Islamic architecture has encompassed a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures within the sphere of Islamic culture. Muslim history began in Arabia with the Muhammad 's first recitations of the Qur'an in the 7th century Muslim Culture is a term primarily used in Secular Academia to describe all cultural practices common to historically Islamic peoples
The principle architectural types of Islamic architecture are; the Mosque, the Tomb, the Palace and the Fort. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger For the New York prison see The Tombs. A Tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. A palace is a grand residence especially the home of a Head of state or some other high-ranking Public figure. Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for From these four types, the vocabulary of Islamic architecture is derived and used for buildings of lesser importance such as public baths, fountains and domestic architecture. Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness Often the term public is misleading to some people as they will have restrictions based upon who can use the facility A traditional fountain is an arrangement where water issues from a source ( Latin fons) fills a basin of some kind and is drained away [1]
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History
In 630C.E. the Prophet Muhammad's army reconquered the city of Mecca from the Banu Quraish tribe. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Serbs settle in the Balkans having been invited by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored Quraish is also the name of a Surah in the Qur'an. Quraysh or Quraish (Arabic ar قريش The sanctuary of Ka'ba was rebuilt and re-dedicated to Islam, the reconstruction being carried out before the prophet Muhammad's death in 632C. The Kaaba ( Arabic: ar الكعبة; 'kɑʕbɑ or 'kæʕbæ "Cube" is a Cuboidal building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Events By Place Europe Khan Kubrat starts to rule in Great Bulgaria. E. by a shipwrecked Abyssinian carpenter in his native style. This sanctuary was amongst the first major works of Islamic architecture. Later doctrines of Islam dating from the eighth century and originating from the Hadith, forbade the use of humans and animals. The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Hadith ( ar الحديث, pl aḥadīth; lit. "narrative" are oral Traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic [1] in architectural design,in order to obey God's command (and thou shalt not make for thyself an image or idol of God. . )and also (thou shalt have no god before me)From ten commandments and similar Islamic teachings. The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, are a list of religious and moral imperatives that according to Judeo-Christian tradition were authored by God and given For jews and muslims veneration violates these commandments. They read these commandments as prohibiting the use of idols and images during worship in any way.
In the 7th century, Muslim armies conquered a huge expanse of land. The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion Once the Muslims had taken control of a region, their first need was for somewhere to worship - a mosque. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger The simple layout provided elements that were to be incorporated into all mosques and the early Muslims put up simple buildings based on the model of the Prophet's house or adapted existing buildings for their own use.
Recently discoveries have shown that quasicrystal patterns were first employed in the girih tiles found in medieval Islamic architecture dating back over five centuries ago. Quasicrystals are structural forms that are both ordered and nonperiodic Girih tiles are a set of five Tiles that were used in the creation of tiling patterns for decoration of buildings in Islamic architecture. In 2007, Professor Peter Lu of Harvard University and Professor Paul Steinhardt of Princeton University published a paper in the journal Science suggesting that girih tilings possessed properties consistent with self-similar fractal quasicrystalline tilings such as the Penrose tilings, predating them by five centuries. Peter James Lu PhD (陸述義 b 1978 in Cleveland, OH is a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Physics at Harvard University, Cambridge Massachusetts Paul J Steinhardt is the Albert Einstein Professor of Science at Princeton University and a Professor of Theoretical physics. Princeton University is a private Coeducational research university located in Princeton, New Jersey. In Mathematics, a self-similar object is exactly or approximately similar to a part of itself (i A fractal is generally "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts each of which is (at least approximately a reduced-size copy of the whole" A Penrose tiling is a nonperiodic tiling generated by an aperiodic set of Prototiles named after Roger Penrose, who investigated these sets [2][3]
Influences and styles
A specifically recognisable Islamic architectural style developed soon after the time of the Prophet Muhammad, developing from Roman, Egyptian, Byzantine, and Persian/Sassanid models. Islamic calligraphy, equally known as Arabic calligraphy, is the art of writing and by extension of bookmaking The Taj Mahal (tɑdʒ Architectural styles classify Architecture in terms of Form, techniques, Materials, time period region etc IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics The Architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the external Greek architecture for their own purposes which were so different from Greek buildings as to create a new Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now Byzantine architecture is the Architecture of the Byzantine Empire. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire An early example may be identified as early as 691 AD with the completion of the Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhrah) in Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the It featured interior vaulted spaces, a circular dome, and the use of stylized repeating decorative patterns (arabesque). The arabesque is an elaborative application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals
The Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq, completed in 847 AD, combined the hypostyle architecture of rows of columns supporting a flat base above which a huge spiraling minaret was constructed. The Great Mosque of Samarra is a Mosque located in the Iraqi city of Samarra and was built in the 9th century For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. In Architecture, a hypostyle Hall has a flat ceiling which is supported by columns as in the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak. For the mountain formation see Minarets (California. Minarets ( Arabic manara (lighthouse منارة but more usually مئذنة
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul also influenced Islamic architecture. Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Αγία Σοφία " Holy Wisdom " Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal Basilica, later Istanbul (historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see the other Names of Istanbul) is the largest city of Turkey When the Ottomans captured the city from the Byzantines, they converted the basilica to a mosque (now a museum) and incorporated Byzantine architectural elements into their own work (e. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa) was originally used to describe a Roman A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger Byzantine architecture is the Architecture of the Byzantine Empire. g. domes). A dome is a common structural element of Architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a Sphere. The Hagia Sophia also served as model for many of the Ottoman mosques such as the Shehzade Mosque, the Suleiman Mosque, and the Rüstem Pasha Mosque. The Süleymaniye Mosque ( Süleymaniye Camii) is an Ottoman imperial Mosque located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, Turkey. The Rüstem Pasha Mosque ( Rüstem Pasha Camii) is an Ottoman Mosque located in Hasırcılar Çarşısı (Strawmat Weavers Market in Eminönü
Distinguishing motifs of Islamic architecture have always been ordered repetition, radiating structures, and rhythmic, metric patterns. In art a motif is a repeated idea pattern image or theme Paisley designs are referred to as motifs In this respect, fractal geometry has been a key utility, especially for mosques and palaces. A fractal is generally "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts each of which is (at least approximately a reduced-size copy of the whole" Other significant features employed as motifs include columns, piers and arches, organized and interwoven with alternating sequences of niches and colonnettes. [4] The role of domes in Islamic architecture has been considerable. Its usage spans centuries, first appearing in 691 with the construction of the Dome of the Rock mosque, and recurring even up until the 17th century with the Taj Mahal. The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The Taj Mahal (tɑdʒ And as late as the 19th century, Islamic domes had been incorporated into Western architecture. [5][6]
Persian architecture
One of the first civilizations that Islam came into contact with during and after its birth was that of Persia. Architecture in " Greater Iran " has a continuous history from at least 5000BCE to the present with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Syria The Shah Mosque ( Masjed-e Shah is a Mosque in Isfahan ( Eşfahān) Iran standing in south side of Naghsh-i Jahan Square Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. "Ancient" redirects here For other uses see Ancient_(disambiguation. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The Islamic conquest of Persia (633–656 led to the end of the Sassanid Empire and the eventual extirpation of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia The eastern banks of the Tigris and Euphrates was where the capital of the Persian empire lay during the 7th century. The Tigris is the eastern member of the two great Rivers that define Mesopotamia, along with the Euphrates, which flows from the mountains of southeastern The Euphrates ( ( Arabic: ar نهر الفرات; Turkish: tr Fırat Syriac: syr ܦܪܬ; Hebrew: he פרת The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Hence the proximity often led early Islamic architects to not just borrow, but adopt the traditions and ways of the fallen Persian empire.
Islamic architecture borrows heavily from Persian architecture and in many ways can be called an extension and further evolution of Persian architecture.
Many cities such as Baghdad, for example, were based on precedents such as Firouzabad in Persia. Baghdad (بغداد) is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous For the city in Uttar Pradesh, see Firozabad Firouzabad or Firuzabad ( Sassanid Middle Persian Ardasher-Khwarrah For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. In fact, it is now known that the two designers who were hired by al-Mansur to plan the city's design were Naubakht (نوبخت), a former Persian Zoroastrian, and Mashallah (ماشاءالله), a former Jew from Khorasan, Iran. Al-Mansur Almanzor or Abu Ja'far Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mansur (712&ndash775 Arabic: ابو جعفر عبدالله ابن محمد المنصور was the second Nobakht Ahvazi (نوبخت اهوازى also transliterated 'Naubakht' and his sons were Astrologers from Ahvaz (in the present-day Khuzestan Province Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings Masha'allah ibn Atharī (c740-d815 AD was an eighth century Persian Jewish astrologer and astronomer from the city of Basra (now located in PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics.
Persian-style mosques are characterized by their tapered brick pillars, large arcades, and arches supported each by several pillars. An arcade is a passage or walkway covered over by a succession of Arches or vaults supported by columns In South Asia, elements of Hindu architecture were employed, but were later superseded by Persian designs. [7]
Moorish architecture
Construction of the Great Mosque at Cordoba (now a Christian Cathedral) beginning in 785 AD marks the beginning of Islamic architecture in the Iberian peninsula and North Africa (see Moors). The Mezquita (Spanish for " Mosque " of Cordoba is a Roman Catholic Cathedral and former mosque situated in the Andalusian city of Córdoba Moorish architecture is a term used to describe the articulated Islamic architecture of North Africa and parts of Spain and Portugal The Mezquita (Spanish for " Mosque " of Cordoba is a Roman Catholic Cathedral and former mosque situated in the Andalusian city of Córdoba The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent The mosque is noted for its striking interior arches. An arch is a structure that spans a space while supporting weight (e Moorish architecture reached its peak with the construction of the Alhambra, the magnificent palace/fortress of Granada, with its open and breezy interior spaces adorned in red, blue, and gold. This article is about the Alhambra in Granada Spain For other meanings see Alhambra (disambiguation. Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous region of Andalusia, Spain. The walls are decorated with stylize foliage motifs, Arabic inscriptions, and arabesque design work, with walls covered in glazed tile. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The arabesque is an elaborative application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as Ceramic, stone, metal or even Glass. Moorish architecture has its roots deeply established in the Arab tradition of architecture and design established during the era of the first Caliphate of the Ummayyads in the Levant circa 660AD with its capital Damascus having very well preserved examples of fine ArabIslamic design and geometrics, including the Carmen which is the typical Damascene house, Opening on the inside with a fountain as the Houses' center piece
Even after the completion of the Reconquista, Islamic influence had a lasting impact on the architecture of Spain. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding See also Names of the Levant The Levant (lə'vænt is a geographical term that denotes a large area in Western Asia, roughly bounded on the north by the Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Carmen is a French Opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The Libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based Mudéjar is the name given to the Moors or Muslims of Al-Andalus, who remained in Christian territory after the Reconquista but were Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival Architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period Spanish architecture refers to Architecture carried out in any area in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide In particular, medieval Spaniards used the Mudéjar style, highly influenced by Islamic design. Mudéjar is the name given to the Moors or Muslims of Al-Andalus, who remained in Christian territory after the Reconquista but were One of the best examples of Moors' lasting impact on Spanish architecture is the Alcázar of Seville. The Alcázar of Seville (Spanish "Alcázares Reales de Sevilla" or "Royal Alcazars of Seville" is a royal palace in Seville, Spain.
Turkistan (Timurid) architecture
Timurid architecture is the pinnacle of Islamic art in Central Asia. Islamic art encompasses the arts produced from the 7th century onwards by people (not necessarily Muslim) who lived within the territory that was inhabited by culturally Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south Spectacular and stately edifices erected by Timur and his successors in Samarkand and Herat helped to disseminate the influence of the Ilkhanid school of art in India, thus giving rise to the celebrated Moghol school of architecture. Timur also written Emir Timur or Amir Temur ( Chagatai: تیمور - Tēmōr " Iron " (1336 – 19 February 1405 among The Timurids, self-designated Gurkānī ( were a Persianate Central Asian Sunni Muslim dynasty Samarkand (Samarqand Самарқанд سمرقند UniPers: "Samarqand" is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of area3018 sq mi Herāt ( classically called the Aria, is a city in western Afghanistan, in the province also known as Herāt. The Ilkhanate, also spelled Il-khanate or Il Khanate (Ил Хан улс Il Khan uls;) was a Mongol Khanate established in Art movement Art school is a colloquial term for any educational institution (whether elementary secondary post-secondary/undergraduate or graduate/postgraduate with a primary focus India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Moghol (also known as Mogholi 639-3 is a Mongolic language spoken in Afghanistan by the Moghol People around Herat, where Dari Timurid architecture started with the sanctuary of Ahmed Yasawi in present-day Kazakhstan and culminated in Timur's mausoleum Gur-e Amir in Samarkand. Mazar of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi ( is an unfinished Mausoleum in the city of Türkistan (or Hazrat-e Turkestan) south Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan, also Kazakstan ( Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, qɑzɑqˈstɑn Казахстан, Kazakhstán,) officially the The Gur-e Amir (گور امیر is the Mausoleum of the Asian conqueror Tamerlane (also known as Timur) in Samarkand (now in Samarkand (Samarqand Самарқанд سمرقند UniPers: "Samarqand" is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of The style is largely derived from Persian architecture. Architecture in " Greater Iran " has a continuous history from at least 5000BCE to the present with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Syria Axial symmetry is a characteristic of all major Timurid structures, notably the Shah-e Zendah in Samarkand and the mosque of Gowhar Shad in Meshed. Axial symmetry is Symmetry around an axis an object is axially symmetric if its appearance is unchanged if rotated around some axis Samarkand (Samarqand Самарқанд سمرقند UniPers: "Samarqand" is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Mashhad ( literally the place of martyrdom) is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Double domes of various shapes abound, and the outsides are perfused with brilliant colors. A dome is a common structural element of Architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a Sphere.
Ottoman Turkish architecture
The most numerous and largest of mosques exist in Turkey, which obtained influence from Byzantine, Persian and Syrian-Arab designs. Ottoman architecture is the Architecture of the Ottoman Empire which emerged in Bursa and Edirne in 14th and 15th centuries Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding Turkish architects implemented their own style of cupola domes. In Architecture, a cupola or lantern is a radially symmetrical ornamental structure (often dome-shaped or quadrilateral located on top of a larger [7] The architecture of the Turkish Ottoman Empire forms a distinctive whole, especially the great mosques by and in the style of Sinan, like the mid-16th century Suleiman Mosque. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Koca Mi‘mār Sinān Āġā ( Ottoman Turkish: خوجه معمار سنان آغا ( April 15, 1489 - April 09, The Süleymaniye Mosque ( Süleymaniye Camii) is an Ottoman imperial Mosque located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, Turkey. For almost 500 years Byzantine architecture such as the church of Hagia Sophia served as models for many of the Ottoman mosques such as the Shehzade Mosque, the Suleiman Mosque, and the Rüstem Pasha Mosque. Byzantine architecture is the Architecture of the Byzantine Empire. Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Αγία Σοφία " Holy Wisdom " Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal Basilica, later
The Ottomans achieved the highest level architecture in the Islamic lands hence or since. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish They mastered the technique of building vast inner spaces confined by seemingly weightless yet massive domes, and achieving perfect harmony between inner and outer spaces, as well as light and shadow. Islamic religious architecture which until then consisted of simple buildings with extensive decorations, was transformed by the Ottomans through a dynamic architectural vocabulary of vaults, domes, semidomes and columns. A Vault (French voute Italian volta German Gewölbe Polish sklepienie, Spanish The mosque was transformed from being a cramped and dark chamber with arabesque-covered walls into a sanctuary of esthetic and technical balance, refined elegance and a hint of heavenly transcendence.
Fatimid architecture
In architecture, the Fatimids followed Tulunid techniques and used similar materials, but also developed those of their own. The Tulunids were the first independent dynasty in Islamic Egypt (868&ndash905 AD In Cairo, their first congregational mosque was al-Azhar mosque ("the splendid") founded along with the city (969–973), which, together with its adjacent institution of higher learning (al-Azhar University), became the spiritual center for Ismaili Shia. Cairo () which means "the Vanquisher" or "the Triumphant" is the capital and largest city of Egypt. Al-Azhar University (pronounced "az-HAR" الأزهر الشريف, "the Noble Azhar" in Egypt, founded in 975 is the chief centre of Al-Azhar University (pronounced "az-HAR" الأزهر الشريف, "the Noble Azhar" in Egypt, founded in 975 is the chief centre of For the Egyptian city see Ismaïlia. The Ismāʿīlī ( Urdu: إسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون The Mosque of al-Hakim (r. 996–1013), an important example of Fatimid architecture and architectural decoration, played a critical role in Fatimid ceremonial and procession, which emphasized the religious and political role of the Fatimid caliph. The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah Besides elaborate funerary monuments, other surviving Fatimid structures include the Mosque of al-Aqmar (1125) as well as the monumental gates for Cairo's city walls commissioned by the powerful Fatimid emir and vizier Badr al-Jamali (r. See also List of cities with defensive walls A defensive wall is a Fortification used to defend a city or settlement from potential aggressors Emir ( Arabic: ar أمير;, female أميرة; emira;) ( Farsi and Urdu: امیر) A Vizier ( - wazīr) (sometimes also spelled Vazir Vizir Vasir Wazir Vesir, or Vezir - grammatical vowel changes are common in many western Asian al-Malik al-Afdal ibn Badr al-Jamali Shahanshah (1066 &ndash December 11, 1121) (الأفضل شاهنشاه بن بدر الجمالي was a Vizier of 1073–1094).
Al-Hakim Mosque (990-1012) was renovated by Dr. On the right side of Bab al-Futuh in Islamic Cairo is the magnificent al-Hakim Mosque, named after the third Fatimid caliph Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (head of Dawoodi Bohra community) and Al-Jame-al-Aqmar built in 1125 in Cairo, Egypt features with its Fatimi philosophy and symbolism and bring its architecture vividly to life. Mohammed Burhanuddin (محمد برھان الدین (born March 6, 1915) is the 52nd Dā‘ī l-Muṭlaq "Unrestricted Missionary" See also Imamah (Shi'a Ismaili doctrine The Musta‘lī (مستعلي Ismā'īlī Muslims are so named because they accept al-Musta‘lī Cairo () which means "the Vanquisher" or "the Triumphant" is the capital and largest city of Egypt.
Mamluk architecture
The reign of the Mamluks (1250-1517 AD) marked a breathtaking flowering of Islamic art which is most visible in old Cairo. Religious zeal made them generous patrons of architecture and art. Trade and agriculture flourished under Mamluk rule, and Cairo, their capital, became one of the wealthiest cities in the Near East and the center of artistic and intellectual activity. B Syria - Belka Woman from Damascus Arab from Baghdadjpg|thumb|Inhabitants of the Near East late nineteenth century This made Cairo, in the words of Ibn Khaldun, "the center of the universe and the garden of the world", with majestic domes, courtyards, and soaring minarets spread across the city. Ibn Khaldūn or Ibn Khaldoun (full name أبو زيد عبد الرحمن بن محمد بن خلدون,, ( May 27, 1332 AD/732 AH &ndash March 19 Center of the Universe is a Television series on CBS, which ran from October 27, 2004, until January 19, 2005 The Mamluk utilized chiaroscuro and dappled light effects in their buildings. Mamluk history is divided into two periods based on different dynastic lines: the Bahri Mamluks (1250–1382) of Qipchaq Turkic origin from southern Russia, named after the location of their barracks on the Nile and the Burji Mamluks (1382–1517) of Caucasian Circassian origin, who were quartered in the citadel. The Bahri dynasty or Bahriyya Mamluks (al-Mamalik al-Bahariyya المماليك البحرية) was a Mamluk Dynasty of mostly Kipchak The Burji dynasty المماليك البرجية ruled Egypt from 1382 until 1517 The Bahri reign defined the art and architecture of the entire Mamluk period. Mamluk decorative arts—especially enameled and gilded glass, inlaid metalwork, woodwork, and textiles—were prized around the Mediterranean as well as in Europe, where they had a profound impact on local production. The influence of Mamluk glassware on the Venetian glass industry is only one such example.
The reign of Baybars's ally and successor, Qala’un (r. 1280–90), initiated the patronage of public and pious foundations that included madrasas, mausolea, minarets, and hospitals. Such endowed complexes not only ensured the survival of the patron's wealth but also perpetuated his name, both of which were endangered by legal problems relating to inheritance and confiscation of family fortunes. Besides Qala’un's complex, other important commissions by Bahri Mamluk sultans include those of al-Nasir Muhammad (1295–1304) as well as the immense and splendid complex of Hasan (begun 1356). Al-Nasir Muhammad (Arabic:الناصر محمد (Epithet al-Malik al-Nasir Nasir al-Din Muhammad ben Qalawun)( Arabic الملك الناصر ناصر الدين محمد
The Burji Mamluk sultans followed the artistic traditions established by their Bahri predecessors. Mamluk textiles and carpets were prized in international trade. International trade is exchange of Capital, Goods, and Services across International borders or Territories. In architecture, endowed public and pious foundations continued to be favored. Major commissions in the early Burji period in Egypt included the complexes built by Barquq (r. 1382–99), Faraj (r. 1399–1412), Mu’ayyad Shaykh (r. 1412–21), and Barsbay (r. Al-Ashraf Sayf-ad-Din Barsbay was the ninth Burji Mamluk sultan of Egypt from A 1422–38).
In the eastern Mediterranean provinces, the lucrative trade in textiles between Iran and Europe helped revive the economy. Also significant was the commercial activity of pilgrims en route to Mecca and Medina. Large warehouses, such as the Khan al-Qadi (1441), were erected to satisfy the surge in trade. Other public foundations in the region included the mosques of Aqbugha al-Utrush (Aleppo, 1399–1410) and Sabun (Damascus, 1464) as well as the Madrasa Jaqmaqiyya (Damascus, 1421).
In the second half of the fifteenth century, the arts thrived under the patronage of Qa’itbay (r. 1468–96), the greatest of the later Mamluk sultans. During his reign, the shrines of Mecca and Medina were extensively restored. Major cities were endowed with commercial buildings, religious foundations, and bridges. In Cairo, the complex of Qa’itbay in the Northern Cemetery (1472–74) is the best known and admired structure of this period. Building continued under the last Mamluk sultan, Qansuh al-Ghawri (r. 1501–17), who commissioned his own complex (1503–5); however, construction methods reflected the finances of the state. Though the Mamluk realm was soon incorporated into the Ottoman empire (1517), Mamluk visual culture continued to inspire Ottoman and other Islamic artistic traditions. Visual culture is a field of study that generally includes some combination of Cultural studies, Art history, critical theory philosophy and Anthropology
Indo-Islamic (Mughal) architecture
- See also: Indian architecture
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Another distinctive sub-style is the architecture of the Mughal Empire in India in the 16th century and a fusion of Arabic, Persian and Hindu elements. The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical The Mughal emperor Akbar constructed the royal city of Fatehpur Sikri, located 26 miles west of Agra, in the late 1500s. The Mughal Empire was the dominant power in the Indian subcontinent between the mid-16th century and the end of the 17th century Akbar redirects here For other uses see Akbar (disambiguation Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar Agra ( pronounced) (आगरा آگرا is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh,
The most famous example of Mughal architecture is the Taj Mahal, the "teardrop on eternity," completed in 1648 by the emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died while giving birth to their 14th child. Mughal architecture, an amalgam of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture, is the distinctive style developed by the Mughal Empire The Taj Mahal (tɑdʒ Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abu'l-Muzaffar Shihab ud-din Muhammad Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Shah Jahan I Padshah Ghazi Mumtāz Mahal (April 1593 - 17 June 1631 ( Persian, Urdu: ممتاز محل; pronunciation /mumtɑːz mɛhɛl/ meaning "beloved ornament of the palace" The extensive use of precious and semiprecious stones as inlay and the vast quantity of white marble required nearly bankrupted the empire. The Taj Mahal is completely symmetric other than the sarcophagus of Shah Jahan which is placed off center in the crypt room below the main floor. A sarcophagus is a Funeral receptacle for a Corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone Shihab-ud-din Muhammad Shah Jahan I (full title Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan al-Mukarram Abu'l-Muzaffar Shihab ud-din Muhammad Sahib-i-Qiran-i-Sani Shah Jahan I Padshah Ghazi This symmetry extended to the building of an entire mirror mosque in red sandstone to complement the Mecca-facing mosque place to the west of the main structure. Another structure built that showed great depth of mughal influence was the Shalimar Gardens. The Shalimar Gardens ( Urdu: شالیمار باغ) sometimes written Shalamar Gardens, is a Persian garden and it was built by the Mughal
Sino-Islamic architecture
The first Chinese mosque was established in the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty in Xi'an. This is a list of Mosques in China. Note: When adding new mosques please update the template TemplateMosques in China. The Great Mosque of Xi'an (西安大清真寺 located near the Drum Tower (Gu Lou on Huajue Lane of Xi'an, Shaanxi province China, is one of the China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by UserEl_C --> Xi'an ( Postal map spelling: Sian is the Capital of the Shaanxi province in the The Great Mosque of Xi'an, whose current buildings date from the Ming Dynasty, does not replicate many of the features often associated with traditional mosques. The Great Mosque of Xi'an (西安大清真寺 located near the Drum Tower (Gu Lou on Huajue Lane of Xi'an, Shaanxi province China, is one of the The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led Instead, it follows traditional Chinese architecture. Chinese architecture refers to a style of Architecture that has taken shape in Asia over the centuries Some Chinese mosques in parts of western China were more likely to incorporate minarets and domes while eastern Chinese mosques were more likely to look like pagodas. A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered Tower with multiple Eaves common in China, Japan, Korea [8]
An important feature in Chinese architecture is its emphasis on symmetry, which connotes a sense of grandeur; this applies to everything from palaces to mosques. Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically-pleasing proportionality and balance such that it reflects beauty or A palace is a grand residence especially the home of a Head of state or some other high-ranking Public figure. A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger One notable exception is in the design of gardens, which tends to be as asymmetrical as possible. A garden is a planned space usually outdoors set aside for the display cultivation and enjoyment of Plants and other forms of Nature. Like Chinese scroll paintings, the principle underlying the garden's composition is to create enduring flow; to let the patron wander and enjoy the garden without prescription, as in nature herself.
Chinese buildings may be built with either red or grey bricks, but wooden structures are the most common; these are more capable of withstanding earthquakes, but are vulnerable to fire. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer Fire is the heat and light energy released during a Chemical reaction, in particular a combustion reaction. The roof of a typical Chinese building is curved; there are strict classifications of gable types, comparable with the classical orders of European columns. A classical order is one of the ancient styles of building design in the classical tradition, distinguished by their proportions and their characteristic profiles and details
Most mosques have certain aspects in common with each other however as with other regions Chinese Islamic architecture reflects the local architecture in its style. China is renowned for its beautiful mosques, which resemble temples. However in western China the mosques resemble those of the Middle East, with tall, slender minarets, curvy arches and dome shaped roofs. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. In northwest China where the Chinese Hui have built their mosques, there is a combination of eastern and western styles. The mosques have flared Buddhist style roofs set in walled courtyards entered thr ough archways with miniature domes and minarets (see Beytullah Mosque). Minarets may refer to Minarets an architectural feature of Islamic mosques [9]
Afro-Islamic architecture
The Islamic conquest of North Africa saw Islamic architecture develop in the region, including such famous structures as the Cairo Citadel. See also History of architecture The architecture of Africa, like other aspects of the Culture of Africa, is exceptionally diverse The Umayyad conquest of North Africa continued the century of rapid Arab Muslim expansion following the death of Muhammad in 632 CE The Saladin Citadel of Cairo () is one of the most popular Tourist attractions of Cairo, Egypt.
In West Africa, Islamic merchants played a vital role in the Western Sahel region since the Kingdom of Ghana. West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. See also Sahel Tunisia, a region of eastern Tunisia. The Sahel or Sahel Belt (from Arabic ساحل sāḥil The Ghana Empire or Wagadou Empire (existed c 750 - 1076) was located in what is now southeastern Mauritania, Western Mali At Kumbi Saleh, locals lived in domed-shaped dwellings in the king's section of the city, surrounded by a great enclosure. Koumbi Saleh, sometimes Kumbi Saleh was the capital of the Ghana Empire. Traders lived in stone houses in a section which possessed 12 beautiful mosques (as described by al-bakri), one centered on Friday prayer. "Juma" redirects here For the indigenous Brazilian group see Juma people. [10] The king is said to have owned several mansions, one of which was sixty-six feet long, forty-two feet wide, contained seven rooms, was two stories high, and had a staircase; with the walls and chambers filled with sculpture and painting. [11] Sahelian architecture initially grew from the two cities of Djenné and Timbuktu. The Sudano-Sahelian is an Architectural style common in the Sahel. Djenné (also Dienné or Jenne) is a historically and commercially important small city in the Niger Inland Delta of central Mali. Timbuktu ( Timbuctoo; Koyra Chiini: Tumbutu; French: Tombouctou) is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African The Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu, constructed from mud on timber, was similar in style to the Great Mosque of Djenné. Sankoré Madrasah The University of Sankoré, or Sankore Masjid is the oldest of the three ancient centers of learning located in Timbuktu ( Timbuctoo; Koyra Chiini: Tumbutu; French: Tombouctou) is a city in Tombouctou Region, in the West African The Great Mosque of Djenné is the largest Mud brick or Adobe building in the world and is considered by many Architects to be the greatest achievement
Contemporary architecture
Modern Islamic architecture has recently been taken on to a whole new level with such buildings being erected such as the Burj Dubai, which is soon to be the world's tallest building. Burj Dubai ( برج دبي "Dubai Tower" is a Skyscraper under construction in the Business Bay district of Dubai, United Arab Burj Dubai ( برج دبي "Dubai Tower" is a Skyscraper under construction in the Business Bay district of Dubai, United Arab The Burj Dubai's design is derived from the patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture, with the triple-lobed footprint of the building based on an abstracted version of the desert flower hymenocallis which is native to the Dubai region. Burj Dubai ( برج دبي "Dubai Tower" is a Skyscraper under construction in the Business Bay district of Dubai, United Arab Hymenocallis is a Genus of plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. Nature and flowers have often been the focal point in most traditional Islamic designs. Many modern interpretations of Islamic architecture can be found in Dubai due to the architectural boom of the Middle East. Dubai (in دبيّ,) is one of the seven emirates and most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE Yet to be built is Madinat al-Hareer in Kuwait which also has modern versions of Islamic architecture in its super tall tower. Madinat al-Hareer ( Arabic: مدينة الحرير meaning "City of Silk" is a proposed 250 square kilometer planned urban area in Subiya Kuwait The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed
Interpretation
Common interpretations of Islamic architecture include the following: The concept of Allah's infinite power is evoked by designs with repeating themes which suggest infinity. The Shah Faisal Masjid ( Urdu: شاه فيصل مسجد) in Islamabad, Pakistan, is among one of the largest mosques in The world |name = Islamabad|native_name = |nickname = |settlement_type = Capital City |total_type Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and A king is a male Monarch, or a Head of state, who may or may not depending on the style of government of a nation exercise monarchal powers over a territory usually Abdullah Muhammad Sara Luluwa Khalid Saud Allah ( Arabic: الله, ʔalˤːɑːh) is the standard Arabic word for ' Human and animal forms are rarely depicted in decorative art as Allah's work is considered to be matchless. The decorative arts are traditionally defined as ornamental and functional works in Ceramic, Wood, Glass, Metal, or Textile. Foliage is a frequent motif but typically stylized or simplified for the same reason. Arabic Calligraphy is used to enhance the interior of a building by providing quotations from the Qur'an. Islamic calligraphy, equally known as Arabic calligraphy, is the art of writing and by extension of bookmaking The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran Islamic architecture has been called the "architecture of the veil" because the beauty lies in the inner spaces (courtyards and rooms) which are not visible from the outside (street view). Furthermore, the use of grandiose forms such as large domes, towering minarets, and large courtyards are intended to convey power.
Architecture of mosques and buildings in Muslim countries
Forms
Many forms of Islamic architecture have evolved in different regions of the Islamic world. The term Muslim world (or Islamic world) has several meanings Notable Islamic architectural types include the early Abbasid buildings, T-type mosques, and the central-dome mosques of Anatolia. T-type may be Automobiles T-Type cars made by Buick MG T-type cars AEC T-type buses Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black The oil-wealth of the 20th century drove a great deal of mosque construction using designs from leading modern architects. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit
Arab-plan or hypostyle mosques are the earliest type of mosques, pioneered under the Umayyad Dynasty. These mosques are square or rectangular in plan with an enclosed courtyard and a covered prayer hall. Historically, because of the warm Mediterranean and Middle Eastern climates, the courtyard served to accommodate the large number of worshipers during Friday prayers. Most early hypostyle mosques have flat roofs on top of prayer halls, necessitating the use of numerous columns and supports. A column in Structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural [12] One of the most notable hypostyle mosques is the Mezquita in Córdoba, Spain, as the building is supported by over 850 columns. The Mezquita (Spanish for " Mosque " of Cordoba is a Roman Catholic Cathedral and former mosque situated in the Andalusian city of Córdoba ||-||-||} Córdoba ( Cordova in English is a City in Andalusia, southern Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. [13] Frequently, hypostyle mosques have outer arcades so that visitors can enjoy some shade. An arcade is a passage or walkway covered over by a succession of Arches or vaults supported by columns Arab-plan mosques were constructed mostly under the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties; subsequently, however, the simplicity of the Arab plan limited the opportunities for further development, and as a result, these mosques gradually fell out of popularity. [12]
The Ottomans introduced central dome mosques in the 15th century and have a large dome centered over the prayer hall. The Ottoman Dynasty (or the Imperial House of Osman) ( Turkish: Osmanlı Hanedanı) ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1299 to 1922 beginning with In addition to having one large dome at the center, there are often smaller domes that exist off-center over the prayer hall or throughout the rest of the mosque, where prayer is not performed. [14] This style was heavily influenced by the Byzantine religious architecture with its use of large central domes. [12]
Iwan
An iwan (Persian ايوان derived from Pahlavi word Bān meaning house) is defined as a vaulted hall or space, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. The Taj Mahal (tɑdʒ Agra ( pronounced) (आगरा آگرا is a city on the banks of the Yamuna River in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh,
Iwans were a trademark of the Sassanid architecture of Persia, later finding their way into Islamic architecture. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia This transition reached its peak during the Seljuki era when iwans became established as a fundamental design unit in Islamic architecture. The Seljuq (also Seljuq Turks, Seldjuks, Seldjuqs, Seljuks; in Turkish Selçuklular; in Ṣaljūqīyān; in Typically, iwans open on to a central courtyard, and have been used in both public and residential architecture.
Iwan mosques are most notable for their domed chambers and iwans, which are vaulted spaces open out on one end. An iwan (إيوان eyvān) is defined as a vaulted hall or space walled on three sides with one end entirely open In iwan mosques, one or more iwans face a central courtyard that serves as the prayer hall. The style represents a borrowing from pre-Islamic Iranian architecture and has been used almost exclusively for mosques in Iran. Jahiliyyah, al-Jahiliyah or jahalia ( Arabic: جاهلية) is an Islamic concept of "ignorance of divine guidance" or "the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Many iwan mosques are converted Zoroastrian fire temples where the courtyard was used to house the sacred fire. Zoroastrianism (ˌzɔroʊˈæstriəˌnɪzəm is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings [12] Today, iwan mosques are seldom built. [14] A notable example of a more recent four iwan design is the King Saud Mosque in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, finished in 1987. His Majesty King Saud Mosque is the largest Mosque in the city of Jeddah and is located in Jeddah's Al-Sharafeyyah District Jeddah (also spelled Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda; جدّة Ǧiddah) is a Saudi Arabian city located on the coast of the The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi
Sahn
Almost every mosque and traditionally all houses and buildings in areas of the Arab World contain a courtyard known as a sahn (Arabic صحن), which are surrounded on all sides by rooms and sometimes an arcade. A sahn (صحن) in Islamic architecture, is a courtyard Almost every Mosque has a sahn which is surrounded by an arcade from all sides Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Sahns usually feature a centrally positioned pool known as a howz. Howzjpg|thumb|right|A small howz in a Mosque in Tehran shaped in the traditional form of two sqaures rotated 45 degrees
If a sahn is in a mosque, it is used for performing ablutions. If a sahn is in a traditional house or private courtyard, it is used for aesthetics and to cool the summer heat.
Gardens
The Qur'an uses the garden as an analogy for paradise and Islam came to have a significant influence on garden design. The Qu'ran has many references to gardens and the garden is used as an earthly analogue for the life in paradise which is promised to believers The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran Garden design is the art and process of Designing and creating plans for layout and planting of Gardens and Landscapes Garden design may be done by the garden
Arabesque
An element of Islamic art usually found decorating the walls of mosques and Muslim homes and buildings, the arabesque is an elaborate application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants, shapes and sometimes animals (specifically birds). The arabesque is an elaborative application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals Islamic art encompasses the arts produced from the 7th century onwards by people (not necessarily Muslim) who lived within the territory that was inhabited by culturally The arabesque is an elaborative application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals Geometry ( Greek γεωμετρία; geo = earth metria = measure is a part of Mathematics concerned with questions of size shape and relative position Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. The choice of which geometric forms are to be used and how they are to be formatted is based upon the Islamic view of the world. To Muslims, these forms, taken together, constitute an infinite pattern that extends beyond the visible material world. To many in the Islamic world, they in fact symbolize the infinite, and therefore uncentralized, nature of the creation of the one God (Allah). For the Celtic Frost album see Monotheist (album In Theology, monotheism (from Greek grc [[wiktμόνος μόνος]] Allah ( Arabic: الله, ʔalˤːɑːh) is the standard Arabic word for ' Furthermore, the Islamic Arabesque artist conveys a definite spirituality without the iconography of Christian art. An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. Christian art is Art produced in an attempt to illustrate supplement and portray in tangible form the principles of Christianity. Arabesque is used in mosques and building around the Muslim world, and it is a way of decorating using beautiful, embellishing and repetitive Islamic art instead of using pictures of humans and animals (which is forbidden Haram in Islam). The Arabic term ḥaram has a meaning of "sanctuary" or "holy site" in Islam. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation.
Calligraphy
Arabic calligraphy is associated with geometric Islamic art (the Arabesque) on the walls and ceilings of mosques as well as on the page. Islamic calligraphy, equally known as Arabic calligraphy, is the art of writing and by extension of bookmaking Calligraphy (from Greek kallos "beauty" + graphẽ "writing" is the art of writing (Mediavilla 1996 17 Contemporary artists in the Islamic world draw on the heritage of calligraphy to use calligraphic inscriptions or abstractions in their work.
Instead of recalling something related to the reality of the spoken word, calligraphy for the Muslim is a visible expression of spiritual concepts. Spoken word is a form of literary Art or artistic performance in which Lyrics, Poetry, or stories are spoken rather than sung Calligraphy has arguably become the most venerated form of Islamic art because it provides a link between the languages of the Muslims with the religion of Islam. The holy book of Islam, al-Qur'ān, has played a vital role in the development of the Arabic language, and by extension, calligraphy in the Arabic alphabet. The Qur’an ( القرآن, literally "the recitation" also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, Alcoran The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing several languages of Asia and Africa such as Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. Proverbs and complete passages from the Qur'an are still active sources for Islamic calligraphy. A proverb (from the Latin proverbium) also called a byword or nayword, is a simple and concrete Saying popularly known and repeated
Elements of Islamic style
Islamic architecture may be identified with the following design elements, which were inherited from the first mosque built byr hall (originally a feature of the Masjid al-Nabawi). The Mosque of the Prophet (or Prophet's Mosque) ( Arabic: المسجد النبوي) /mæsʤıd ænːæbæwı in Medina, is the second holiest
- Minarets or towers (these were originally used as torch-lit watchtowers, as seen in the Great Mosque of Damascus; hence the derivation of the word from the Arabic nur, meaning "light"). For the mountain formation see Minarets (California. Minarets ( Arabic manara (lighthouse منارة but more usually مئذنة The Grand Mosque of Damascus, also known as the Ummayad Mosque' ( Arabic: جامع بني أمية الكبير transl
- A four-iwan plan, with three subordinate halls and one principal one that faces toward Mecca
- Mihrab or prayer niche on an inside wall indicating the direction to Mecca. An iwan (إيوان eyvān) is defined as a vaulted hall or space walled on three sides with one end entirely open A mihrab (محراب pl محاريب is a niche in the wall of a Mosque that indicates the Qibla, that is the direction of the Kaaba The niche in classical architecture is an Exedra or an Apse that has been reduced in size retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored This may have been derived from previous uses of niches for the setting of the torah scrolls in Jewish synagogues or the haikal of Coptic churches. term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ History of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria Apostolic foundation Egypt is identified in the Bible as the place of refuge that the
- Domes and Cupolas. A dome is a common structural element of Architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a Sphere. In Architecture, a cupola or lantern is a radially symmetrical ornamental structure (often dome-shaped or quadrilateral located on top of a larger
- Iwans to intermediate between different sections.
- The use of geometric shapes and repetitive art (arabesque).
- The use of decorative Islamic calligraphy instead of pictures which were haram (forbidden) in mosque architecture. Islamic calligraphy, equally known as Arabic calligraphy, is the art of writing and by extension of bookmaking An image (from Latin imago) or picture is an artifact usually two-dimensional that has a similar appearance to some subject &mdashusually The Arabic term ḥaram has a meaning of "sanctuary" or "holy site" in Islam. Note that in secular architecture, human and animal representation was indeed present.
- Central fountains used for ablutions (once used as a wudu area for Muslims). A traditional fountain is an arrangement where water issues from a source ( Latin fons) fills a basin of some kind and is drained away This article is about Hygiene in Islam. Wudu ( Arabic: الوضوء al-wuḍū', Persian:آبدست ābdast
- The use of bright color.
- Focus both on the interior space of a building and the exterior
Differences between Islamic architecture and Persian architecture
Like this of other nations that became part of the Islamic realm, Persian Architecture is not to be confused with Islamic Architecture and refers broadly to architectural styles across the Islamic world. Architecture in " Greater Iran " has a continuous history from at least 5000BCE to the present with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Syria Islamic architecture, therefore, does not directly include reference to Persian styles prior to the rise of Islam. Persian architecture, like other nations', predates Islamic architecture and can be correctly understood as an important influence on overall Islamic architecture as well as a branch of Islamic architecture since the introduction of Islam in Persia. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Islamic architecture can be classified according to chronology, geography, and building typology.
See also
- Islamic Golden Age
- Indo-Islamic Architecture
- Moorish Revival
- Madrassa
- Aga Khan Award for Architecture
- Hispano-Moresque Pottery
- Historic Cities Support Programme
- Ebba Koch
Notes
- ^ a b Copplestone, p. Islamic contribution to Indian architecture is far reaching and undeniable Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival Architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the "Madrasa" and "Medrese" redirect here For the village in Azerbaijan see Mədrəsə. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture ( AKAA) is an architectural prize established by Aga Khan IV in 1977 Hispano-Moresque ware is a style of Islamic pottery created in Andalusia. Role of the HCSP The HCSP works closely with all project stakeholders including the Community. Ebba Koch is an architectural historian an Art historian, and a political historian presently she is a professor at the Institute of Art History in Vienna, 149
- ^ Peter J. Lu and Paul J. Steinhardt (2007). "Decagonal and Quasi-crystalline Tilings in Medieval Islamic Architecture". Science 315: 1106-1110. Science is the Academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is considered one of the world's most prestigious Scientific
- ^ Supplemental figures [1]
- ^ Tonna (1990), pp. 182-197
- ^ Grabar, O. (2006) p. 87
- ^ Ettinghausen (2003), p. 87
- ^ a b "Islam", The New Encyclopedia Britannica (2005)
- ^ Cowen, Jill S. . "Muslims in China: The Mosque", Saudi Aramco World, July/August 1985, pp. 30-35. Retrieved on 2006-04-08. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian
- ^ Saudi Aramco World, July/August 1985 , page 3035
- ^ Historical Society of Ghana. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, The Society, 1957, pp81
- ^ Davidson, Basil. The Lost Cities of Africa. Boston: Little Brown, 1959, pp86
- ^ a b c d Hillenbrand, R "Masdjid. I. In the central Islamic lands". Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. The Encyclopaedia of Islam ( EI) is the standard Encyclopaedia of the Academic discipline of Islamic studies. Ed. P. J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. Clifford Edmund Bosworth (born December 29, 1928, Sheffield, United Kingdom) is an English historian and orientalist, specializing van Donzel and W. P. Heinrichs. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912. An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication.
- ^ Religious Architecture and Islamic Cultures. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved on 2006-04-09. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans)
- ^ a b Vocabulary of Islamic Architecture. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved on 2006-04-09. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans)
References
- Ettinghausen, Richard and Grabar, Oleg. (1987) The Art and Architecture of Islam: 650 - 1250, Penguin, USA
- Pourjafar, M. Reza and Taghvaee, Ali A. (January-June 2006) Indo-Iranian Socio-Cultural Relations at Past, Present and Future Vol. 1 in -Web Journal on Cultural Patrimony (Fabio Maniscalco ed.)
- Copplestone, Trewin. (ed). (1963). World architecture - An illustrated history. Hamlyn, London.
- Hillenbrand, R "Masdjid. I. In the central Islamic lands". Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. The Encyclopaedia of Islam ( EI) is the standard Encyclopaedia of the Academic discipline of Islamic studies. Ed. P. J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. Clifford Edmund Bosworth (born December 29, 1928, Sheffield, United Kingdom) is an English historian and orientalist, specializing van Donzel and W. P. Heinrichs. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912. An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication.
- Creswell, K. A. C. (1958) A Short Account of Early Muslim Architecture
External links
- Biggest resource for Islamic and Arabic Architecture
- Fons Vitae - Islamic Architecture of Cairo
- Islamic Art Network - Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation
- Art of the Mamluks
- http://www.osmanlimedeniyeti.com Many articles about the Ottoman Turkish Mosques and Mosque architecture (in Turkish)
- Discussion of Islamic architecture
- http://www.3dkabah.com A 3D model of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, with pictures and videos
- Great Mosque of Sammarra
- Watch "Isfahan the Movie" on QuickTime Player to see superb example of Islamic architecture. Professor Sir Keppel Archibald Cameron Creswell ( 13 September 1879 &ndash 8 April 1974) was an English architectural historian In 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical, wireframe representation of any three-dimensional object
- Islamic Architecture org.
- Gallery of Islamic Architecture
- Article, "What is Islamic Architecture?"
- Article, "The Mosque of Two Pillars at Georgetown University"
- Art and architecture of the Arab world and Islam
- Turkish Architecture - Architect Sinan articles about the Ottoman-Turkish Architecture an Architect Sinan (in Turkish)
- Extensive information on Ottoman architect Sinan's works
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