Islamic Architecture

in Worship and Trade

Islamic Architecture in Worship and Trade

Overview: There are many common features in Islamic

architecture all over the world. Most are have a religious nature but others are also designed to provide comfort and rest to weary travelers and merchants.

WorshipThe Mosque, the Minaret, Domed features and the inclusion of Calligraphy are all very important in Islamic religious architecture. The Mosque is a place of worship. The Minaret is a tower used to call believers to prayer. Domes are often associated with Mosques and Calligraphy features writings from the Qur’an on Mosque walls.

The MosqueTHE MOSQUE

must always include a prayer hall that faces Mecca. Because of this the prayer hall is normally of a rectangular shape. The orientation towards Mecca also means that one of the walls will be more important than the others. This wall is called the qibla wall. Often there is a separation in the prayer hall or an additional room for the women to pray separately from the men.

Mosque: Dearborn, Michigan

Mosque Prayer Hall: Sultan Mosque in SINGAPORE

The MinaretThere are many symbols which are associated with the mosque. This includes the minaret, a tall tower. Its purpose originally was to provide a high area from which a member of the community could perform the call to prayer.

Prayer called from the Minaret

God is great, God is most great, God is most great, God is most great, I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, I bear witness that Muhammed is the messenger of Allah, I bear witness that Muhammed is the messenger of Allah, Come to Prayer, Come to Prayer, Come to your good, Come to your good. God is most great, God is most great. There is no God but Allah.

Kalon Minaret in Bukhara, Uzbekistan

The Dome

Another common feature of Islamic architecture is a dome. The inside or outside of the dome may be covered in gold, to remind believers of Heaven.

Dome over Mosque in Isfahan, Iran

Taj Mahal Agra, India

CalligraphyAmong the most important symbols in a Mosque is Calligraphy on both inside and outside walls. This art form is one of the most beautiful features of mosques. Its purpose is to express the words of God as found in the Qur’an.

Calligraphy in Mosque in Isfahan, Iran

Calligraphy inside the Hagia Sophia Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Islamic Architecture and Trade

Islam spread as large numbers of Muslim merchants followed trade routes. Merchants traveled throughout Dar-Al Islam, or from Africa through the Middle East, into central Asia, India, China and to the islands of present-day Indonesia. Islamic architecture naturally developed in these lands.

Trading Zones of Muslim Merchants, c. 1500

The CourtyardA feature related to larger mosques is the courtyard. The courtyard is an important space because it represents the Islamic preference for privacy and it offers shelter for travelers and merchants. Some mosques became complexes with many buildings tied to social functions, including hospitals.

Courtyards: in Damascus and Aleppo, Syria

Courtyard: Jama Masjid mosque, Delhi, India

GardensGardens, like this one in China, were often planted near mosques and courtyards. They were seen as a place to reflect on the beauty of God’s creation.

Gardens of the Alhambra

complex Granada, Spain

Conclusion

Islamic architecture has a global reach but many common features, such as the mosque, minaret, domes, use of calligraphy, courtyards and gardens.

Bibliography

Slide 1: Image: http://re-xs.ucsm.ac.uk/gcsere/revision/islam/mus2/5.htmlSlide 2: Left image:http://re-xs.ucsm.ac.uk/gcsere/revision/islam/mus2/5.html Right image: http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/The_Alhambra.htmlSlide 3: Image:

http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/Calligraphy/Islam_Arabic_Calligraphy.htmlSlide 4: Text from slides 4-7 from

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/arabic_islamic_architecture/44354 Image: Mosque in Djenne, Mali

http://homepage.mac.com/melissaenderle/mali/pages/mosqueside.htmlSlide 5: Image: http://www.jafariyanews.com/2k5_news/may/15michigan_islamiccentre.htmSlide 6: Image:

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Geography/Asia/Singapore/Singapore-008.htmlSlide 7: Image: http://www.phys.psu.edu/~tbode/AlbumPics/thumb/Mosque-2-0.htmlSlide 8: Image: http://madcanuck.blogspot.com/2005/04/famous-minaret-in-iraq-damaged.htmlSlide 9: Image: http://joaoleitao.wordpress.com/tag/central-asia/uzbekistan/Slide 10: Image: http://history.boisestate.edu/westciv/medieval/trails/DomeRock/Slide 11: Image:

http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/Calligraphy/Islam_Arabic_Calligraphy.htmlSlide 12: Image: http://www.islamicity.com/Culture/Taj/default.htm

Bibliography, continued

Slide 13:Image: http://www.islamicity.com/Culture/Calligraphy/Calig12.htmSlide 14: Image: http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/Calligraphy/Islam_Arabic_Calligraphy.htmlSlide 15: Image: http://www.monolithic.com/thedome/hagiasophia/pic02.htmlSlide 16: Image: http://photosbymartin.com/images/pcd0366/dhow-sunset-65.3.htmlSlide 17: Image: http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~rs143/map6.jpgSlide 18: Text: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/arabic_islamic_architecture/44354 Image: http://i-cias.com/spain/alhambra03.htmSlide 19: Left Image: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/syria/damascus-umayyad-mosque-pictures/slides/facade-cc- Right Image: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/syria/aleppo-umayyad-mosque.htmSlide 20: Image: http://www.romanvirdi.com/delhi/Slide 21: Image: http://www.xian-travel.com/xian-attractions/Slide 22: Left image: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/5076c/b2/?frdir=yesRight image: http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/The_Alhambra.html