Mahathir, Said;
(2025)
Religious Infrastructure: A Study of The Production of Religious Spaces of Muslims in London.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
This thesis explores the concept of religious infrastructure through an in-depth investigation of how Muslims in London produce, transform, and sustain religious spaces within the city’s complex urban environment. Centred on a two-year spatial ethnography conducted primarily in Shepherd’s Bush, West London, the research examines a range of formal and informal religious spaces—including mosques, madrasas, halal businesses, burial services, and ritual events—and the ways in which they are embedded in the everyday life of the city. The study formulates a conceptual framework that draws upon Henri Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space, Robert Sack’s theory of territoriality, and AbdouMaliq Simone’s notion of infrastructure. It conceptualises religious infrastructure as a dynamic and relational network of religious spaces that fosters the continuity of Islamic practice in a secular and frequently contested urban context. Through this lens, the research examines how Muslim communities navigate planning regulations, spatial limitations, internal diversity, and broader socio-political dynamics to establish and sustain their presence within the multicultural landscape of London. Positioned within the domains of critical urban studies and planning, this thesis addresses both theoretical and empirical deficiencies in the examination of religious territoriality, urban informality, and the spatial production of religious life. It is expected to contribute to ongoing contemporary discussions concerning religion and space by providing a nuanced account of the processes through which religious infrastructure is established, negotiated, and sustained by Muslim communities in London. In this context, it offers significant insights into the role of faith-based spatial practices in shaping inclusive and pluralistic urban futures.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Religious Infrastructure: A Study of The Production of Religious Spaces of Muslims in London |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2025. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > Development Planning Unit |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10212374 |
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