UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

WEEK 1

Chapter 1: ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

I. Introduction

Islam originated in Arabia and Mohammed is its founder. In 610, the angel Gabriel is said to have
appeared to Mohammed in Mecca and over time expounded the revelation of God, or Allah (“Al-lah”
meaning “the God”). These revelations were collected into a holy book, the Qur’an (or Koran).

The religious practice of Islam, which literally means "to submit to God", is based on tenets that are
known as the Five Pillars, to which all members of the Islamic community should adhere:

1. The Profession of Faith—Shahada. It is the most fundamental expression of Islamic beliefs. It

simply states that “There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet.”

2. Daily Prayers—Salat. Muslims are expected to pray five times a day.

3. Alms-Giving—Zakat. Although not defined in the Qu’ran, Muslims believe that they are meant
to share their wealth with those less fortunate in their community of believers.

4. Fasting during Ramadan—Saum. During the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the
Islamic calendar, Muslims are expected to fast from dawn to dusk.

5. Pilgrimage to Mecca—Hajj. All Muslims who are able are required to make the pilgrimage to
Mecca and the surrounding holy sites at least once in their lives. (2)

Today, Muslims represent a majority of the population in the Middle East, North Africa, parts of Central
and South Asia, the Malaysian peninsula, and the Indonesian archipelago, but sizeable minorities also
live in Europe and the United States. (1)

II. Learning Outcomes

At the end of this Chapter, you should be able to:

1. Determine the Five Pillars of Islam as influencing factors to Islamic architecture.
2. Illustrate the different types of Islamic architecture features.
3. Classify the architectural examples of Islamic architecture.
4. Identify the architectural components of each architectural example.

III. Architectural Character

Islamic architecture is not the product of any one place or people. It is the product of one major historic
event – the rapid conquest of diverse territories by a people with no architectural tradition, and the
merging of styles under one philosophy but in different contexts.

Majority of Islamic buildings are fundamentally related to a principal axis. The axis frequently extended
into a formal landscape which is integral into the design.

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The main axis was the kibla (direction pointing towards Mecca), in which the general concept was
derived from the line of BALANCE and SYMMETRY implied in the concept of perfect creation.

ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE IS FUNDAMENTALLY CENTERED UPON ALLAH. At its heart is the MOSQUE, an
inward-looking building whose prime purpose is CONTEMPLATION and PRAYER.

IV. Architectural Features

1. DOME
Many mosques are decorated with a dome rooftop, particularly in the Middle East. This architectural
element holds no spiritual or symbolic significance, and is purely aesthetic. The interior of a dome is
usually highly decorated with floral, geometric and other patterns. See Table 1 for the types of Islamic
domes.
Types Example
1.1 Pointed

1.2 Pierced
- to create spectacular lighting
effects from above, which were
sometimes enhanced by covering
the faceted surfaces with glazed tiles
or mirrors to reflect the light.

1.3 Melon

1.4 Onion

Table 1. Types of Islamic Domes

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2. ARCH
ARCHES are one of the most distinctive features of Islamic architecture and are found in almost every
type of building. Symbolically, they LEAD INTO AN INNER SPACE.

Islamic architects borrowed heavily from Greek and Roman designs for archways and door designs but
then came up with a series of arch shapes over history that are distinctively Islamic. See Table 2 for the
types of Islamic arches.

Types Example
2.1 Horseshoe

2.2 Pointed

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2.3 Trefoil

2.3 Cinquefoil

2.4 Multifoil

2.5 Squinch
- A corbeled arch used to transform
a square bay into an octagon for the
springing of a dome. (1)

Table 2. Types of Islamic Arches

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3. CEILING

Stalactite or Muqarna- It is a vault treatment that fragments the surface into many concave segments. It
may be built in masonry or suspended as elements from an overhead structure. (1)

Figure 1. Muqarnas(Pinterest.com)

4. DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
Islamic ornamentation reached a level of invention and sophistication arguably unexcelled by any
designers and craftsmen at any other time and in any other place. (1) See Table 3 for the various
decorative elements of Islamic architecture.

Types Example
4.1 Mosaic Tile

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4.2 Relief Pattern

4.3 Pierced Screens

4.4 Decorative Art and Patterns

4.4.1 Calligraphy
Calligraphy for the Muslim is a
visible expression of spiritual
concepts. It has arguably become
the most venerated form of
Islamic art because it provides a
link between the languages of
the Muslims with the religion of
Islam Complete passages from
the Qur'an are still active sources
for Islamic calligraphy.
4.4.2 Arabesque or Islimi
Islimi designs are biomorphic
floral patterns representing the
underlying unity and order of
nature.
4.4.2.1 Spiral

4.4.2.2 Kapali Rumi

means “closed”. The shapes Positioned at the heart of the Rumi motif is the ‘Pivotal ball’.
are versatile and have Regardless of the shape the motif might take, it will always

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architectural properties; the revolve around this ball.

crown shape is used in domes
and gateways across the
Islamic world. Two main
motifs are: Rumi and Tepelik

Tepelik - means “points” or “hilltops”, the other major motif

in the Rumi style. It is used both as a symmetrical freestanding
motif and in half form attached to the spiral.

4.4.3 Geometric Patterns

In Islamic art the geometric
figure of the circle represents
the primordial symbol of
unity and the ultimate source
of all diversity in creation. The
natural division of the circle
into regular divisions is the
ritual starting point for many
traditional Islamic patterns,
as demonstrated in the
drawings at the left.

THE EIGHT-POINTED STAR

(RUB EL HIZB)
The Rub El Hizb is a
Muslim symbol, represented
as two overlapping squares,
which is found on a number of
emblems and flags.
Table 3. Islamic Decorative Elements

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The Rub El Hizb was also applied in the development of the Petronas Towers Tower 1 level 43 floor plan.
See Figure 2.

Figure 2. Development of the Petronas Towers Tower 1 level 43 floor plan from a Rub el Hizb symbol.

V. Activity 1.1

Activity Title : Illustration of Islamic Architectural Features

Tasks : Illustrate the following:
a. 4 types of Dome
b. 5 types of Arches
c. Rub El Hizb
d. Plan of Umayyad Mosque (label its components)
Learning Resources :
Format : The output must be in standard US letter size (8.5” x 11”).
Full name, subject code and activity code (Assignment 1.1) at the
upper left corner of the document.
Maximum of 2 pages only.
Rubric : See Rubric for Activities.
Duration : It will take no more than 30 minutes.
Submission : Upload to Blackboard on or before Thursday, 12:00 noon.
Feedback : See Feedback section of Course Details.

VI. Architectural Examples

In this unit, you will learn the different architectural examples of this architecture, as follows:
1. Masjid (mosque)
2. Mazar (mausoleum)
3. Al Q’sar (desert palaces)
4. Kasbah (fort)
5. Madrasa (educational institution)
6. Hammam (bath)
7. Caravanserai (inn)
8. Souk (market)
9. Dwellings
10. Paradise Garden

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1. MASJID (MOSQUE) - the primary place of worship in Islam. Although prayers can be done
privately, either indoors or outdoors, nearly every community of Muslims dedicates a space or
building for congregational prayer. It is a space removed from the immediate impact of worldly
affairs.

It is not however, designed to be spiritually uplifting, nor to produce a sense of exaltation. There
is also no positive object or attention or adoration.

Above all, the mosque is essentially democratic. In it, all have equal rights. It may serve many
functions other than prayer: school, treasury, for transactions, even shelter for travelers. To this
day, the mosque remains the focus of Muslim life – something between a forum and a prayer
house.

Different mosque typologies are categorized according to regional variation, refer to Table 4.

Types of Mosque Examples

1.1 Hypostyle Mosque (Arabic) a. Umayyad Mosque in Damascus,
Arab-plan or hypostyle mosques are the earliest type of Syria, with the columned prayer halls
mosques, pioneered under the Umayyad Dynasty. These preceded by an open court as shown
mosques are square or rectangular in plan with an enclosed in the floor plan in Figure 3.
courtyard and a covered prayer hall. Historically, because of
the warm Mediterranean and Middle Eastern climates, the
courtyard served to accommodate the large number of
worshippers during Friday prayers.

Most early hypostyle mosques have flat roofs on top of

prayer halls, necessitating the use of numerous columns and
supports. Frequently, hypostyle mosques have outer arcades
so that visitors can enjoy some shade. (3)
1.2 Four-Iwan Mosque (Persian) a. Isfahan’s Great Mosque
An iwan is a vaulted space that opens on one side to a Figure 4 shows iwans opening onto
courtyard. Like a hypostyle mosque, the layout is arranged the sahn (court).
around a large open courtyard. However, in the four-iwan
mosque, each wall of the courtyard is punctuated with a
MONUMENTAL VAULTED HALL, the IWAN.

In this type of mosque the qibla iwan, which faces Mecca, is

often the largest and most ornately decorated.
1.3 Centrally-Planned Mosque (Turkish) a. Mosque of Selim II, in Edirne,
The Ottoman architects were strongly influenced by Hagia Turkey.
Sophia in Istanbul, the greatest of all Byzantine churches. It is considered as masterpiece of
Mimar Sinan. The mosque had
MIMAR SINAN, the greatest Ottoman architect, experimented grayish domes and pencil-type
with the central plan in a series of mosques in Istanbul. minarets. See Figure 5.

1.4 Triple-Domed Mosque with a large open courtyard a. Badshahi Mosque in Lahore,
(Indian) Pakistan
The Mughals constructed mosques with a courtyard which Its sculptural figure in Figure 6, with
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was greatly enlarged like a square or plaza rather than an thrsee white marble domes on a red
inner court. They are not Arabic type, in which hypostyle halls sandstone worship hall, shows the
enclose a courtyard, nor Persian type, in which four Iwans final phase of the Indian type.
surround it. Rather, it is a SCULPTURAL EDIFICE, its worship
hall protruding into the courtyard from cloisters as if it were b. Friday Mosque in Delhi, India
an independent building. The worship hall looks as if to be an
independent building in a vast
The Mughals placed a line of thrsee domes over such square-like courtyard, as shown in
sculptural independent-looking worship halls, finishing them Figure 7.
with white marble and making them in a bulbous shape with
swelled lower parts to achieve greater conspicuousness.
Together with its central GREAT IWAN and TWIN MINARETS
on both ends, a majestic sculptural architecture was
accomplished.
Table 4. Types of Mosques

Figure 3. Plan: Umayyad Mosque (Buildings Across Time)

Components of a Mosque:
a. Minaret- a slim tower rising from a mosque varying in height, style, and number. It is either
CONICAL, SQUARE, ROUND or POLYGONAL in shape, usually covered with a pointed roof. It is the
point where the call to prayer is made. It also functions as an airconditioning mechanism and a
decorative feature.
b. Dome- see types of domes in Table 1.
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c. Sahn- is a COURTYARD in Islamic architecture. Most traditional mosques have a large central
sahn, which is surrounded by a RIWAQ or arcade on all sides.
d. Haram (prayer hall) - rarely has furniture; chairs and pews are generally absent to allow as
many worshipers as possible to line the room. Some mosques have Islamic calligraphy and
Quranic verses on the walls for emphasis on the Quran and for decoration.
e. Maqsura- an enclosure situated near the mihrsab in a mosque, used by a ruler for protection or
privacy during prayer. Maqsuras often took the form of wooden or metal screens.
f. Mihrsab- a semicircular NICHE in the wall of a mosque that indicates the QIBLA (the direction of
the KAABA in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying). The wall in
which a mihrsab appears is thus the QIBLA WALL.
g. Minbar- the raised platform from which an IMAM (leader of prayer) addresses the
congregation.
h. WUDU (ABLUTION AREA) - is where Muslims wash their hands, forearm, face and feet before
they pray.

Figure 4. Great Mosque of Isfahan

Figure 5. Mosque of Selim II

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Figure 6. The Badsashi Mosque

Figure 7. The Friday Mosque

2. MAZAR- a mausoleum or shrsine in the Muslim world, typically that of a Shia saint or notable.

Taj Mahal in Agra, India

- Muslim tradition forbids elaborate decoration of graves and hence Mumtaz and Shah Jahan are
laid in a relatively plain crypt beneath the inner chamber with their faces turned right and towards
Mecca.
- This tomb is one of the world’s most famous buildings. Its serenity derives in part from its sheer
elegance and its placement in a totally designed landscape of plants, water, and paving. (2) See
Figure 8.

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Figure 8. Taj Mahal, Agra (Buildings AcrossTime)

3. AL Q’SAR (Desert Palaces) - the Umayyad desert castles, of which the desert castles of Jordan
represent a prominent part, are fortified palaces or castles in what was the then Umayyad
province of Bilad ash-Sham.

4. KASBAH (Fort) - with a few exceptions, the citadel of the ruling elite, in an Islamic city was
positioned against or astride the city wall. Positioned against the perimeter, the Islamic Kasbah
contributed its defensive strength to the city wall and retained direct access out into the
surrounding countryside.

5. MADRASA - any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious (of any religion).
The curriculum of a madrasa was usually set by its founder, but most generally taught both the
religious sciences and the physical sciences.

6. HAMMAM – Islamic bath. It is customary before praying for Muslims to perform ablutions,
which require cleansing of the face, hands, and feet with water. Often, hammams will be located
close to mosques and other places for prayer for those who wish to perform deeper cleansing.

7. CARAVANSERAI- was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's
journey. Most typically a caravanserai was a building with a square or rectangular walled exterior,
with a single portal wide enough to permit large or heavily laden beasts such as camels to enter.
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.

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8. SOUK was originally an open-air marketplace. They were of two types: the SEASONAL and the
PERMANENT. Seasonal souk held a set time, which might be yearly, monthly or weekly, while
permanent souk are more common but less famous as they focus on commercial activity, not
entertainment

Al-Madina Souk in Aleppo, Syria is the largest covered historic market in the world, see Figure 9,
with an approximate length of 13 kilometers. Al-Madina Souk is part of the Ancient City of
Aleppo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

Figure 9. The Al-Madina Souk in Aleppo, Syria (pinterest.com)

9. ISLAMIC DWELLINGS- - Islam recognizes the fundamental right of privacy for the family within
its own house, thus Islamic house design is often called ARCHITECTURE OF THE VEIL. Within a
family house, there are common and separate spaces (see Table 5) , the latter, and most private,
usually reserved for women and children. In the end, only the family heads have free and
unlimited access to all rooms and areas of their private home. Refer to Figure 10, for the sample
plan of an Islamic house.

Thrsee principles form the primary considerations of those who seek to create a traditional
Muslim home:
PRIVACY, a safe and private place for personal and the family’s sanctuary;
MODESTY, a home with spaces for religious rituals and activities, further defined by humility in
design thrsough economical and sustainable designs, and;
HOSPITALITY, a dwelling with opportunities to extend hospitality to neighbors and enhance
relationships with the society. (4)

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Public Areas Private Areas

a. MADKHUL - entrance or entrance hall a. FAMILY HAMAAM – washrsoom
b. MAJLIS – in relation to a house, a sitting room, b. MATBAKH - kitchen
either internal or external, generally understood
to be the room in which men of a household c. EXTERNAL COOKING AREA
entertain their male friends.
d. BEDROOMS
c. BARAHA - a majlis, or sitting area, outside the
house and its compound. The external MAJLIS e. VERANDAH – living and dining area for the rest
area or BARAHA, is nearly always defined in of the family
some way, sometimes by a carpet or rug, even a
row of blocks, and within it will be a run of f. COURTYARD
seating, generally no longer on the ground if the
surface is concrete or tarmac, and can be of g. PRAYER ROOM
regular armchairs

d. GHURFAT AL-SUFRA - dining room or room for

eating in

e. HAMMAM – washrsoom
Table 5. Parts of an Islamic House

Figure 10. Sample Plan of an Islamic house

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10. The PARADISE GARDEN is a form of garden, originally just PARADISE a word derived from Old
Persian. Its original meaning was A WALLED-IN COMPOUND or GARDEN; from pairi (around) and
daeza or diz (wall, brick, or shape).

Because of the additional meanings for the word, the enclosed garden of the original concept is
now often referred to as a paradise garden. This excludes the wildness of nature, and includes
the tended, watered greenery of the garden.

The most common layout for the perimeter walls is that of a RECTANGLE, and this forms one of
the prime features of this kind of garden.

Another common theme is the elaborate use of water, often in CANALS, PONDS, sometimes in
FOUNTAINS, less often in WATERFALLS of various kinds, as shown in Figure 8.

The general theme of a traditional Islamic garden is WATER and SHADE, since Islam came from
and generally spread in a hot and arid climate.

Unlike English gardens, which are often designed for walking, Islamic gardens are intended for
REST and CONTEMPLATION. For this reason, Islamic gardens usually include PLACES OF SITTING.
(5)

VII. Quiz 1.1

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