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The interior side view of the main dome of

Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey.

Si-yo-se-pol, Isfahan, Iran

Islamic architectureFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secularand religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day,influencing the design and pagal style made by muslims and theirconstruction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture.Tahleelmade a famous mughal architecture named akbar fort . The principalIslamic architectural types are: the Mosque, the Tomb, the Palaceand the Fort. From these four types, the vocabulary of Islamicarchitecture is derived and used for buildings of less importance

such as public baths, fountains and domestic architecture.[1][2]

Contents

1 Influences

2 Early history

3 Styles

3.1 Persian style

3.2 Azerbaijani architecture3.3 Turkistan (Timurid) architecture

3.4 Ottoman architecture

3.5 Indo-Islamic architecture

3.6 Sino-Islamic architecture

3.7 Indonesian-Malay architecture

3.8 Sahelian-Islamic architecture3.9 Somali-Islamic architecture

3.10 Interpretation4 Architecture Forms and Styles of mosques and buildings

in Muslim countries4.1 Forms

4.2 Sehan

4.3 Gardens

4.4 Arabesque

4.5 Calligraphy

5 Elements of Islamic style

6 Contemporary Muslim architects

7 See also

8 Gallery9 References

10 Further reading

11 External links

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Dome of the Rock in

Jerusalem The Nur-Astana Mosque

in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Dome of the mihrab (9th

century) in the Great

Mosque of Kairouan also

known as the Mosque of

Uqba, in Kairouan,

Tunisia

Inside the Al-Masjid al-

Nabawi in Medina, Saudi

Arabia.

Influences

Specifically recognizable Islimic architectural style emerged soon after Muhammad's time, inspired by Islam withaddition of localized adaptations of the former Sassanid and Byzantine models. The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat al-Sakhrah) in Jerusalem (691) is one of the most important buildings in all of Islamic architecture, marked by a strongByzantine influence (mosaic against a gold background, and a central plan that resembles that of the Church of the

Holy Sepulchre, although the church itself was renovated several times in the Islamic period[3]), but already bearingpurely Islamic elements, such as the great epigraphic frieze. It featured interior vaulted spaces, a circular dome, andthe use of stylized repeating decorative arabesque patterns. The desert palaces in Jordan and Syria (for example,Mshatta, Qasr Amra, and Khirbat al-Mafjar) served the caliphs as living quarters, reception halls, and baths, andwere decorated to promote an image of royal luxury. The Germanic Visigoths in Spain also contributed to Islamicarchitecture. They invented the inward curving horseshoe arch in Spain and used them as one of their mainarchitectural features, After the Moorish invasion of Spain in 711 AD the form was taken by the Umayyads who

accentuated the curvature of the horseshoe.[4]

Religious and civic architecture were developed underthe Umayyads, when new concepts and new planswere put into practice. Thus, the "Arab plan", withcourt and hypostyle prayer hall, truly became afunctional type with the construction of the UmayyadMosque, or the Great Mosque of Damascus

(completed in 715 by caliph Al-Walid I)[5] on top ofthe ancient temple of Jupiter and in place of thebasilica of St. John the Baptist, the most sacred site inthe city. This building served as a point of referencefor builders (and for art historians) for the birth of theArab plan, as Byzantine Christian.

The Abbasid dynasty (750 A.D.- 1258[6]) witnessedthe movement of the capital from Damascus toBaghdad, and then from Baghdad to Samarra. Theshift to Baghdad influenced politics, culture, and art.The Great Mosque of Samarra, once the largest in theworld, was built for the new capital. Other majormosques built in the Abbasid Dynasty include theMosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, Abu Dalaf in Iraq, thegreat mosque in Tunis. Abbasid architecture in Iraq asexemplified in the Fortress of Al-Ukhaidir (c.775-6)demonstrated the "despotic and the pleasure-lovingcharacter of the dynasty" in its grand size but cramped

living quarters.[7]

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Section of the Umayyad-era Mshatta

Facade, now in the Pergamon

Museum in Berlin, from a palace near

Amman

The Great Mosque of Kairouan (in Tunisia), considered as the ancestor of all the mosques in the western Islamic

world,[8] is one of the best preserved and most significant examples of early great mosques. Founded in 670 AD, it

dates in its present form largely from the Aghlabid period (9th century).[9] The Great Mosque of Kairouan isconstituted of a massive square minaret, a large courtyard surrounded by porticos and a huge hypostyle prayer hall

covered on its axis by two cupolas.[8] The Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq, completed in 847 AD, combined thehypostyle architecture of rows of columns supporting a flat base above which a huge spiraling minaret wasconstructed.

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul also influenced Islamic architecture. When the Ottomans captured the city from theByzantines, they converted the basilica to a mosque (now a museum) and incorporated Byzantine architecturalelements into their own work (e.g. domes). The Hagia Sophia also served as a model for many Ottoman mosquessuch as the Shehzade Mosque, the Suleiman Mosque, and the Rüstem Pasha Mosque.

Distinguishing motifs of Islamic architecture have always been ordered repetition, radiating structures, and rhythmic,metric patterns. In this respect, fractal geometry has been a key utility, especially for mosques and palaces. Othersignificant features employed as motifs include columns, piers and arches, organized and interwoven with alternating

sequences of niches and colonnettes.[10] The role of domes in Islamic architecture has been considerable. Its usagespans centuries, first appearing in 691 with the construction of the Dome of the Rock, and recurring even up untilthe 17th century with the Taj Mahal. As late as the 19th century, Islamic domes had been incorporated into

Western architecture.[11][12]

Early history

There are few buildings dating from the era of Prophet Muhammad, butone example is the Juatha mosque in Saudi Arabia. The RashidunCaliphate (632–661) was the first state to use Islamic Architecture.

The Umayyad Caliphate (661–750) combined elements of Byzantinearchitecture and Sassanid architecture, but Umayyad architecture

introduced new combinations of these western and eastern styles.[13] Thehorseshoe arch appears for the first time in Umayyad architecture, later

to evolve to its most advanced form in al-Andalus.[14] Umayyadarchitecture is distinguished by the extent and variety of decoration,including mosaics, wall painting, sculpture and carved reliefs with Islamic

motifs.[15] The Umayyads introduced a transept that divided the prayer room along its shorter axis.[16] They also

added the mihrab to mosque design.[16] The mosque in Medina built by al-Walid I had the first mihrab, a niche onthe qibla wall, which seems to have represented the place where the Prophet stood when leading prayer. This

almost immediately became a standard feature of all mosques.[16]

The Abbasid architecture of the Abbasid Caliphate (750–1513) was strongly influenced by Sassanid architecture,and later by Central Asian styles. The Abbasid mosques all followed the courtyard plan. The earliest was themosque that al-Mansur built in Baghdad. since destroyed. The Great Mosque of Samarra built by al-Mutawakkilwas 256 by 139 metres (840 by 456 ft). A flat wooden roof was supported by columns. The mosque was

decorated with marble panels and glass mosaics.[17] The prayer hall of the Abu Dulaf mosque at Samarra hadarcades on rectangular brick piers running at right angles to the qibla wall. Both of the Samarra mosques have spiral

minarets, the only examples in Iraq.[17] A mosque at Balkh in what is now Afghanistan was about 20 by 20 metres

(66 by 66 ft) square, with three rows of three square bays, supporting nine vaulted domes.[18]

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Moorish ceiling in Alhambra

Bab al-Futuh gate built by the Fatimid

vazir Badr al-Jamali

Construction of the Great Mosque at Córdoba (now a cathedral knownas the Mezquita) beginning in 785 CE marks the beginning of Moorisharchitecture in the Iberian peninsula and North Africa (see Moors). Themosque is noted for its striking interior arches. Moorish architecturereached its peak with the construction of the Alhambra, the magnificentpalace/fortress of Granada, with its open and breezy interior spacesadorned in red, blue, and gold. The walls are decorated with stylizedfoliage motifs, Arabic inscriptions, and arabesque design work, with wallscovered in glazed tile. Their other, smaller, survivals such as the BabMardum in Toledo, or the caliphal city of Medina Azahara. Moorisharchitecture has its roots deeply established in the Arab tradition ofarchitecture and design established during the era of the first Caliphate ofthe Umayyads in the Levant circa 660AD with its capital Damascushaving very well preserved examples of fine Arab Islamic design and geometrics, including the carmen, which is thetypical Damascene house, opening on the inside with a fountain as the house's centre piece.

Fatimid architecture in Egypt followed Tulunid techniques and usedsimilar materials, but also developed those of their own. In Cairo, theirfirst congregational mosque was al-Azhar mosque ("the splendid")founded along with the city (969–973), which, together with its adjacentinstitution of higher learning (al-Azhar University), became the spiritualcenter for Ismaili Shia. The Mosque of al-Hakim (r. 996–1013), animportant example of Fatimid architecture and architectural decoration,played a critical role in Fatimid ceremonial and procession, whichemphasized the religious and political role of the Fatimid caliph. Besideselaborate funerary monuments, other surviving Fatimid structures include

the Aqmar Mosque (1125)[19] as well as the monumental gates forCairo's city walls commissioned by the powerful Fatimid emir and vizierBadr al-Jamali (r. 1073–1094).

The reign of the Mamluks (1250–1517 AD) in Egypt marked a breathtaking flowering of Islamic art which is mostvisible in old Cairo. Religious zeal made them generous patrons of architecture and art. Trade and agricultureflourished under Mamluk rule, and Cairo, their capital, became one of the wealthiest cities in the Near East and thecenter of artistic and intellectual activity. This made Cairo, in the words of Ibn Khaldun, "the center of the universeand the garden of the world", with majestic domes, courtyards, and soaring minarets spread across the city.

Styles

Persian style

See also: Persian architecture

The Islamic conquest of Persia in the 7th century led early Islamic architects to borrow and adopt many traditionsand ways of the fallen Persian empire. Islamic architecture thus borrows from Persian architecture and can be somewhat called an extension and further evolution of Persian architecture.

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Inside the Shah Mosque

in the city of Isfahan.

The Shah Mosque,

constructed in 1629, in

Isfahan, Iran.

Friday Mosque of Herat

in Afghanistan

Closeup of the Lotfallah

Mosque in Isfahan, Iran.

Completed in 1618, it

became the private

mosque of the Safavid

royalty.

The Shrine of Hazrat Ali

in Mazar-i-Sharif,

Afghanistan.

In Persia and Central Asia, the Tahirids, Samanids,Ghaznavids, and Ghurids struggled for power in the10th century, and art was a vital element of thiscompetition. Great cities were built, such as Nishapurand Ghazni (Afghanistan), and the construction of theGreat Mosque of Isfahan (which would continue, infits and starts, over several centuries) was initiated.Funerary architecture was also cultivated.

Under the Seljuqs the "Iranian plan" of mosqueconstruction appears for the first time. Lodging placescalled khans, or caravanserai, for travellers and theiranimals, or caravansarais, generally displayedutilitarian rather than ornamental architecture, withrubble masonry, strong fortifications, and minimal

comfort.[20] Seljuq architecture synthesized variousstyles, both Iranian and Syrian, sometimes renderingprecise attributions difficult. Another importantarchitectural trend to arise in the Seljuk era is thedevelopment of mausolea including the tomb towersuch as the Gunbad-i-qabus (circa 1006-7)(showcasing a Zoroastrian motif) and the domedsquare, an example of which is the tomb of the

Samanids in the city of Bukhara (circa 943).[21]

The Il-Khanate period provided several innovations to dome-building that eventuallyenabled the Persians to construct much taller structures. These changes later pavedthe way for Safavid architecture. The pinnacle of Il-Khanate architecture wasreached with the construction of the Soltaniyeh Dome (1302–1312) in Zanjan, Iran,which measures 50 m in height and 25 m in diameter, making it the 3rd largest and

the tallest masonry dome ever erected.[22] The thin, double-shelled dome was reinforced by arches between the

layers.[23] The tomb of Öljeitü in Soltaniyeh is one of the greatest and most impressive monuments in Iran, despitemany later depredations.

Iranian architecture and city planning also reached an apogee under the Timurids, in particular with the monumentsof Samarkand, marked by extensive use of exterior ceramic tiles and muqarnas vaulting within.

The renaissance in Persian mosque and dome building came during the Safavid dynasty, when Shah Abbas, in 1598

initiated the reconstruction of Isfahan, with the Naqsh-e Jahan Square as the centerpiece of his new capital.[24] Thedistinct feature of Persian domes, which separates them from those domes created in the Christian world or theOttoman and Mughal empires, was the colorful tiles, with which they covered the exterior of their domes, as theywould on the interior. These domes soon numbered dozens in Isfahan, and the distinct, blue- colored shape woulddominate the skyline of the city. Reflecting the light of the sun, these domes appeared like glittering turquoise gemand could be seen from miles away by travelers following the Silk road through Persia. This very distinct style ofarchitecture was inherited to them from the Seljuq dynasty, who for centuries had used it in their mosque building,but it was perfected during the Safavids when they invented the haft- rangi, or seven- colour style of tile burning, a

process that enabled them to apply more colours to each tile, creating richer patterns, sweeter to the eye.[25] The

colours that the Persians favoured where golden, white and turquoise patterns on a dark- blue background.[26] The

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The Bibi-Heybat Mosque

in Baku, Azerbaijan

Registan is the ensemble

of three madrasas, in

Samarkand, modern day

Uzbekistan.

extensive inscription bands of calligraphy and arabesque on most of the major buildings where carefully planned andexecuted by Ali Reza Abbasi, who was appointed head of the royal library and Master calligrapher at the Shah's

court in 1598,[27] while Shaykh Bahai oversaw the construction projects. Reaching 53 meters in height, the domeof Masjed-e Shah (Shah Mosque) would become the tallest in the city when it was finished in 1629. It was built asa double- shelled dome, with 14 m spanning between the two layers, and resting on an octagonal dome

chamber.[28]

Persian-style mosques are also characterized by their tapered brick pillars, large arcades and arches eachsupported by several pillars. In South Asia, elements of Hindu architecture were employed, but were later

superseded by Persian designs.[29]

Azerbaijani architecture

The Islamic conquest of Persia in the 7th century also helped Islamic architecture to

flourish in Azerbaijan.[30][31] The country became home of Nakchivan and Shirvan-Absheron architecture schools. An example of the first direction in the Azerbaijani

Islamic architecture is the mausoleum of Yusuf, built in 1162.[32]

The Shirvan-Absheron school unlike Nakchivan style used stones instead of thebricks in the construction. At the same characteristics of this trend were theasymmetry and stone carving, which includes famous landmarks like Palace of theShirvanshahs.

Turkistan (Timurid) architecture

Timurid architecture is the pinnacle of Islamic art in Central Asia. Spectacular andstately edifices erected by Timur and his successors in Samarkand and Herat helpedto disseminate the influence of the Ilkhanid school of art in India, thus giving rise tothe celebrated Mughal school of architecture. Timurid architecture started with thesanctuary of Ahmed Yasawi in present-day Kazakhstan and culminated in Timur'smausoleum Gur-e Amir in Samarkand. The style is largely derived from Persianarchitecture. Axial symmetry is a characteristic of all major Timurid structures,notably the Shah-e Zendah in Samarkand and the mosque of Gowhar Shad inMashhad. Double domes of various shapes abound, and the outsides are perfusedwith brilliant colors.

Ottoman architecture

Main article: Ottoman architecture

The standard plan of Ottoman architecture was inspired in part by the example of Hagia Sophia inConstantinople/Istanbul, Ilkhanid works like Oljeitu Tomb and earlier Seljuk and Anatolian Beylik monumentalbuildings and their own original innovations. The most famous of Ottoman architects was (and remains) MimarSinan, who lived for approximately one hundred years and designed several hundreds of buildings, of which two ofthe most important are Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul and Selimiye Mosque in Edirne. Apprentices of Sinan laterbuilt the famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul and the Taj Mahal in India.

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Selimiye Mosque, built by

Sinan in 1575. Edirne,

Turkey.

Great Mosque of Aurungzeb and the

adjoining Ghats.

The most numerous and largest of mosques exist in [Turkey], which obtainedinfluence from Byzantine, Persian and Syrian-Arab designs. Turkish architects

implemented their own style of cupola domes.[29] For almost 500 years Byzantinearchitecture such as the church of Hagia Sophia served as models for many of theOttoman mosques such as the Shehzade Mosque, the Suleiman Mosque, and theRüstem Pasha Mosque.

The Ottomans mastered the technique of building vast inner spaces confined byseemingly weightless yet massive domes, and achieving perfect harmony betweeninner and outer spaces, as well as light and shadow. Islamic religious architecturewhich until then consisted of simple buildings with extensive decorations, was

transformed by the Ottomans through a dynamic architectural vocabulary of vaults, domes, semidomes andcolumns. The mosque was transformed from being a cramped and dark chamber with arabesque-covered wallsinto a sanctuary of esthetic and technical balance, refined elegance and a hint of heavenly transcendence.

Indo-Islamic architecture

Main articles: Mughal architecture and Indo-Islamic architecture

See also: Indian architecture, Pakistani architecture, and Bangladeshi architecture

Another distinctive sub-style is Indo-Islamic architecture in South Asia, itis a fusion of Arab, Central Asian and Persian elements with the localHindu architecture. The most famous examples of Mughal architectureare the series of imperial mausolea, which started with the pivotal Tombof Humayun, but is best known for the Taj Mahal, completed in 1648 byemperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who diedwhile giving birth to their 14th child. The Taj Mahal is completelysymmetrical except for Shah Jahan's sarcophagus, which is placed offcenter in the crypt room below the main floor. This symmetry extendedto the building of an entire mirror mosque in red sandstone tocomplement the Mecca-facing mosque place to the west of the mainstructure. A famous example of the charbagh style of Mughal garden isthe Shalimar Gardens in Lahore, where the domeless Tomb of Jahangir is also located. The Red Fort in Delhi andAgra Fort are huge castle-like fortified palaces, and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, 26 miles (42 km) west of

Agra, was built for Akbar in the late 16th century.[33]

Sino-Islamic architecture

Main article: Chinese mosques

The first Chinese mosque was established in the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty in Xi'an. The Great Mosqueof Xi'an, whose current buildings date from the Ming Dynasty, does not replicate many of the features oftenassociated with traditional mosques. Instead, it follows traditional Chinese architecture. Some Chinese mosques inparts of western China were more likely to incorporate minarets and domes while eastern Chinese mosques were

more likely to look like pagodas.[34]

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Charminar at Old City in Hyderabad

Hui people who have also migrated to

the south such as this Darunaman

Mosque, locating in Chiang Rai

province, Thailand shows a great

mixture between Chinese and Islamic

architecture.

An important lathan feature in Chinese architecture is its emphasis on symmetry, which connotes a sense ofgrandeur; this applies to everything from palaces to mosques. One notable exception is in the design of gardens,which tends to be as asymmetrical as possible. Like Chinese scroll paintings, the principle underlying the garden'scomposition is to create enduring flow; to let the patron wander and enjoy the garden without prescription, as innature herself.

Chinese buildings may be built with either red or grey bricks, but wooden structures are the most common; theseare more capable of withstanding earthquakes, but are vulnerable to fire. The roof of a typical Chinese building iscurved; there are strict classifications of gable types, comparable with the classical orders of European columns.

Most mosques have certain aspects in common with each other however as with other regions Chinese Islamicarchitecture reflects the local architecture in its style. China is renowned for its beautiful mosques, which resembletemples. However in western China the mosques resemble those of the Arab World, with tall, slender minarets,curvy arches and dome shaped roofs. In northwest China where the Chinese Hui have built their mosques, there is

a combination of eastern andwestern styles. The mosqueshave flared Buddhist styleroofs set in walled courtyardsentered through archways withminiature domes and

minarets.[35]

Indonesian-Malayarchitecture

Main article: Architecture of

Indonesia

Main article: Mosques in

Indonesia

The predominantly-Muslim regions of South East Asia have been slow toadopt Middle Eastern architectural styles for Islamic sites. For centuries,most Javanese mosques lacked a dome. Instead, they had a multi-tiered roof (of Javanese or even Chineseinfluence) comparable with the multi-level pagodas of neighbouring Bali. The architecture of Javanese mosques hada clear influence on the design of other mosques in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. The minaret ofthe Menara Kudus Mosque, in Central Java, demonstrated further pre-Islamic influence on local Islamicarchitecture.

From the 1940s onwards, Indonesian mosques developed a more standard, international style, with a dome andminaret.

Sahelian-Islamic architecture

Main article: Sudano-Sahelian

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The Great Mosque of Xi'an,

China

ahle hadees

mosque,Melpattampakkam,India

The Minangkabau Royal Palace in

Sumatra, Indonesia.

Model of the palace of the Islamic

duchy of Mangkunegaran, Indonesia.

Almnara Tower Somalia.

In West Africa, Islamic merchants played a vital role in the Western Sahel regionsince the Kingdom of Ghana. At Kumbi Saleh, locals lived in domed-shapeddwellings in the king's section of the city, surrounded by a great enclosure.Traders lived in stone houses in a section which possessed 12 beautiful mosques

(as described by al-bakri), one centered on Friday prayer.[36] The king is said tohave owned several mansions, one of which was sixty-six feet long, forty-two feetwide, contained seven rooms, was two stories high, and had a staircase; with the

walls and chambers filled with sculpture and painting.[37] Sahelian architectureinitially grew from the two cities of Djenné and Timbuktu. The Sankore Mosquein Timbuktu, constructed from mud on timber, was similar in style to the GreatMosque of Djenné.

Somali-Islamic architecture

Main article: Somali architecture

The peaceful introduction of Islam in the early medieval era of Somalia's historybrought Islamic architecturalinfluences from Arabia andPersia, which stimulated a shiftfrom drystone and otherrelated materials inconstruction to coral stone,sundried bricks, and thewidespread use of limestone inSomali architecture. Many ofthe new architectural designssuch as mosques were built onthe ruins of older structures, a

practice that would continue over andover again throughout the following

centuries.[38] Concordant with theancient presence of Islam in the Horn ofAfrica region, mosques in Somalia aresome of the oldest on the entirecontinent. One architectural feature thatmade Somali mosques distinct from othermosques in Africa were minarets.

For centuries, Arba Rukun (1269), theFriday mosque of Merca (1609) andFakr ad-Din (1269) were, in fact, the only mosques in East Africa to have

minarets.[39] Fakr ad-Din, which dates back to the Mogadishan Golden Age, wasbuilt with marble and coral stone and included a compact rectangular plan with a

domed mihrab axis. Glazed tiles were also used in the decoration of the mihrab, one of which bears a datedinscription. The 13th century Al Gami University consisted of a rectangular base with a large cylindrical towerarchitecturally unique in the Islamic world.

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The 13th century Fakr ad-Din

Mosque in Mogadishu.

The Sebilj is a pseudo-Ottoman style

wooden fountain in the centre of

Baščaršija square in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

The interior of the Mezquita in

Córdoba, Spain.

Shrines to honor Somali patriarchs and matriarchs evolved from ancient Somali burial customs. In Southern Somaliathe preferred medieval shrine architecture was the Pillar tomb style while the North predominantly built structuresconsisting of domes and square plans.

Interpretation

Common interpretations of Islamic architecture include the following: Theconcept of God or Allah's infinite power is evoked by designs with repeatingthemes which suggest infinity. Human and animal forms are rarely depicted indecorative art as God's work is considered to be matchless. Foliage is afrequent motif but typically stylized or simplified for the same reason. ArabicCalligraphy is used to enhance the interior of a building by providingquotations from the Qur'an. 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, toweringminarets, and large courtyards are intended to convey power.

Architecture Forms and Styles of mosquesand buildings in Muslim countries

Main article: mosque

Forms

Many forms of Islamic architecture have evolved in different regions ofthe Islamic world. Notable Islamic architectural types include the earlyAbbasid buildings, T-Type mosques, and the central-dome mosques ofAnatolia. The oil-wealth of the 20th century drove a great deal ofmosque construction using designs from leading modern architects.

Arab-plan or hypostyle mosques are the earliest type of mosques,pioneered under the Umayyad Dynasty. These mosques are square orrectangular in plan with an enclosed courtyard and a covered prayer hall.Historically, because of the warm Mediterranean and Middle Easternclimates, the courtyard served to accommodate the large number ofworshippers during Friday prayers. Most early hypostyle mosques haveflat roofs on top of prayer halls, necessitating the use of numerous

columns and supports.[40] One of the most notable hypostyle mosques isthe Mezquita in Córdoba, Spain, as the building is supported by over

850 columns.[41] Frequently, hypostyle mosques have outer arcades sothat visitors can enjoy some shade. Arab-plan mosques were constructedmostly 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.[40]

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The Great Mosque of Kairouan, with

a large courtyard—sehan surrounded

by arcades, located in Kairouan,

Tunisia.

The tomb of Hafez is a primary

example of a Persian garden, with the

typical, enclosed space, water

channels and large trees that provide

cooling shades.

The Ottomans introduced central dome mosques in the 15th century and have a large dome centered over theprayer hall. 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.[42] This style was heavily

influenced by the Byzantine religious architecture with its use of large central domes.[40]

Sehan

The traditional Islamic courtyard, a sehan in Arabic (ar: صحن), is foundin secular and religious structures.

1. When within a residence or other secular building is a privatecourtyard and walled garden. It is used for: the aesthetics of

plants, water, architectural elements, and natural light; for cooler

space with fountains and shade, and source of breezes into the

structure, during summer heat; and a protected and proscribed

place where the women of the house need not be covered in the

hijab clothing traditionally necessary in public.

2. A sehan—courtyard is in within almost every mosque in Islamic

architecture. The courtyards are open to the sky and surroundedon all sides by structures with halls and rooms, and often a shaded

semi-open arcade. Sehans usually feature a centrally positioned

ritual cleansing pool under an open domed pavilion called a howz . A mosque courtyard is used for

performing ablutions, and a 'patio' for rest or gathering.

Gardens

Main article: Islamic Gardens

The Qur'an uses the garden as an analogy for paradise and Islam came tohave a significant influence on garden design. The concept of paradisegarden was commonly used the Persian gardens, as well as Charbaghgarden of Mughal architecture.

Arabesque

Main article: Arabesque (Islamic art)

An element of Islamic art usually found decorating the walls and windowscreens of mosques and Muslim homes and buildings, the arabesque is anelaborate application of repeating geometric forms that often echo theforms of plants, shapes and sometimes animals (specifically birds). Thechoice of which geometric forms are to be used and how they are to beformatted 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.[43] To many inthe Islamic world, they in fact symbolize the infinite, and therefore uncentralized, nature of the creation of the oneGod ("Allah" in Arabic). Furthermore, the Islamic Arabesque artist conveys a definite spirituality without theiconography of Christian art. Arabesque is used in mosques and building around the Muslim world, and it is a way

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Complex Mosaic patterns also known

as Girih are popular forms of

architectural art in many Muslim

cultures.

Islamic calligraphy on large pishtaq of

the Taj Mahal

Minaret of the Mosque of Uqba

(Great Mosque of Kairouan) regarded

as the oldest standing minaret,

Kairouan, Tunisia.

of decorating using beautiful, embellishing and repetitive Islamic artinstead of using pictures of humans and animals (which is forbiddenHaram in Islam).

Calligraphy

Main article: Islamic calligraphy

Arabic calligraphy isassociated with geometricIslamic art (the Arabesque) onthe walls and ceilings ofmosques as well as on thepage. Contemporary artists inthe Islamic world draw on the

heritage of calligraphy to use calligraphic inscriptions or abstractions intheir work.

Instead of recalling something related to the reality of the spoken word,calligraphy for the Muslim is a visible expression of spiritual concepts.Calligraphy has arguably become the most venerated form of Islamic artbecause 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 theArabic alphabet. Proverbs and complete passages from the Qur'an are still active sources for Islamic calligraphy.

Elements of Islamic style

Islamic architecture may be identified with the following design elements, which were inherited from the first mosquebuilt byr hall (originally a feature of the Masjid al-Nabawi).

Minarets or towers (these were originally used as torch-lit

watchtowers, as seen in the Great Mosque of Damascus; hencethe derivation of the word from the Arabic nur, meaning "light").The minaret of the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia is

considered as the oldest surviving minaret in the world.[44] It has

the shape of a square massive tower of three superimposed

sections.[44]

A four-iwan plan, with three subordinate halls and one principalone that faces toward Mecca

Mihrab or prayer niche on an inside wall indicating the direction to

Mecca.

Domes and Cupolas.

Pishtaq is the formal gateway to the iwan, usually the main prayer hall of a mosque, a vaulted hall or space,

7/9/13 Islamic architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_architecture 13/16

Plan view of Bab al-Barqiyya along

Ayyubid Wall. Located close to one

of Cairo's main modern traffic

arteries, al-Azhar Street, the Fatimid-

era Bab al-Barqiyya fortified gate was

constructed with interlocking

volumes that surrounded the entrant

in such a way as to provide greater

security and control than typical city

wall gates. Laser scan data from an

Aga Khan Foundation/CyArk research

partnership.

walled on three sides, with one end entirely open; a Persian term for a portal projecting from the facade of a

building, usually decorated with calligraphy bands, glazed tilework, and geometric designs.[45][46]

Iwans to intermediate between different pavilions.

The use of Islamic geometric patterns and foliage based

arabesques.

The use of mocárabe and muqarnas, a unique Arabic/Islamicspace-enclosing system, for the decoration of domes, minarets and

portals, as used at the Alhambra.

The use of decorative Islamic calligraphy instead of pictures which

were haram (forbidden) in mosque architecture. Note that insecular architecture, human and animal representation was indeed

present.

Central fountains used for ablutions (once used as a wudu area forMuslims).

The use of bright color, if the style is Persian or Indian (Mughal);paler sandstone and grey stones are preferred among Arab

buildings. Compare the Registan complex of Uzbekistan to the Al-Azhar University of Cairo.

Contemporary Muslim architects

Abdel-Wahed El-WakilVedat DalokayFazlur Khan

Kamran Afshar NaderiT.Abdul Hussain Thariani

Fahraddin MiralayMuzharul Islam

Mubashra IlyasNabih YoussefBashirul Haq

Zaha HadidNayyar Ali Dada

Habib Fida AliHassan Fathy

See also

Ablaq

7/9/13 Islamic architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_architecture 14/16

Caravanserai

KasbahMosqueMadrasa

Sebil (drinking water facility)Turbah

Well House

Gallery

Chowmahalla Palace inHyderabad

Charminar at Old City inHyderabad

Petronas Twin Towersin Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.

References

Citations

1. ^ Copplestone, p.149

2. ^ http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158658332974&pagename=Zone-English-ArtCulture%2FACELayout A Tour of Architecture in Islamic Cities

3. ^ The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Martin Biddle. p.68

4. ^ http://www.green-man-of-cercles.org/articles/the_horseshoe_arch.pdf

5. ^ Hillenbrand, Robert. Islamic Art and Architecture, Thames & Hudson World of Art series; 1999, London. ISBN978050020305

6. ^ Gruber, World of Art

7. ^ Hillenbrand (1999).

8. ̂a b John Stothoff Badeau and John Richard Hayes, The Genius of Arab civilization: source of Renaissance.Taylor & Francis. 1983. p. 104 (http://books.google.com/books?id=IaM9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA104&dq=oleg+grabar+kairouan+mosque&cd=3#v=onepage&q=oleg%20grabar%20kairouan%20mosque&f=false)

9. ^ Great Mosque of Kairouan (Qantara mediterranean heritage) (http://www.qantara-med.org/qantara4/public/show_document.php?do_id=399&lang=en)

10. ^ Tonna (1990), pp.182–197

11. ^ Grabar, O. (2006) p.87

12. ^ Ettinghausen (2003), p.87

13. ^ Petersen 2002, p. 295.

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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_architecture 15/16

14. ^ Ali 1999, p. 35.

15. ^ Petersen 2002, p. 296.

16. ̂a b c Ettinghausen, Grabar & Jenkins 2001, p. 24.

17. ̂a b Bloom & Blair 2009, p. 80.

18. ^ Bloom & Blair 2009, p. 82.

19. ^ Doris Behrens-Abouseif (1992), Islamic Architecture in Cairo: An Introduction, BRILL, p. 72(http://books.google.com/books?id=INsmT6zjAl8C&pg=PA72&dq=aqmar+mosque+1125&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zbfpTvpbkbSEB8z0gbYI&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=aqmar%20mosque%201125&f=false)

20. ^ Hillenbrand, p.109

21. ^ Hillenbrand, p.100.

22. ^ http://www.iranreview.org/content/view/2280/51/

23. ^ http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/domes

24. ^ Savory, Roger; Iran under the Safavids, p. 155

25. ^ Blake, Stephen P.; Half the World, The Social Architecture of Safavid Isfahan, 1590- 1722, p. 143- 144

26. ^ Canby, Sheila R.; Shah Abbas, The Remaking of Iran, p. 30.

27. ^ Canby, Sheila R.; Shah Abbas, The Remaking of Iran, p. 36.

28. ^ Hattstein M., Delius P.; Islam, Art and Architecture; p. 513- 514

29. ̂a b "Islam", The New Encyclopædia Britannica (2005)

30. ^ Journal Islam Today N° 14-1417H/1996 (http://www.isesco.org.ma/english/publications/Islamtoday/14/P6.php)

31. ^ Virtual Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan's History (http://www.zerbaijan.com/azeri/azerbaijan4.htm)

32. ^ "Архитектура исламских мечетей" (http://anysite.ru/publication/islam). anysite.ru. Retrieved 3 August 2010.

33. ^ John F. Richards (1996), The Mughal Empire, Cambridge University Press, p. 29(http://books.google.com/books?id=HHyVh29gy4QC&pg=PA29&dq=Fatehpur+Sikri+akbar&hl=fr&ei=M13aTojEKMLKhAf-84nVDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CF4Q6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Fatehpur%20Sikri%20akbar&f=false)

34. ^ Cowen, Jill S. (July/August 1985). "Muslims in China: The Mosque"(http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198504/muslims.in.china-the.mosques.htm). Saudi Aramco World.pp. 30–35. Retrieved 2006-04-08.

35. ^ Saudi Aramco World, July/August 1985, page 3035

36. ^ Historical Society of Ghana. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, The Society, 1957, pp81

37. ^ Davidson, Basil. The Lost Cities of Africa. Boston: Little Brown, 1959, pp86

38. ^ Culture and customs of Somalia – Mohammed Abdullahi Diriye pg 102

39. ^ Studies in Islamic history and civilization By David Ayalon pg 370

40. ̂a b c Hillenbrand, R. "Masdjid. I. In the central Islamic lands". In P.J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E.van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Encyclopaedia of Islam Online. Brill Academic Publishers. ISSN 1573-3912(//www.worldcat.org/issn/1573-3912).

41. ^ "Religious Architecture and Islamic Cultures" (http://web.mit.edu/4.614/www/handout02.html). MassachusettsInstitute of Technology. Retrieved 2006-04-09.

42. ^ "Vocabulary of Islamic Architecture"(http://web.archive.org/web/20051124083425/http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Architecture/4-614Religious-Architecture-and-Islamic-CulturesFall2002/LectureNotes/detail/vocab-islam.htm#islam6). Massachusetts Instituteof Technology. Archived from the original (http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Architecture/4-614Religious-Architecture-and-Islamic-CulturesFall2002/LectureNotes/detail/vocab-islam.htm#islam6) on 2005-11-24. Retrieved 2006-04-09.

43. ^ Sheila R. Canby, Islamic art in detail, page 26. Harvard University Press, 2005. (http://books.google.com/books?id=tA9Uuy2cSIcC&pg=PA26&dq=%22the+arabesque+is%22&hl=fr&ei=_2t2TI_dO4X54gbv5cjbBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22the%20arabesque%20is%22&f=false)

44. ̂a b Titus Burckhardt, Art of Islam, Language and Meaning: Commemorative Edition. World Wisdom. 2009.p.128 (http://books.google.com/books?

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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_architecture 16/16

id=DBqId4J_sIAC&pg=PA128&dq=kairouan+oldest+minaret&lr=&cd=22#v=onepage&q=kairouan%20oldest%20minaret&f=false)

45. ^ Dictionary of Islamic architecture: Pishtaq (https://archnet.org/library/dictionary/entry.jsp?entry_id=DIA0502)archnet.org.

46. ^ Pishtaq (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/461774/pishtaq) Britannica.com.

Sources

Ali, Wijdan (1999). the arab contribution to islamic art: from the seventh to the fifteenth centuries(http://books.google.com/books?id=rpUuqLPPKK4C&pg=PA35). American Univ in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-977-424-476-6. Retrieved 2013-03-17.Bloom, Jonathan M.; Blair, Sheila (2009). The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture(http://books.google.com/books?id=un4WcfEASZwC&pg=PA79). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-530991-1. Retrieved 2013-03-15.Ettinghausen, Richard; Grabar, Oleg; Jenkins, Marilyn (2001). Islamic Art and Architecture: 650-1250(http://books.google.com/books?id=l1uWZAzN_VcC&pg=PA37). Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-08869-4. Retrieved 2013-03-17.Petersen, Andrew (2002-03-11). Dictionary of Islamic Architecture (http://books.google.com/books?id=hcebK67IRhkC&pg=PA1). Routledge. ISBN 978-0-203-20387-3. Retrieved 2013-03-16.

Further reading

Fletcher, Banister; Cruickshank, Dan, Sir Banister Fletcher's a History of Architecture(http://books.google.com/books?id=Gt1jTpXAThwC&printsec=frontcover), Architectural Press, 20th

edition, 1996 (first published 1896). ISBN 0-7506-2267-9. Cf. Part Three.

External links

Architecture of IRAN during Islamic times (http://pesaretabrizi.livejournal.com/1595.html)

ARCHITECTURE OF ISLAM by Takeo Kamiya (http://www.ne.jp/asahi/arc/ind/engl.htm) (Half in Englishand half in Japanese)Fatimid-era Ayyubid Wall of Cairo Digital Media Archive (http://archive.cyark.org/bab-albarqiyya-intro)

(creative commons-licensed photos, laser scans, panoramas), data from an Aga Khan Foundation/CyArkresearch partnership

Islamic Arts and Architecture website (http://islamic-arts.org)

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Categories: Islamic architecture Islamic art Islamic architectural elements

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