An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Overview :
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Masjid kg laut, kelantan

An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Masjid Muhammadiah ,Ipoh

An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Great mosque of Xi’an, China

An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Great Mosque Djenne, Africa

An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Larabanga Mosque of Ghana|13th century

An introduction to Islamic Architecture

ARCHITECTURE OF ISLAM
Western perspective
Architecture made by Muslim
Location base
Form follow function
Islamic perspective
Follow shariah
Promoting worship
Remembering Allah

Focus on masjid
Islamic architecture
What is shariah
base on western
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

The Arabic of Islam

Rooted in the word ‘silm’
Commonly understood as submission or total surrender

‘And a man belonging entirely to one master’ (Qur’an, Su.

39:29)
The concept of submission
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

the concept of tawhid or ‘unity’, the ‘unity of God’.

tawhid as ‘the absolute one-ness and uniqueness of

God, and rejects all kinds of polytheism, whether primitive
or evolved’. Marwan Al-Kaysi
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Islamic law (shari‘ah)

The political order, social organisation, culture, economic policy
and legal system of this society must be in tune with the code of
guidance revealed by Allah in His Book (Qur’an) and the
tradition of the Prophet (sunnah). This code of conduct is
known as ‘shariah’.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Western view about Islamic Architecture:ً

reject the “ Islamisation” of architecture arguing that Muslim ً
architecture was used by Orientalists only to differentiate it from
other types of architecture

The nomadic lifestyle of Arabs discouraged any form of ً

permanent settlement and thus any architectural of building
tradition.

Islamic architecture came from Christian , Persian, or Indian

origins and Muslims only imitated and sometimes employed
masons from these cultures.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

The answer to these arguments involves the following ً

three main issues:

Although Islam opposes the exaggeration in unnecessary ً

spending, it has no objection to comfortable life or wealth as
such, nor to the enjoyment of this wordly life.Allah has
subjected his creation to the use his favourite creature (man),
but man has to use it within the boundary of his Almighty’s law
and guidance.

ِ ْ‫ت َو َما فِي ْالَر‬

‫ض‬ َ َّ َّ‫أَلَ ْم َت َر ْوا أَن‬
ِ ‫َّللا َس َّخ َر لَ ُكم َّما فِي ال َّس َم َاوا‬
ِ ‫َوأَسْ َب َغ َعلَ ْي ُك ْم ِن َع َم ُه َظا ِه َرة َو َب‬
‫اط َنة‬
Don’t you people see that Allâh has subjected for you all that is in
the skies and in the earth and has completed HIS known and
unknown blessings on you?
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Prophet Muhammad discouraged Muslims from miserable ً

living. It is amply evident that he had worn rich clothes in
festivities and was fond of exquisite perfumes and essences.

His famous expressive saying:ً

”Strive for your earthly life as you live ً

forever and strive for your hereafter as you
will die tomorrow”
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

In relation to building activity, refer to Al Quran and ً

Hadith

The first earthly building- Kaabah – prophet Adam ASً

After that , Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Ismail ً

rebuilt it

800 years later – Prophet Suleiman built his famous ً

temple (some Westerners consider as the origin of
architecture)
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

The Quran also refers to building in a number of ً

occasions.

‫ْن لِي‬ ِ ‫ت َربِّ اب‬ ْ َ‫ين آ َم ُنوا ِامْ َرأَ َة فِرْ َع ْو َن إِ ْذ َقال‬ َّ ‫ب‬
َ ‫َّللا ُ َم َثًل لِّلَّ ِذ‬ َ ‫ض َر‬َ ‫َو‬
‫ك َبيْتا فِي ْال َج َّن ِة َو َنجِّ ِني ِمن فِرْ َع ْو َن َو َع َملِ ِه َو َنجِّ ِني ِم َن ْال َق ْو ِم‬ َ ‫ِعن َد‬
‫ين‬ َّ
َ ‫الظالِ ِم‬
The wife of the Pharaoh in her supplication says: “my Lord! Built for ً
me a house with Thee in the garden and deliver me from Firaon
(Pharaoh) and his doing, and deliver me from the unjust people”
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

The prophet participated in the construction of his mosque by ً

carrying bricks. He also helped in the construction of dwellings of
some of his followers.

He stressed in Hadith:ً
” Whoever built a mosque , with the intention of ً
seeking Allah’s pleasure, Allah will build for him a similar
place in Paradise
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

As for borrowing from other cultures ( the universal concept)ً

Islam’s accommodation and tolerance to other cultures have ً
been its strongest point :

Uruf
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

The population of Muslim so diversified, yet United ً

– this is the secret of success story of Muslim art, architecture,
science and technology .

Its expansion over a vast territory, incorporating three ً

continents, provided a cultural richness that played a
significant role in elaboration of Muslim art and
architecture

Converts from Christian, Persian and Indian origins ً

enthusiastically redefined their knowledge , as well as their
experience in arts, industry and various accomplishments of
their respective nations, to conform with Islamic values and in
into their new world.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Muslim were not blind imitators but “ were content to adopt ً

each local style that they found, modifying it mainly in distinctive
ornamental details, but also introducing several important new
features of plan and structures”( Fletcher, 1961)

Early imitation or sometimes adaptation of non Muslim ً

buildings was deliberate, as these buildings were often
communal centers for pagan societies. The early
introduction of completely alien architecture was not
desirable as Islam remoulded existing traditions and built
on them the new value and life systems. So, these centres
which played important community roles in ignorant
pagan times, provided new enlightened rays of the new
belief.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Muslim have always maintained that Islam is a purification and

renovation of Allah’s old religion revealed to previous Prophets
Ibrahim AS, Musa AS and Isa AS The building of mosques and
diffusion of new architecture did not take place until Islam
became established in that community or region.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

”Muslim” and “ Islamic” Architectureً

Two words are theoretically interconnected but conceptually ً
different.

Muslimً
a general word referring to religious and geographical setting ً
of Islam.
Muslim Architectureً
the building style of the countries of Muslim religion but not ً
necessarily Islamic nor display any known features of Islamic
architecture such as the arch, the dome, stucco decoration

More positively, one can define it as including the ً

architecture that was accomplished by Muslim masons,
architects for or under Muslim patronage (government) or in a
Muslim country
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Islamic architecture can also be misleading as one may ً

understand that refers to the architecture of particular religious
(islamist) group or that of a religious function while in reality it
refers to the islamic way of building as prescribed by the Sharia
law.

In this definition , we are not concerned with the location and ً

the actual function of the building rather with its Islamic
character in term of design, form and décor, a definition which
includes all types of building rather only monuments.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

The main rule of this is apparent in the Quran, which

states

ْ‫ان َخ ْي ٌر أَم مَّن‬ َ ‫أَ َف َمنْ أَس‬

ِ ‫َّس ُب ْن َيا َن ُه َعلَى َت ْق َوى ِم َن ه‬
ٍ ‫َّللا َو ِرضْ َو‬
‫ار َج َه َّن َم َو ه‬
ُ ‫َّللا‬ َ ‫ار َفا ْن َه‬
ِ ‫ار ِب ِه ِفي َن‬ َ ‫أَس‬
ٍ ‫َّس ُب ْن َيا َن ُه َعلَ َى َش َفا ُج ُر‬
ٍ ‫ف َه‬
‫ين‬ َّ ‫الَ َي ْه ِدي ْال َق ْو َم‬
َ ‫الظالِ ِم‬
Al-Tawba ,109)

Then what do you think that who is better -- the one who laid
foundation of his building on the fear of Allâh (piety) and to seek
HIS Pleasure or the one who raised his building on an unstable
brink of a cliff and which crumbled down with him straight into the
Fire of Hell? Allâh never shows the Straight Path to such cruel
people (Zâlimûn).
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Muslim architectural achievement can be categorized in two ً

main areas
1. Religious
2. secular
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

The centre of the first :ً

1. The mosque was invented in early years (first year of Hijra) to
serve a prestigious role providing shelter and refuge for the
believer from the turbulent life and a world of evil. The faithful
gather there five times a day and every Friday on a weekly
basis. The articulation of elements such as arches , domes and
columns, calligraphic illustrations and geometrical decorating
patterns create a continuous sense of peace and contemplation
reflecting the Quranic verse
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

‫ين آ َم ُنو ْا ْاد ُخلُو ْا فِي الس ِّْل ِم َكآ َّفة َوالَ َت َّت ِبعُو ْا‬ َ ‫َيا أَ ُّي َها الَّ ِذ‬
ٌ ‫ان إِ َّن ُه لَ ُك ْم َع ُدو م ُِّب‬
‫ين‬ ِ ‫ط‬َ ْ
‫ي‬ َّ
‫ش‬ ‫ال‬ ‫ت‬ ِ ‫ا‬‫و‬ َ ُ
‫ط‬ ‫ُخ‬
O who brought Faith; you enter completely into Islâm and do
not follow Satan (Shaitân) that he is your declared enemy.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

2. The second most religious building is the Madrassa

A university (or college) which evolved from the mosque and

finally established at a time when Europe was in its early
dark ages.
Starting from the simple form of houses of the teachers and
reaching the monumental character of Kuttubia in
Morocco.

Here, the building incorporated lecture theatres, library,

residential rooms for students and facilities such as
bathes, fountains and courtyard

A handful of madrassa still exist today in the Muslim world,

most of its religious teaching is undertaken by modern
universities which do not structurally differ from western
counterparts.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Other religious building include

• monastic mosques (Zawiya)
• Mausoleums

Which can be very elaborate reaching sometimes a

monumental position like Taj Mahal in India
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Muslim secular building consist largely of domestic structures, ً

palace and ordinary houses

cannot stop appreciating the successful adaptation of ً

space to religious values and teachings especially those
relating to private and public domains.

early palaces to modern houses - segregation between ً

the female and male territories

palace – the public space was for conducting public ً

affairs such as reception halls, meeting rooms, ceremonial
courts (maidaan) and mosques for principal entourage.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Other Muslim secular architecture – Military structures such as

castles, ribats and towers and walls
to provide protection for cities especially in areas where ً
external threat was menacing as in Palestine and its
bordering countries.

Giant gates forming part of the defensive system as well as ً

elements of ceremonial furniture (victory) were also erected
along these rampant.
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

Muslim keen interest in trade produced highly develop architecture in

the form of numerous
•Caravanserais
•Warehouses (Qaysariya or Khan)
•Suqs (bazaars)

Engineering architecture – Muslim managed to create ensembles of

structures combining high degree of engineering, functionality and
outstanding beauty
•Bridges,
•Fountains
•Reservoirs
Form fascinating elements showing sense of purpose and
professional excellence
An introduction to Islamic Architecture

conclusion
Muslim architecture attests to the high level of power and
sophistication that the Muslim community had reached at a time when
Europe was living through the dark ages.

Whether in the mosque, the palace or in the ordinary house, Muslim

mason, architect and artist remarkably transmitted the profound
devotion of Islam to community.

“ It is now generally admitted that European Gothic architecture owes

a substantial debt to Islamic prototypes, many of which became
familiar to the Crusaders in Egypt, Palestine and Syria”
(Fletcher,1961)
An introduction to Islamic Architecture
An introduction to Islamic Architecture