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16 May '16

Preserving the Living Heritage of Islamic Cities

Posted by Priyanka S in islamic architecture

Toward an Architecture in the Spirit of Islam

Yesterday we were theoretical, as if Islam were primarily or solely a system of beliefs. What has always impressed me about Islam is that it is a set of actions if one considers the five pillars. It is not the belief in God that is important, it is the declaration of God. It is not the idea of praying, it is prayer itself. It is not the community of equality as an idea, but the pilgrimage in which all men stand equal in community. In Ramadan, it does not matter whether you think you ought not have that cigarette or food. It is not the smoking or the eating, the thing of importance is observing the fast. The fifth, which has been totally forgotten in the theory is alms. They are a responsibility of each man toward his fellow man. I want to talk about practical Islamic spirit. You are practicing architects, let us see if there is something upon which to practice, not something for just theorizing.

Many of the largest cities and now a few smaller ones in the vast territory shaped by historic Islam are the repositories of a precious and irreplaceable heritage (not only for Islamic countries, but for the world) not only for their archaic qualities, but for their living relevance today. Both the preservation of that heritage and the harnessing of that vital relevance are compelling rationales for a concern, practical as well as scholarly, with Islamic architecture and urbanism.

There is not, nor was there ever, an Islamic city or even an Islamic system of city building, if one means by that term a of tiny space aggregating to vast designs, that signals the code? Is it the basic architectonic concept of square-horizontal and round-vertical space that announces the unity underlying external diversity in exact shape? Is it the overall emphasis upon enclosing, enfolding, involuting, protecting and covering that one finds alike in single structures in quarters, indeed in entire cities? There appear to be certain basic "deep structures" to the language of Islamic expression in space.

There are also recurring idioms which, while they may not be attributable directly to the religious or legal system, were functionally suited to the social structure commonly found within Islamic cities and to the technology dominant during their periods of maximum definition and growth. Among these idioms are, characteristically: the saq or bazaar, the residential court (contiguous but unconnected rooms each giving out to a common gallery or atrium), the blind or deceptively hidden entranceway to individual structures or quarters, the tri-fold (rather than the more Western bi-fold) division of space into private, controlled semi-private and public, and a clear segregation into male and female spheres, perhaps as an underlying cause of many of the above features.

Some mechanism, common throughout the lands of Islam, helped to generate both the deep structure and the more idiomatic expressions. Without a doubt this was the legal system, which constituted a common base despite the variations introduced through major sectarian cleavages and the chief schools of jurisprudence. Rather than central planning according to certain models (as was true, for example, in the overseas colonies of classical Greece and Rome), it was legal notions of proper behaviour in space and legal regulations in property relations (between theocratically-legitimized ruling classes and their subjects, among fraternal members of the 'Umma, between believers and non- or semi-believers, between near and distant neighbours that created, over and over again, certain recurring solutions to the question of urban spatial organization,wherever Islam was implanted. Whether one speaks of restoring and preserving a heritage, or of incorporating into contemporary planning and building the elements which made Islamic cities both beautiful and functional, one must try to define this essence and the principles that governed its repeated generation. For only if we can identify those essential qualities can we select appropriate buildings and quarters for preservation according to the criterion of exemplariness; and only if we can formulate these basic principles can we explore their enduring worth and determine whether they have any applicability for solution of present-day problems in urban planning.

Excerpts from the Proceedings of Seminar One in the series, Architectural Transformations in the Islamic World. Held at Aiglemont, Gouvieux, France April 1978. Preserving the Living Heritage of Islamic Cities by Janet L. Abu-Lughod.

 

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16 May '16

Islamic Architecture

Posted by Priyanka S in islamic architecture

Toward an Architecture in the Spirit of Islam

The revelations in the Koran, set forth through Prophet Muhammad, make an individual understand the supreme nature of God. Every individual Muslim must be upright, righteous and just on his own account, but humble and totally submissive to the will of God. The Muslim is reminded over and over again that while he is allowed to enjoy the normal and serene pleasures of life, excess and grandeur in any form is contrary to the will of Allah. In the pursuit of one's activities through life, it was therefore important to search for simplicity and humility and to avoid waste through the frivolous use of resources. Excessive expenditure on buildings was a frivolity.

It is in this spirit that the first true Islamic architecture took its shape in the first mosques ever to be built. In Basra in 635 A.D., a mosque was built by simply defining the boundary of a lot approximately square in shape and enclosing it with a fence of reeds. In Kufa in 638 A.D., the mosque had only an unenclosed covered colonnade. Since the purpose of the mosque is to provide a place for communal prayer, there was indeed no preordained form of architecture at all. The covered colonnade on the qibla side provided the first hint of any architectural form in the Mosque at Kufa. As the might of the Islamic rulers spread out from Arabia, churches as houses of worship had a definite influence in the first mosque architecture in terms of actual buildings. Frequently, materials for columns and beams were taken from other edifices of previous cultures; but the simplicity of the mosque form, generally a square overall plan with covered colonnades along the qibla wall, has remained the primary mosque-type to the present time. The function of the mosque is to let Muslims at prayer time stand shoulder to shoulder in rows facing the Ka'ba to perform the prayers. Columns supporting the roof structure, in fact, always blended into the mass of people standing shoulder to shoulder at prayer time. It was really important to create a sense of space evoking spirituality of the environment, a feeling of peace, harmony and the humbleness of the individual. Monumentality and embellishment were not predefined objectives in creating such spaces. It is only in later developments, with the contribution of creative artisans and builders, that we find a third dimension of spirituality created through patterns, colors and calligraphic designs based upon quotations from the Koran. Every pattern and graphic design was directed to creating a sense of peace and harmony and dedicated in praise to Allah. The resulting multitude of artistic creations today stands out as the hallmark of Islamic art in architecture, on the one hand, and the very essence of humility and submission to God on the other. It is through the understanding of this evolution of Islamic art and architecture in mosque constructions that one can begin to see its potential continuity and transformation in contemporary architecture. Mnay such mosque designs can be observed in countries all over the world including in the Middle East, Africam Far East, USA, Europe, China, and many other countries.

 

Other Resources on Islamic Architecture

Preserving the Living Heritage of Islamic Cities

Collection of  Muslim Prayer Rugs

15 May '16

Libya

Posted by Priyanka S in Islamic World

Libya stretches along the northern coast of Africa and has Tunisia and Algeria on the west and Egypt on the east. To the south of Libya are Sudan, Chad and Niger. Most of the country is within the Sahara Desert while the coastal areas and interior is plateau. Libya, as it is now, was founded by Col. Muammar al Qaddafi.

Libya - Facts and Figures

    • Official name is Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
    • The terrain is mostly barren, flat plain with plateaus and depressions.
    • Libya’s climate is Mediterranean along its coast while being dry and extreme within its exterior.
    • Libya has total land boundaries of 4,383 kilometers while its coastline is 1,770 kilometers long.
    • Area: 1,759,540 sq km, all of it being land.
    • The Arabs came to Libya in the middle of the seventh century and Islam quickly followed. More recently, Libya was under Italian rule.
    • Population is almost 6 million, of which Berbers and Arabs comprise 97%. Other races include Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians and Tunisians.
    • The main languages are Arabic and Italian. English is also widely spoken. (Buy Islamic Arabic Books here)
    • Islam is practiced by 97% of the population, the majority of them being Sunnis.
    • Capital is Tripoli and the other major city is Benghazi.
    • Major exports are machinery, transport equipment, food and consumer products.
    • The local currency is the Libyan dinar.
    • Agricultural products are wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus fruits, vegetables, peanuts and soybeans.
    • Major trading partners include Italy, Germany, Spain, Turkey, France, South Korea, United Kingdom and Tunisia.
    • Government system is military rule.

 

15 May '16

Lebanon

Posted by Priyanka S in Islamic World

Lebanon, at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, has Israel to its south and Syria to it east. Most of the country is covered by the Lebanon Mountains on the west while the Anti-Lebanon Range is on the east. In the middle is the Bekaa Valley, which is the main agricultural area. Lebanon has a violent recent history, with parts of the country being occupied by Israeli and Syrian forces at some time.

Lebanon - Facts and Figures

  • Official name is Republic of Lebanon.
  • Terrain comprises of a narrow coastal plain with the Bekaa Valley separating the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains.
  • Lebanon’s climate is Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Heavy snow falls on the mountains during winter.
  • Lebanon’s land boundaries are 454 kilometers in total while 225 kilometers are coastline.
  • Area: 10,400 sq km, of which 10,230 sq km is land and 170 sq km is water.
  • Lebanon and Syria were joined under the Ottoman Empire but split after World War I and handed over to a French mandate. Full independence was declared in 1941.
  • Population is about 3.8 million, comprising 95% Arabs and 4% Armenians.
  • Lebanon’s official language is Arabic while French, English and Syrian are also spoken.
  • About 60% of the population is Muslim (Shiite, Sunni, Druze, Ismailis and Alawite). Christians make up about 39%.
  • Capital is Beirut, while other large cities include Tripoli and Sidon.
  • Major exports are jewelry, inorganic chemicals, consumer goods, fruit, tobacco, textiles and paper.
  • The local currency is the Lebanese pound.
  • Agricultural products are citrus fruits, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, sheep and goats.
  • Major trading partners are Syria, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, Germany, China, United States and United Kingdom.
  • Republic-based government.
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15 May '16

Yemen

Posted by Priyanka S in Islamic World

Yemen was unified as a nation in 1990 after decades of hostility between the Marxist south and North Yemen. Previously, it was divided into the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen and the Yemen Arab Republic. The country is located in the southwest tip of the Arabian peninsular with Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the east. It is separated from Africa by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Yemen - Facts and Figures

  • Official name is Republic of Yemen.
  • Yemen’s terrain is a narrow coastal plain merging into flat-topped hills and rugged mountains. Desert areas fill uplands and interior of the country.
  • Climate is mostly desert, being hot and humid along the west coast, temperate in the western mountains and harsh and hot in the desert east.
  • Yemen’s land boundaries total 1,746 kilometers and it has 1,906 kilometers of coastline.
  • Area: 527,970 sq km of land area.
  • Islam came to Yemen in the seventh century. North Yemen was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1918 and was free of British protection in 1967.
  • Population is about 21.5 million. The majority of people are Arabs but you also find Afro-Arabs, South Asians and Europeans.
  • The official language is Arabic.  (Buy Islamic Arabic Books here)
  • Islam is the majority religion while there are also pockets of Jews, Christians and Hindus.
  • Capital is Sanaa. Other large cities are Aden, Hodiedah and Tiaz.
  • Major exports include crude oil, coffee and dried and salted fish. Yemen’s natural resources are petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, coal, gold, lead, nickel and copper.
  • The local currency is the rial.
  • Agricultural products are grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, coffee, cotton, dairy products, livestock, poultry and fish.
  • Major trading partners are Thailand, China, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, India, United States and Kuwait.
  • Government is based on a parliamentary republic.