History Of Architecture- IV

Islamic Architecture
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 OUTLINE
 History of Islam- Birth, Spread and Principles of Islam
 Evolution Of Building types- Forms and Function
 Characteristics of Islamic Architecture:

1. Structure and Material

2. Methods of Construction
3. Elements of Decoration – Play of Colour, geometry and Light

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 History of Islam
Origin of Islam: According to Secular History
1.The origin of Islam can be traced back to 7th
century Saudi Arabia.
2.Islam is thus the youngest of the great world
religions.
3.The prophet Muhammad (circa 570-632 A.D.)
introduced Islam in 610 A.D. after experiencing
what he claimed to be an angelic visitation.
Muhammad dictated the Qur'an, the holy book of
Islam, which Muslims believe to be the pre-existent,
perfect words of Allah.
Origin of Islam: According to Islam
1.The origin of Islam is generally accredited to the prophet
Muhammad but to the devout Muslim, Islam began long
before Muhammad ever walked the earth.
2.The Qur'an was dictated by Muhammad but, according to
the Qur'an, it did not originate with Muhammad.
3.The Qur'an testifies of itself that it was given by God
through the angel Gabriel to the prophet Muhammad.
4.Muslims Believe that one night Angel Gabriel Appeared
before him and said “ Oh Muhammed You are the messenger
of the god and I'm Gabriel”.
5.After this Muhammed openly declared that there is only
one god and that’s In the Name of “Allah”.
Who is Prophet Muhammed…..???
 Muhammad ibn Abd Allah, commonly known as Muhammad, was born in
the city of Mecca in 570 CE.
 At the time, Mecca was a busy marketplace crowded with residents and
nomads buying and selling goods.
 Both his mother and father were dead by the time he turned six. He was
first cared for by his grandfather, but when he passed away, Muhammad's
uncle, Abu Talib, adopted him.
 It is believed that as a young adult Muhammad worked as a camel driver.
He travelled the Arabian Peninsula with his uncle, making contact with
various cultures and religions, including Judaism and Christianity.
 Muhammad was working for a widow named Khadijah who was a wealthy
merchant. Though he was much younger, she admired his intelligence
and maturity so much that she proposed to him. They married, and in
the fifteen years which followed, Muhammad lived a wealthy life.
Muhammad's revelation
 Muhammad began to question his life and the world around him.
 By the time he was forty, Muhammad had begun to spend time in solitude(being alone),
preoccupied with the questions that troubled him.
 He spent some nights alone in a small cave near Mecca. During one such night, Muslims believe
that the angel Gabriel appeared before him
 He heard the angel say, "Oh, Muhammad, you are the messenger of God, and I am Gabriel.
 Muhammad openly declared that there was only one God & Opposition to Muhammad
increased.
 The ruling families insulted him and threatened violence. Soon Muhammad knew that he and
his followers must leave Mecca.
 In 619 CE, they moved for a short while to Ta'if, a nearby town. But they were not allowed to
stay, and so they returned to Mecca.
 It was also during this period, in 619 CE, that Muhammad was believed to have experienced his
famous journey to heaven. With Gabriel guiding him, they journeyed first to a rock in
Jerusalem, and from there Muhammad rode his faithful horse into heaven.
 For the next two years, groups of people from Medina came to Mecca and converted to Islam.
This inspired Muhammad, who instructed all Muslims to settle in Medina.
 In 622, Muhammad fled Mecca after hearing of a plot to assassinate him and arrived to medina
SPREAD OF ISLAM
 Muhammad arrived in Medina as the new leader, bearing tremendous responsibilities, and
receiving communication from God and teaching his devotees.
 When Muhammad instructed his followers to pray towards Mecca instead of Jerusalem,
tensions grew, and the groups separated completely.
 Violence erupted, ending in the expulsion of some Jewish tribes from Medina.
 With his community established, Muhammad began raiding caravans bound for Mecca.
 A series of battles followed, despite a few setbacks, the Muslims gained power and
recognition.
 After destroying or converting his tribal enemies, Muhammad all but controlled the Arabian
Peninsula.
 Finally, in 629 CE, Mecca submitted to the Muslims. Muhammad entered the city and headed
directly to the Ka'bah. After circling it seven times, he smashed the stone idols. He spoke of
the oneness of God, or Allah, and proclaimed himself a prophet.
 From that moment until the present, the Ka'bah became the principal holy place for
Muslims.
SPREAD OF ISLAM
 By 630 CE, Islam was the dominant religion in Mecca. Muhammad
then set out to conquer the Arabian Peninsula.
 Some tribes were easily converted while others were met by force
 The crusade was successful, and Islam spread to the Arabian Sea to
as far north as Syria.
 In 632 CE, Muhammad made his last pilgrimage to Mecca. On
entering he ordered that only Muslims could worship at the Ka'bah
 On his way back from this pilgrimage, Muhammad fell ill. He died in
Medina on June 8, 632 CE, at the age of sixty-one (the 12th day of
Rabi I in the Islamic calendar)
 After Muhammed died in 632 Abu -Bakr was made the successor –
the caliph
 By 750 the Muslim armies have conquered a massive amount of
territory from Indus river across North Africa and up to Spain
 PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM
1. Belief in One God (that would be Allah, if you haven't been Paying attention).
2. Belief in all of God's messengers.
3. Belief in all of God's sacred texts (the Bible, Torah, and Qur'an).
4. Belief in angels.
5. Belief in Judgment Day, Heaven, Hell and Life after Death.
6. Belief that everything that will ever happen has already been decided by God
(predestination).
 PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM
 The Five Pillars of Islam are five basic acts in Islam, considered mandatory by believers and are
the foundation of Muslim life. They are summarized in the famous hadith of Gabriel(report on
the words and actions of Muhammad)

SUNNI AND SHIA MUSLIMS

 Majority of Muslims (88 – 90%) – Sunni’s. Described from the Arab word, (Sunna – Usual practice
and custom).Muslims, who followed, the historical tradition of the ‘Four Rightly
Guided’caliphs, and successor called themselves, Sunni’s-traditionally orthodox.

 Rise of Shiites (minority) falls into the period of dispute our legitimate succession of the
Prophet. Defended the principles that the sole legitimate. Successors are prophet cousin and
son – in -law and his direct decedents from his marriage to Mohammed’s Daughter Fatima. They
are a Strong influence on Islamic intellectual and political life.
 FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM
1.Shahada: Faith
• There is no true god except Allah and that
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah
• Allah is the true god and all other deities are
false and are not capable of harming or
benefiting any one nor they deserve to be
worshipped
2.Salat: Prayer
• Salat (Salah) is the Islamic
prayer. Salat consists of five daily prayers
according to the Sunna
• All of these prayers are recited while facing
in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and
forms an important aspect of the Muslim
Ummah. Muslims must wash before prayer;
this washing is called wudu ("purification").
• The prayer is accompanied by a series of set
positions including; bowing with hands on
knees, standing, prostrating and sitting in a
special position (not on the heels, nor on
the buttocks). A Muslim may perform their
prayer anywhere, such as in offices,
universities, and fields.
 FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Zakat: Charity Sawm: Fasting Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca

• “Zakat”- Giving of Alms. • Swam is generally the ritual fasting done by
• All Muslims should share their wealth the Islamic community in month of Ramadan
poor and needy, orphans, sick, • The fast is meant to allow Muslims to seek
pilgrims nearness and to look for forgiveness from God,
• The Zakat fulfils the poors need and to express their gratitude to and dependence
purifies the donors from selfishness. on him, atone for their past sins, and to
remind them of the needy
• The Hajj is a pilgrimage that occurs
during the Islamic month of Dhu al-
Hijjah to the holy city of Mecca. Every
able-bodied Muslim is obliged to make
the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in
their life.
• When the pilgrim is around 10 km
(6.2 mi) from Mecca, he/she must dress
in Ihram clothing, which consists of two
white sheets
 EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Sno Historical Happenings Time Place

1 Introduction of Islam 610 A.D Mecca
2 Birth date of Prophet 573 A.D Mecca
3 Flee of Muhammed from mecca 619 A.D Mecca

4 Journey to heaven by Prophet 619.A.D Mecca

Muhammed
5 Muhammed Movement to Medina 629 A.D Medina

6 Islam became a dominant religion 630 A.D Medina

7 Muhammed’s Last pilgrimage 632 A.D Media

8 Death of Muhammed June 8,632 A.D Medina
9 Abu Bakr – Successor to Muhammed 632 A.D Medina

10 Muslims Conqueror other parts of 750 A.D

North Africa and Indus river
 Evolution Of Building types- Forms and Function

• Islamic architecture encompasses a wide

Architectural Features in Islamic Example Location
range of both secular and religious styles Type Architecture
from the foundation of Islam to the present
day. Byzantine Circular Dome, Mosaic Dome of Rock Temple Mount,
• What today is known as Islamic architecture art Jerusalem

was influenced by Roman, Byzantine and all

Roman Hypostyle prayer hall Great Mosque of Tunisia, Africa
other lands which the Muslims conquered in Kairouan
the 7th and 8th centuries.
Persian Diaphragm arches, Mir-i-Arab Madrasa Bukhara, Uzbekistan
• Various other Architectural Styles were also
Persian horseshoe and po
incorporated in Islamic architecture namely: inted arches,
 Early Christian
 Persian Architecture Turkish(Ottoman Cupola domes Sultan Ahmed Istanbul,Turkey
architecture) Mosque
 Turks
 Mongols
Mongols Hip roof, six The Great Mosque China
• Development of Islamic Art began in the 7th pillared portico in Xian
century
Examples of Influences of Various Architectural Styles on Islamic Architecture

EXTERIOR VIEW OF DOME OF ROCK MOSAIC ART ON EXTERIOR WALL

INTERIOR VIEW

VIEW OF THE DOME INTRINSIC DETAILS INSIDE DOME

DOME OF ROCK JERUSALEM- BYZANTINE
ARCHITECTURE
 Examples of Influences of Various Architectural Styles on Islamic Architecture

EXTERIOR VIEW OF MOSQUE OF KAIROUAN

EXTERIOR VIEW OF MIR I ARAB MADRASA -DOMES CUPOLA DOMES – SULTAN AHMED MOSQUE- TURKEY
TURKISH ARCHITECTURE

HYPOSTYLE PRAYER HALL INSIDE THE MOSQUE

POINTED ARCHES IN MOSQUE

GREAT MOSQUE OF KAIROUAN-ROMAN MIR I ARAB MADRASA – BUKHARA- HIP ROOF – THE GREAT MOSQUE OF XIAN , CHINA
ARCHITECTURE , TUNISIA AFRICA MONGOLIAN ARCHITECTURE
PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE
 POINTS TO REMEMBER

Architectural Features in Islamic Example Location

Type Architecture

Byzantine Circular Dome, Mosaic Dome of Rock Temple Mount,

art Jerusalem

Roman Hypostyle prayer hall Great Mosque of Tunisia, Africa

Kairouan

Persian Diaphragm arches, Mir-i-Arab Madrasa Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Persian horseshoe and po
inted arches,

Turkish(Ottoman Cupola domes Sultan Ahmed Istanbul,Turkey

architecture) Mosque

Mongols Hip roof, six The Great Mosque China

pillared portico in Xian
 BUILDING TYPOLOGIES

RELIGIOUS SECULAR

I. Palaces
I. The Mosque or Masjid
II. The Caravanserai
II. Tomb or Masoleum
III. The Cities
IV. Madrassa
V. The Market Place
 THE MOSQUE OR MASJID

MOSQUES:
 It is called Masjid translated as ‘Place of prostration’or Place of
worship. The scheme is an open courtyard surrounded by pillared
verandah.

 Initially the concept was to do your prayers anywhere in the open.

But later a house for prayer came into being.

 For focal point the western side was expanded and elaborated into a
pillared hall or sanctuary.

Picture Indicating different Parts of Mosque

Jama Masjid Agra

 Different Parts of Religious Structure in Islamic Architecture

I. Minaret
II. Sahn or Courtyard
III. Ablution fountain
IV.Liwans – pillared cloisters
V. Mihrab
VI.Mimbar
VII.Dome
 MINARET

Minaret
•A minaret is a distinctive architectural feature of
mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-
shaped or conical crown, usually either free
standing or taller than associated support
structure.

•The basic form of a minaret includes a base,

shaft, and gallery. Styles vary regionally and by
period. Minarets provide a visual focal point and
are used for the call to prayer.
 SAHN OR COURTYARD

Sahn
•A sahn is a courtyard in Islamic
architecture.
•Most traditional mosques have a large
central sahn, which is surrounded by a
riwaqor(portico open on at least one
side)arcade(continuous series of arches)
on all sides with a fountain or tank in the
center for ablutions.
 ABLUTION FOUNTAIN
 An ablution fountain is typically
located in the center of a mosque's
courtyard.

 It is where Muslims perform a ritual

washing before entering the mosque

 Before prayers, the faithful cleaned

their faces, hands, feet, and rinsed
their mouths.

 Cleansing was an act that was both

symbolic and literal to prepare oneself
to meet with God in prayer
LIWAN -PILLARED CLOISTERS

A cloister is a covered walk, open gallery, or open

arcade running along the walls of buildings and
forming a quadrangle.
 MIHRAB
Mihrab

Mihrab is a semicircular niche in

the wall of a mosque that indicates
the qibla; that is, the direction of
the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the
direction that Muslims should face
when praying. The wall in which a
mihrab appears is thus the "qibla
wall.“

Qiblah, Qibleh, Kiblah, Kıble or

Kibla, is the direction that should
be faced when a Muslim prays
during salah prayers. It is fixed as
the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca
 MIMBAR

MIMBAR

 Raised wooden seat or Pulpit , from which sermons (“Khutba”) was

given.
 A place from which a religious leader (an "imam") speaks to the
people.
 DOME

Dome

It’s the covering over the main

prayer hall its also a focal point.

Why is there a dome on a mosque?

Although most mosques feature

domes, the dome is purely a
decorative and traditional
architectural structure with no
symbolic or other spiritual meaning,
according to About.com. Other
mosque parts, such as the minaret,
have more spiritual significance.
 TOMB
TOMB
•The tomb architecture is also another
feature of the Islamic architecture as the
practice of the burial of the dead is adopted,
Indians did not have any history of raising
tombs over the dead.
•Islamic tombs were raised to an architectural
splendor in India.
THE TOMB OR QABRISTAN CONTAINS;
A domed chamber Huzraha cenotaph in its
centre Zarih,with a mihrab on the western
wall and the real grave in the underground
chamber.
•The mortuary chamber called Maqbara or
Takhana has grave or Qabr in the middle.
•Some large scale tombs have separate
mosques.
•The whole thing is contained in a single
enclosure called Rauza.
•Some important tombs of holy men are
called Dargah
•Some of the well known examples are
Qabr- Humayuns Tomb delhi
Humayun’s tomb, Taj mahal.
 IWAN
 An iwan is defined as a vaulted hall or
space, walled on three sides, with one end
entirely open.

 Iwans were a trademark of the Sassanid

architecture of Persia, later finding their
way into Islamic architecture

 This transition reached its peak during the Typical Example for Iwan
Seljuki era when iwans became established
as a fundamental design unit in Islamic
architecture.

 Typically, iwans open on to a central

courtyard, and have been used in both
public and residential architecture.
 SECULAR STRUCTURES IN ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
MADRASA
•Madrasa is the Arabic word for any type of
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, whether secular or
religious (of any religion).
•It’s a building which functions as a teaching
institution primarily of Islamic sciences and uphold
central traditions of the faith.
•This is a small structure with a domed courtyard and
two lateral iwans. However, the majority of early
madrasas where two main types, an open or a closed
courtyard building
•The domed madrasas are usually smaller buildings
with those with an open courtyard are generally
larger and have central iwans surrounded by arcades.
 CARAVANSERAI
Caravanserai
•A caravanserai, or khan, also known as or Serai in Indian was a
roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's
journey.
•Caravanserais supported the flow of commerce, information, and
people across the network of trade routes.
•It’s a building with a square or rectangular walled exterior, with a
single portal wide enough to permit large animals and carts .
•The courtyard was almost always open to the sky, and the inside
walls of the enclosure were outfitted with a number of identical
stalls, bays, niches, or chambers to accommodate merchants and
their servants, animals, and merchandise.
•It had provision of water for human and animal consumption,
washing, and ritual ablutions.
 THE MARKET PLACE

THE MARKET PLACE

The market place in Islamic architecture is also called as souq.

A souq was originally an open-air marketplace.

Historically, souqs were held outside cities at locations where

incoming caravans would stop and merchants would display their

goods for sale.

Souqs might extend beyond being markets to buy and sell goods,

into major festivals involving many cultural and social activities.

Later, due to the importance of the marketplace and the growth of

cities, the locations of souqs shifted to urban centers.

Though each neighborhood within the city would have
a local Souq selling food and other essentials, the main
souq was one of the central structures of a large city,
selling durable goods luxuries and providing services such
as money exchange.
Souq is of two types PERMANENT and SEASONAL.
 THE PALACES

•The palaces where one kind of adaptions it was built for

relax and hunt for muslim rulers.
•From early palaces to modern houses, there was much
observance of segregation between the female and male
territories.
•In the palace, the private space was for relaxing and the
public space was for conducting public affairs such as
reception halls, meeting rooms, ceremonial courts and
mosques for principle entourage. The gardens and water
bodies were important feature.
•Their planning, and decor had worldwide reputation .
•The importance was given to interior than exterior.
•The palaces was to show their power .
•Most of the palaces were fancy with arabesque patterns
on wall , tile work, carvings and gorgeous tapestries.
 ELEMENTS AND CHARACTER IN TERMS OF MATERIALS

The countries into which Islam first expanded were

already rich in building materials. Islamic
architecture made use of locally available materials
for construction.

 Indian Islamic architecture in its early stages sees

the use of locally available materials scavenged from
the earlier Hindu buildings.

Even in India there is a vast difference in the

materials used from one region to another.

Massive structures, constructed of materials,

characteristic of there geographical location. (Brick-
making and walling in mud brick – alluvial plains and
eastern Iran, stone bearing areas – Syria).
 ELEMENTS OF DECORATION IN ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

Geometry

Arabesque(Floral patterns)

Calligraphy

Light

Water
 ELEMENTS OF DECORATION GEOMETRY

Geometry
•These patterns exemplify the Islamic
interest in repetition, balance, symmetry andcontinuous
generation of pattern.
•The integration of geometry with such optical effects as
the balancing of positive and negative areas, a skillful
use of color and tone values.
ARABESQUE
•The arabesque is an elaborate application of repeating

geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants,

shapes and sometimes animals (specifically birds).

•To many in the Islamic world, they in fact symbolize the

infinite, and therefore, uncentralized Arabesque designs

are biomorphic, floral patterns representing the underlying

order and unity of nature with a great deal of accuracy.

flowers and trees might be used as the motifs for the

decoration of textiles, objects and building

CALLIGRAPHY
•The Calligraphy for the Muslim is a visible
expression of spiritual concepts.
•Like other Islamic decoration, calligraphy is
closely linked to geometry.
•The proportions of the letters are all
governed by mathematics.
•Inscriptions are most often used as a frame
along and around main elements of a building
like portals and cornices
Light
 For many Muslims there is no more perfect a symbol of
the Divine Unity than light.
"God is the light of the heavens and the
earth...“
 All Islamic building gave importance to natural light.
Hence a lot of openings were present like courtyards
etc.
 Light can add adynamic quality to architecture,
extending patterns, forms and designs into the
dimensions of time.
And the combination of light and shade creates strong
contrasts of planes and gives texture to sculpted stone,
as well as stocked or brick surfaces.
Water

In hot Islamic climates, the water from courtyard pools and fountains cools as it decorates.
Water can not only reflect architecture and multiply the decorative themes it can also serve as
a means of emphasizing the visual axes.
 Materials Uses in Islamic Architecture
The earliest Islamic monuments, dating from the Umayyad period, clearly continue
the use of dressed and carved stone.

The brickwork was the favored building technique, carved ornamental inserts were
used to break up the tedium of plain bonding; these were soon moulded before being
fired, in a whole Variety of motifs.

In the next stage these brick inserts were glazed, a technique that lead naturally on
to entire walls and domes being invested with colored glazed bricks, by which time the
structural and decorative functions of brickwork had more or less separated out.

Over time these glazed bricks were gradually reduced in thickness until they were
virtually tiles –and the possibility of a whole new era of architectural ornament was
created.
Colored glaze was part of the repertoire of decoration in the
architecture, extensive use of mosaic as both floor and wall
decoration.

The gradual development of suitable ceramic glazes, in both

pottery and tile-work, represented a whole series of
technological advances.

The use of stones like marble and sandstone could been seen
used in most of the buildings Marble being the favorite .

Plaster, a singularly useful material that leant itself to

moulding and carving in a variety of ways, became a staple of
Islamic architecture. It could be painted or gilded.
•From trabeated to arcuated
•Flat roof to domes
•Flat open courtyard to arched liwans
•Great importance was give to geometry.
•Muqranas.
•Arches were ogee arch
•Domes –onion shaped.