The Unifying Principles of Islamic Architecture

The Unifying Principles of Islamic Architecture:

1.     Architecture as Tawhid (devotion & faith): (Unity & Uniquity (Oneness) of Allah)

“There is no god but The God/Allah and Mohammad is his Messenger /Prophet”

Notion of Tawhid: al Quran - haqiqa (formless essence) nature of space, forms, order, orients –              place man the presence of Divine Unity

Main architecture of Allah Unity & Uniquity is: Ka’bah.  It is towards which Muslims face their five daily prayers.

a.     Shahada: Ka’bah- Muslim

b.    Notion of Tawhid: al Quran - haqiqa (formless essence)

c.     Catalyst - Building Community: Mosque

Masjid At-Taqwa, Quba was the first to be built before building a community. It was the Center for Muslim Social Life. It was used for education, administration, court, public service, economic platform, and military planning, govern country, religious event. The 5 daily Solah Jamaah was held.

d.    Urban Planning/ Contex – Sunnah (Fiqh Law)- unifying city -thru’ guide to every day action and behaviour

2.     Architecture of Ihtiram: Respect, propriety or adab (good manners) to God, fellow man and oneself

a.     Shahada

b.    Muhammad pbuh- perfect eg. of propriety and praiseworthy characteristics & example - perfect good manners

c.     5 pillars: shahada, salat (prayer), zakat (alms), fasting and hajj

d.    Al Quran – guide-respect

e.     Self-conscious acts

f.     Muslim Architect- Islam as AdDin: practice Architecture -submission - Allah- strives on path of purity

g.    Islamic Architecture Symbolism: - symbolism, harmony and purity of geometry of the Ka’bah are found in sacred architecture throughout the Islamic world

h.     Respect Essence of Islam & Humanity: - building as sanctuary-Masjidil Haram & Masjidil An Nabawi

Persian Architecture > Samanid Mausoleum

The Samanid mausoleum is located in the historical urban nucleus of the city of Bukhara.It was built in the (10th) century.Popularly known as the tomb of Ismail, this early mausoleum was erected by the Samanid ruler sometime before 943 AD.An existing waqf document indicates that it was possibly built for his father. Although three bodies lie within, a wooden plaque identifies only Ismail's grandson, Nasr ibn Ahmad ibn Ismail or as-Said Nasr II (d. 943). Ostensibly the family crypt of the first local Muslim dynasty, it is possible that, consistent with popular nomenclature, the structure does indeed contain the grave of Ismail himself. 

The baked brick structure describes a simple form: a slightly tapered cube capped by a hemispherical dome that is inset from the exterior face of the cube. The exterior surface decoration of highly articulated brickwork provides visual interest. Departing from customary stucco decoration, the use of allover decorative brickwork represents an important innovation. Each facade is identical, joining the next with semi-attached circular columns. Centered within each facade is an arched opening framed by bricks laid in basket weave, the spandrels composed of diagonally set end brick. A frieze of small arches on columns encircles the top of the cube forming a miniature arcade, the corners are punctuated with small domical forms that sit above the cube. 

The exterior arcade frieze repeats on the interior as an internal gallery. Utilizing corner arches to facilitate the interior transition from the square plan to the dome constitutes another important innovation. 

Sources: 

Grabar, O. 'The Earliest Islamic Commemorative Structures.' Ars Orientalis VI: 7-46.