The Quest for Mosque Accessibility in Elite Environments: A Focus on Ilorin

Abstract

This article examines the emerging trend of restricted access to mosques within affluent areas of Ilorin, Nigeria, particularly focusing on Tanke and GRA neighborhoods. Traditionally, mosques serve as inclusive, communal spaces, integral to promoting social cohesion, unity, and spiritual development within the Muslim community. However, in recent years, a shift has occurred in certain elite Nigerian neighborhoods, where residential mosques are increasingly built as private spaces, restricting access to the families or residents who own them. This exclusivity marks a departure from the open-access model historically associated with mosques and raises questions about the alignment of these practices with traditional Islamic teachings that emphasize inclusivity and community support. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study explores the factors influencing this trend, including socioeconomic status, security and privacy concerns, and architectural preferences for more private, family-centered worship spaces. Socioeconomic influences are particularly notable, as wealthier individuals can afford to build private mosques that cater exclusively to their households, thus transforming the mosque's role from a communal institution to a personal, private space. Additionally, privacy and security concerns among affluent residents contribute to this restricted access, with private mosques perceived as safer and more manageable for family-only gatherings. The study also examines how these restricted-access mosques affect broader values of community cohesion, inclusivity, and unity central to Islamic teachings. Findings highlight the potential for social division within the Muslim community as communal worship becomes increasingly exclusive, limiting the ability of mosques to serve as unifying spaces across socioeconomic divides.