legislative councils or assemblies in some states.[2][3][4]

In pre-Islamic Arabia, a majlis was a tribal council in which the male members participated in making decisions of common interest.[7] The council was presided over by the chief (Sheikh)[8] During the period of the Rashidun Caliphate, the Majlis al-Shura was formed to elect a new caliph. Al-Mawardi has written that members of the majlis should satisfy three conditions: they must be just, they must have enough knowledge to distinguish a good caliph from a bad one, and must have sufficient wisdom and judgment to select the best caliph.

Majlis is also used to refer to a private place where guests are received and entertained.[4] Frequently the room has cushions placed around the walls where the visitors sit, either with the cushions placed directly on the floor or upon a raised shelf. Because hospitality is taken seriously, many families take pride in making their guests comfortable when visiting.

In many Arab homes, the majlis is the meeting room or front parlor used to entertain visitors. In Saudi Arabia, the decoration of the majlis in the home is often the responsibility of the women of the house, who either decorate the area themselves or barter with other women to do it for them. In Asir Province and in the neighboring Saada Governorate of Yemen, geometric designs and bright colors are used in al-Qatt Al-Asiri, a style of painting the majlis. [4]

Sometimes public waiting rooms are also called a majlis, since this is an area where people meet and visit. Here the traditional al-qatt al-Asiri has been added to the interior design of the room. The provincial airport in Abha has recently been designed to reflect the cultural heritage of the region, an airport official said: "Abha is the first city in the Kingdom to have its airport decorated in a local-heritage style," said Provincial Airport Director Abdul Aziz Abu Harba. "The seating arrangement at the airport lounge has been in the form of a traditional majlis and the walls are painted in various colors reflecting the natural beauty of Asir."[9]

In the Najd of Saudi Arabia, wall coverings include star shapes and other geometric designs carved into the wall covering itself. Courtyards and upper pillared porticoes are principal features of the best Nadjdi architecture, in addition to the fine incised plaster wood called jis and painted window shutters that decorate the reception rooms. Good examples of plasterwork can often be seen in the gaping ruins of torn-down buildings- the effect is light, delicate and airy. It is usually around the majlis, around the coffee hearth and along the walls above where guests sat on rugs, against cushions. Doughty wondered if this "parquetting of jis", this "gypsum fretwork... all adorning and unenclosed" originated from India. However, Najdi fretwork seems very different from that seen in the Eastern Province and in Oman, which are linked to Indian traditions, and resembles instead the motifs and patterns found in ancient Mesopotamia. The rosette, the star, the triangle and the stepped pinnacle pattern of dadoes are all ancient patterns and were found all over the Middle East in antiquity. Al-Qassim Region seems to be the home of this art, and there it is normally worked in hard white plaster, although what you see is usually begrimed by the smoke of the coffee hearth. In Riyadh, examples can be seen in unadorned clay.[10]

The organisation holds space for debate and discussion. The kind of support that is provided to women and children is holistic. I think it is important to provide a non-judgemental space to victims where they can speak freely and Majlis does just that.

I admire the bottom up work structure of Majlis contributing to a healthy work environment. The thing that will stay with me the most will be the personal connections between the team and the integration of interns in the workplace, the way interns are included in all the functions and events during the course of their internship. I admire the work that majlis does and will be grateful to have been part of it.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you for giving me this incredible opportunity to intern with Majlis, this was truly the best internship in 5 years of my law school.I will forever cherish my learnings and experiences that I took away from each and every person at Majlis.

To the fantastic team at Majlis, I read with a deep sense of anguish and yet hope, of the work you have been engaged in. I am sure that to every Salma that goes through an unending series of emotional and physical trauma followed by a ray of hope, there are a few hundreds who are not as lucky to have a Majlis backing them. Needless to say, we at Project Mumbai are here to offer as much support as is possible in this journey of faith that you have undertaken.

I think of Flavia, and what it must have taken to take that first step, file that first appeal in court, fill that first form to complete her BA, appear for the first time in Court as a lawyer, and document her life baring her soul so that women and men read, comprehend and act. Naghma Mulla, CEO, EdelGive Foundation -Stars-ft-Flavia-Agnes

All exhibitions are accompanied by a series of public programs, an English and Arabic publication, and a selection of online videos published throughout the year on the Explore Content section of the website: mediamajlis.northwestern.edu

Join the Northwestern Qatar community in August to contemplate a new paradigm, an emergent virtual world where the boundaries of reality are blurred and the impossible becomes possible. The exhibition brings together dynamic content and collectibles that provoke us to think about the challenges and opportunities we may encounter in the years, decades and centuries ahead.

Complemented by over 100 physical objects, artworks and installations grounded in contemporary and nostalgic prompts, MetaWhat? unravels a story that encourages an appreciation of what the metaverse can bring to people's lives and a reminder of what it can prohibit. Right now, the metaverse is being imagined, designed and constructed by technologists in a relatively shallow way, with retail, gaming and entertainment experiences dominating usage. But who are the people developing our new world? How can we be involved? What is the true meaning and potential of the 'verse?

Gaia has been created in partnership with the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Bluedot and the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres. *The imagery for the artwork has been compiled from the Visible Earth series, NASA.

The museum is open to everyone. We are located within the Northwestern University in Qatar building in Doha's Education City, one building away from the Qatar National Library and Metro stop (Green Line).

Full information on opening hours, location and parking, programs and the Bookstore can be found on the museum's website, mediamajlis.northwestern.edu. For more information email media...@northwestern.edu

During the nearly forty years he was active as a master potter, Abu Zayd was also a proficient poet. He composed at least one of the love poems inscribed on this bowl. The scene depicted, probably a literary majlis, does not relate explicitly to any of these poems. However, the performer to the left may be interpreted as reciting them to the figures seated on and around the raised platform.

Oh beloved, did you see what the snow (white hair) did to me? / Oh snow (white hair), you told me, but tell my beloved // To the passion (fire) of lovers . . . and cold(?) / And you are still flirting with me! // Oh body, the sorrow of love will not make you any better (than this) / Will not (help) . . . your soul and faith // At the end, the sweetness of lust will entrap you / So that love will not make a fool of you.

Maker Majlis is a platform operating under theCollege of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University(HBKU) for youth to engage in timely topics through an Islamiclens and strengthen their ties to their faith.

It is a platform that aims to create a shared vision for thefuture by reconciling Islamic principles with the modernchallenges faced by youth in Muslim communities. It is a spacewhere youth can express, innovate, and craft their narrative inthe areas of their interest while cementing their roots in theIslamic faith.

Maker Majlis focuses on connection, transformative dialogue, andsynergy, through knowledge platforms including workshops,educational programs, and events; aligning the dynamism of youthactors and communities with the guidance of faith.

The Islamic rosette pattern inspires this design but with amodern twist. It reflects the platform's goal to addresscontemporary issues facing global Islamic youth communitieswhile staying true to core Islamic teachings. Theoverlapping petals show the aim to connect and havemeaningful discussions in the spirit of the majlis. The bluetones in the emblem symbolize life's refreshing springwater, which in divine terms is considered a source ofpurification and growth.

The first installment of The Majlis: A Meeting Place was the result of practical research into how humans can synchronise our intentions, efforts, policies and practices to live together in peace with one another and with nature.

Another feature that visitors will enjoy is watching Qatari artists who practice the local tradition of Al-Sadu weaving. The weavers will use their knowledge of this indigenous craft to produce textile walls for the majlis.

Being a place of welcome, there is a certain etiquette to be maintained in a majlis. Emirati greetings are derived from the religious and cultural makeup of the Arab world. Long, genuinely warm welcomes with handshakes, embrace and generous praise can be expected for male-to-male and female-to-female greetings. Physical interaction between men and women is more conservative.

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