Analysis of the Specific Functions of the Mosque in Cultural and Strategic Governance with Meta-synthesis Approach

Extended Abstract
Introduction
One of the main concerns of scholars, educators, and religious scholars is planning to establish dynamic and constructive interaction and links between the mosque and the people and scientific and political centers. Therefore, the present study aims to analyze the role of the specific functions of the mosque in cultural and strategic governance at the level of local communities using the meta-synthesis method. With this approach, the question is answered: What is the specific functions of the mosque in cultural and strategic governance based on the scientific content of the articles and from the perspective of qualitative interviews? And what categories of concepts and categories does it have?
Methodology
The present study was conducted using the meta-synthesis method, with an applied and developmental purpose. To collect data and analyze them purposefully, first, the content of scientific texts of related articles in the period 1395 to 1403 from reputable scientific databases on the role of mosque functions in cultural and strategic governance was searched purposefully, and key indicators and concepts were classified based on frequency, and based on the meanings of the codes, a similar concept can be classified into similar conceptual categories. Also, in this research, for a more in-depth analysis of some articles, qualitative and semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts (imams of some mosques, mosque affairs, and some agents), the results of which and their dominant discourse made a valuable contribution to identifying and discovering the missing cultural links in the mosque.
Results and Discussion
In this study, using the meta-synthesis method, the types of strategies identified from the texts on the topic of mosque specific tasks in cultural and strategic governance have been categorized into 79 concepts, 28 index categories, and 10 main dimensions. Based on the findings, the first main characteristic of the mosque is "an authentic and Islamic institution for the cultural management system (with 4 categories and 12 concepts), a capacity for networking in line with cultural discourse (with 3 categories and 12 concepts), a center of thought for Islamic scholars inside and outside Iran (with 2 categories and 6 concepts), the creation of an Iranian-Islamic identity for young people (with 2 categories and 7 concepts), the explanation of Quranic inscriptions from Quranic teachings and... (with 3 categories and 7 concepts), the capacity to realize a utopian city and a transcendent culture... (with 3 categories and 9 concepts), a transformation in lifestyle and individual development (with 2 categories and 5 concepts) and ...finally, based on these main features, concepts, and categories, the schematic model of this study has been drawn and presented.
Conclusion
By systematically reviewing the scientific content of articles on similar topics and implementing the metasynthesis method, key concepts and index categories have been identified and presented in the form of a model about the specific functions of the mosque in cultural and strategic governance. In the first category of this model, the largest number of categories and concepts are dedicated to "main characteristics: the capacity to realize a transcendent culture and a utopia (Islamic society-building), an authentic and Islamic institution for the Quranic cultural management system, the capacity to build networks for cultural discourse and social pathology based on community-based interventions." Also, the research findings from the discourses and interviews with experts such as the existence of a missing link of "active interactions" between executive, governing, and government agencies with mosques; the missing link of “proactive interactions” between the executive, governance, and government agencies with mosques; the missing link of “multidirectional interactions” between the three original and transformative institutions of society (schools, mosques, and parents/families in each neighborhood); and the missing link of “cohesive interactions” between mosque agents (imam, trustees, cultural center, and Basij unit). The formation of these links and their connection requires the re-creation of the service role of rulers, the government, mosque agents, and citizens to respond to the cultural, social, and economic needs of each neighborhood and region, as well as to decipher the revival of mosque functions in cultural and strategic governance.