Islamic Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis S. Arias
History
• Refers to the tradition for construction by
Muslim people from the 7th century.
• Religious and Secular building
• Stemmed from Christian, Persian and
Indian
• Forms & style came largely from
Byzantine Empire
• Elements of Persian Architecture
influenced structures in India (Taj Mahal)
• Earliest examples use Horseshoe-shaped
Arch and Geometric Decorations
Religion
• Islam is a monotheistic religion that
became popular in the middle east.
• SUJUD / SAJDAH
is the act of bowing to Allah while facing
the QIBLAH (Direction of the Kaaba at
Mecca) = SALAH – prayer
• Islamic nations did not separate church
and the state, it is intertwined.
• Islam means “Submission to God’s will,
• Muslims are those who practices Islam
• Mohammed = prophet
• Allah = “One and only God of the Muslim
people”
• Koran / Quran = a religious text
containing the messages of Allah, from
Mohammed
• Abhorrence of image worship
Religion
• 5 pillars of ISLAM
• 1. Declaring One God and Muhammed
is His messenger
• 2. Prayer 5 times a day
• 3. Giving 2.5% of ones savings to poor
people
• 4. Fasting during Ramadan
• 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (Haji
Pilgrimage)
Common Characteristics
• Focuses on the Interior rather than
exterior.
Patterns &
Ornamentation
• Islamic design is ANICONIC in nature
• TYPES OF ORNAMENTATION AND
PATTERNS
• ARABESQUE – Biomorphic Art that uses
floral patterns that add movement to the
overall design
• GEOMETRIC – use of repeated shapes
such as circles and squares
• CALLIGRAPHY – decorative form of
writing that presents the text in an artistic
manner
Terminologies
• MOSQUE or MASJID
• Principal Islamic Architecture type
• Place where muslims gathers and offer
their prayers
• Place for studying Quran and Islamic
teachings
• TYPES OF MOSQUES
• MASJID – general term for mosque that
is used for daily prayer by individuals or
small group
• Has a MIHRAB ( a semicircular niche in
the wall of a mosque that indicates the
QIBLA) but no MIMBAR (pulpit from
which the sermon or KHUTBAH is
delivered)
Terminologies
• JAMI
• Congregational or Friday Mosque
• Used mainly for weekly service
• Provided with a Mimbar (pulpit)
• IDGAH
• “place of community prayer”
• MADRASAH
• Teaching mosque
Terminologies
• IWAN or IVAN
• Vaulted space that opens one side to a
courtyard
• MINARET
• “beacon” in Arabic
• It is a tower attached to a mosque where
the Muezzin calls the muslim people to
pray (5x a day)
• MIMBAR or MINBAR
• Pulpit where the Imam delivers his
sermon
Terminologies
• MUQARNAS
• Stalactite decorations of icicle-like
elements hanging from the ceiling
• QIBLA / QIBLAH / KIBLAH
• Wall in a mosque in which the MIHRAB
is set or oriented towards Mecca
• SAHN
• Courtyard surrounded by
Riwaq (arcade) on all sides
• FAWWARA
• Fountain in the middle of the
Sahn
Terminologies
• SQUINCHES
• Supports the dome
• MASHRABIYA
• A projecting window enclosed with
carved wood latticework
• DIKKA
• A place of delivering royal
messages
• MAQSURA
• In early mosques, it is an area
in front of the Mihrab
reserved for officials and
sometimes given extra
ornamentations or special
screening for security
Terminologies
• BAB
• The outer monumental gateway in the
walls surrounding the cities, residential
houses and some public buildings
• HAREM
• Harem refers to domestic spaces that are
reserved for the women of the house in a
Muslim family
• BAZAAR
• A covered market in Islamic
cities
• CIRCUMAMBULATION
• Praying in a circle-act of
worship
• KA’BA / KAABA
• Is a square building (black
box) located at the center of
the sahn, the holiest shrine in
Islam
Terminologies
• ALCAZAR
• A fortress complex similar to a castle or
palace where government officials work
and live.
FAMOUS MOSQUES
• BLUE MOSQUE
• Also known as SULTAN AHMED
MOSQUE located in Istanbul, Turkiye
• SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND
MOSQUE
• Located in Abu Dhabi, UAE
• 80 domes
• Gold features
FAMOUS MOSQUES
• DOME OF THE ROCK
• Aka Qubbat as-sakhrah
• Or the Golden Dome
• It sits on the rock in which Mohammed
ascended into heaven
• PROPHET’S MOSQUE
• Aka Al-masjid Al-Nabwi
• Built by Mohammed in Medina
FAMOUS MOSQUES
• THE GREAT MOSQUE
• Aka Al-masjid Al-Haram / harah
• Holiest and largest mosque and the site
of the Haj Pilgrimage
