Islamic Architecture

AR 363 A : History of Architecture III

 Islamic Architecture

Influences

History
History

The spread of Islam from Muhammad’s visions of an
angel in Mecca; the Hegira; Muhammad’s conversion of
Medina to Islam; the conversion of Mecca; and the
continuing efforts of Muhammad’s followers to spread his
teachings even after his death

The spread of Islam is associated with military conquest
and racial movements

Up to present, there is an established tie with the Arabian
heartland with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Society
History

Tribal groups
Society

Public life was reserved for men (women had a secondary
role – for domestic and agricultural work)

Christians and Jews (“people of the book”) were given the
freedom of worship and self-government

Many of the conquered cities were already centers of
learning
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Religion (Islam)
History

One of the great religions of Middle East
Society

Provides a complete philosophy of life and government
Religion
One god Allah while Muhammad is the prophet

Acceptance of the transitory nature of earthly life

Personal humility

Abhorrence of image worship

3 Works

Koran – compilation of the words of angels sent to
Muhammad as messages from Allah

Hadith – book of sayings and injunctions

Law – from tradition and example
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

5 Pillars of Islam
History

declaring faith in god
Society

prayer
Religion
fasting

giving to charity

pilgrimage to Mecca

also, jihad or holy war is sometimes added as a pillar to
spread the faith and defend it from attack
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Description
Architectural

Islamic architecture is a product of the rapid conquest of
Character
diverse territories by a people with no architectural tradition

Synthesis of styles under one philosophy but in many
Description
different circumstances

The Islamic way of life had a profound impact on its
architecture:

no essential difference in techniques between religious
and non-religious buildings

important architectural endeavor is normally expended
on buildings having a direct social or community purpose

decorations tend towards the abstract with a
preference for a uniform field of decoration rather than
a focal element

Symmetry and balance as in the concept of perfect creation

Centered upon GOD
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Openings
Architectural

pointed arch opening
Character

2-centered
Description
4-centered
Openings
horseshoe

cusped

foliated

ogee
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Decoration

variety of mouldings, friezes, crestings
Architectural
Character
abstract and geometric motifs in lieu of human and animal
forms

Description
motifs from caligraphy, floral abstraction, and geometric

interlacement
Openings

carvings in bas relief
Decoration

stone inlay and mosaic

patterned brickwork

carved stucco

ceramic facing and mosaic

glass mosaic

painting

timber inlay

arabesques

screen or pierced grilles in marble
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Orientation
Architectural

related to a principal axis, the kibla
Character

axis extended into a formal landscape as an integral part of
the design
Description
Openings
Decoration
Orientation
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Masjid (Persia and India) or Mesjid (Turkey)
Architectural

small prayer house
Character

Examples

Masjid
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Mosque or Jami
Architectural

principal place of worship
Character

building used for Friday prayer
Examples

inward-looking building whose prime purpose is
contemplation and prayer
Masjid

no positive object of attention or adoration
Mosque
may be used as a school, place for transactions, storage for
treasures, place for hearing official notices
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Parts of a Mosque
Architectural

sahn – cloistered or arcaded courtyard is a fundamental
Character
feature
Examples
fawwara – fountain

mihrab – niche oriented towards Mecca
Masjid

mimbar – raised platform for ceremonial announcements
Mosque

dikka – reading desk

maqsura – screen

iwan, ivan – open-fronted vault facing a court

bab – gateway

minaret – tower from which a call to prayer is made

harem – women’s or private chamber of a house or palace

selamlik – men’s or guest’s quarters

kibla – axis oriented towards Mecca
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Personalities
Architectural

muezzin – caller who summons the faithful to prayer
Character

imam – man who leads the congregation in prayer
Examples

caliph – successor to the prophet as military, judicial, or
spiritual leader of Islam
Masjid

sufi – holy man
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Damascus

earliest surviving mosque
Architectural
Character
stood in a walled temenos

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

aerial view of the large, ancient Great Mosque

 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Damascus

courtyard and main façade by night
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Damascus

courtyard and minaret
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Damascus

portico gallery with mosaics and marble
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

detail of 8th century façade mosaic

 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Damascus

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left: the Minaret of Jesus awaits the day of
judgment at the southeast corner of the Great Mosque, interior of the
prayer hall, shrine of Saladin outside the mosque, Saint John’s chapel
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Kubbet-es-Sakhra or Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

most important Islamic structure
Architectural
Character
great central dome covering the summit of Mt. Moriah,
from where the prophet is believed to have made his ride to
Examples heaven

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Kubbet-es-Sakhra or Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

not a mosque but a Muslim shrine built over a sacred stone
Architectural
Character
the sacred rock over which the Dome of the Rock was built
was considered holy even before the arrival of Islam
Examples

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Kubbet-es-Sakhra or Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left: ascent to the dome through the arched
collonade, the sacred rock inside the Dome of the Rock, Arabic
inscription and golden dome, detail of the exterior’s bright mosaic tiles
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Kubbet-es-Sakhra or Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left:

exterior niches, ablutions
fountain, ambulatories, and
the columns, arches and
ambulatory inside the Dome
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Kubbet-es-Sakhra or Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left:
cupola with golden mosaics,
detail of decorative wall
mosaic in the Dome of the
Rock, entrance to the “Well
of Souls”
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Dar al-Imara and Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo

the oldest mosque in Egypt and one of the largest in the
Architectural
world
Character

dar al-imara means “palace of the governor”
Examples

Masjid
Mosque

aerial view of the Ibn Tulun, Cairo

 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Dar al-Imara and Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo

courtyard of the mosque
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Dar al-Imara and Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo

view from the minaret
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Dar al-Imara and Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left: inside the arcaded corridors, dome

containing the ablutions fountain, view from a side aisle to the spiral
minaret, view inside the dome with delicately carved wood
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisla

the oldest Muslim place of worship in Africa
Architectural
Character
commonly regarded as the 4th holiest site in Islam (after
Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem)
Examples

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisla

view of prayer hall and courtyard from above
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisla

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left: massive minaret with lowest part from 728,
Latin inscriptions on the minaret, finely carved drain for rainwater in
the courtyard
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisla

façade and dome of the prayer hall
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Great Mosque, Kairouan, Tunisla

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left: arches and ancient columns in the

courtyard; arches, capitals, and door of the prayer hall; interior of the
prayer hall
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Mezquita de Cordoba

“Mezquita”, the Spanish term for mosque
Architectural
Character
symbolizes the many religious changes that Cordoba has
undergone over the centuries
Examples

Masjid
Mosque

aerial view of the Mezquita with the Cathedral visible in the center
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Mezquita de Cordoba

Currently the Cathedral of Cordoba (Cathedral of the Saint
Architectural
Mary of the Assumption)
Character

majority of its art and architecture is the work of Islamic
Examples architects who built it as a mosque in the 8th century

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Mezquita de Cordoba

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left: Islamic decoration on a west portal; forest

of striped columns inside the Mezquita; wooden vault
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Mezquita de Cordoba

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left: detail of the decorated mihrab; gilded dome
over the mihrab; renaissance choir of the cathedral built inside the
mosque; detail of white stone and red terracotta striped arch
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Church of the Holy Wisdom
Architectural
Character
Sancta Sophia in Latin and Aya Sofya in Turkish

A former Byzantine church and a former Ottoman mosque,
Examples now a museum

Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Suleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul

better known as the Blue Mosque
Architectural
Character
Sultan Ahmed I wished to build an Islamic place of worship
that would be even better than the Hagia Sophia
Examples
These 2 great architectural achievements now stand across
each other in Istanbul’s main square
Masjid
Mosque
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Suleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul

the blue tiles in the interior led to the name Blue Mosque
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque

clockwise from top left: tiled dome; detail of tiles and windows of a
dome; north entrance; interior
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Kiosk or Chattri (India)
Architectural

used in isolation as an ornamental pavilion, emphasizing
Character
the roof or providing a focus in a pleasure garden
Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Chinli Kiosk, Istanbul

also known as Tiled Pavilion
Architectural
Character
located in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

built as early as 1473
Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Chinli Kiosk, Istanbul

the plan is much influenced by Persian Pavilions
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
 Islamic Architecture

Influences

Madrassah (Egypt) or Medrese (Turkey)
Architectural

religious college and mosque
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Madrassah and Tomb of Sultan Hasan, Cairo

erected between 1356 and 1361 beside the Citadel of Cairo
Architectural
Character
main function of the building was as a madrassah with an
attached tomb bu the beauty and size of the prayer hall
Examples made it recognized as a congregational mosque

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Madrassah and Tomb of Sultan Hasan, Cairo

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah

clockwise from top left: central medallion on each of the 3 sides of

the mausoleum; entrance of mosque; dikka; mimbar
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Ince Minaret Medrese, Konya, Turkey

literally means “the medrese with a narrow minaret”
Architectural
Character
used to have an extremely tall cylindrical brick minaret on a
square base made of stone
Examples
much of the minaret collapsed in the early 20th century
leaving only the square base
Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Saray or Serai

palace
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Alhambra, Granada

fortified palace and complex of buildings set in gardens
Architectural
Character
one of the most elaborate and richly decorated Islamic
palaces
Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Han or Caravanserai

hostel
Architectural
Character
the general plan is made up of a number of cells and units
arranged around a common courtyard with the provision of
Examples all the amenities needed by a traveler

later on, they were converted into commercial depots
Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Tomb of Ismail, the Samanid and Bukhara

hemispherical dome superimposed on a perfect cube
Architectural
building
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
Tombs
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Gur-i-mir, Samarkand

Tamerlane’s family mausoleum
Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
Tombs
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Gur-i-mir, Samarkand

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
Tombs
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Tomb of Iltutmish, India

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
Tombs
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Tomb of Humayun, Delhi

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
Tombs
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Tomb of Akbar, Sikandra, Agra

an important Mughal Architecture masterpiece
Architectural
Character
initiated by Emperor Akbar the Great around 1600 and
completed by his son Jahangir in 1605-1613
Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
Tombs
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
Tomb of Akbar, Sikandra, Agra

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
Tombs
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Taj-Mahal, Agra

built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife,
Architectural
Mumtaz Mahal
Character

became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983
Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
Tombs
 Islamic Architecture

Influences
The Taj-Mahal, Agra

Architectural
Character

Examples

Masjid
Mosque
Single Cell
Buildings
Madrassah
Serai
Caravanserai
Tombs

clockwise from top left: jali screen surrounding the cenotaphs; detail
of Pietra dura jali inlay; tombs of shah jahan and mumtaz mahal
END