Tracing the Majlis’ Significance Today

Imagine a Majlis and images of a big hall with large armchairs stacked next to each other against the walls may well come to mind. Visit some of the major hotels in the Arab world and invariably you will find one room called a Majlis. Look at the brief of most houses built for the Arabs and Majlis is an interpretation of a lounge or drawing room.
Yet Majlis in its original meaning is simply a seating area with an audience – an “assembly”, literally a “session”, from jalasa meaning “he sat down”. Don’t worry: I’ve checked my sources: see the Online Etymology Dictionary).
Among its several usages, Majlis has been used to signify the different types of formal legislative assemblies in Islamic culture states. It is also commonly applied to a special gathering in remembrance of Husayn ibn Ali, the son of Ali and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Often now distinguished as "adabi majlis" ("artistic majlis"), Majlis has been widely adopted to describe parties, most notably the musical parties of the Abbasid era, and in this sense resembles the European salon as a space for artistic expression, appreciation and dialogue.
But across its differing historical contexts the term Majlis has consistently referred to a discussion forum where people gather to raise issues openly. In practice, the head of the Majlis would usually sit in the middle with people rotating around in a free flow, allowing equal exposure to all visitors.
Majlis in its truest form transcends the principles of connectivity, egalitarianism, and free thinking – a concept both civic and cultural, communal and personal, structured and spontaneous.
What if we stretch the limits of the office today and extend the philosophical principles of the Majlis to the conference room? This implies that the room be transformed into an idea incubator where staff can sit comfortably alongside managers and openly discuss all issues relating to business as well as more ad hoc topics.
This isn’t just a case of interior design. The idea is to create a unique atmosphere and informal platform where managers and staff meet on regular basis. Here staff would have the opportunity to voice their opinions – even if results are not necessarily immediate! Managers would also benefit by getting direct insights from every person, irrespective of their position and function.
There is a rather sweet dimension to having Majlises replace our formal meeting rooms. Conversation would in some way become lighter and communication more effective…

Grace Yacoub
Founder and CEO, Zaman branding consultancy
Modern East initiator