Islamic architecture: form, function, and meaning

Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 2006

The main problem of the theory in the arena of islamic architecture is affected by some of its Western thoughts, and stereotyping the islamic architecture according to Western thoughts; this leads to the breakdown of the foundations in the islamic architecture. It is a myth that islamic architecture is subjected to the influence from foreign architectures. This paper will highlight the dialectical concept of islamic architecture or muslim buildings and the areas of recognition in islamic architecture. It will also widen the knowledge in the characteristics of each point in time according to the stages of islamic architecture from the prophetic age moving through the architecture outside the city of Medina, the Caliphs, the Umayyad, Abbasid, and architectural models by spatial and time periods, taking Iraq as the example to explain how the Islam influents on architecture and vice versa.

Islamic Heritage Architecture and Art, 2016

Islamic architecture reflects the cultural variations of Islamic societies and expresses the cultural movements of these societies. At the same time, it preserves the identity by taking into account the social and environmental properties and artistic constituents. Contemporary global variables (globalization) increase Islamic countries' challenges to keep the Islamic architecture identity which is confined to (tradition and originality), (contemporary and modernism) or forms which were produced in the past and didn't express the meaning of it. The research will discuss the dilemma between form and meaning in Islamic architecture, and it will try to answer an important question: could architectural thinking emerge from Islam (come from Islamic sharia) or not? Answering this question will make a real flexible Islamic architecture consider the identity, social and cultural properties of a variable community. The main aim of the research is to analyse harmony between the Islamic architectural elements and sharia and how can we apply it to our modern architecture to show the flexibility of these elements, which are not dependent on one mould. The study is based on a theoretical and applied analytical approach where the theoretical study deals with the theory of Islamic architecture, Islamic architectural elements, the signification of Islamic architecture and the dilemma between physical and spirit. The applied analytical approach analyses modern architecture projects using Islamic architectural elements to show the flexibility of these elements and finally results, recommendations, and conclusion

Not a bit of thought and Islamic architectural design was born from a duplication and imitation of form, function, and ornamentation of the building elements that are considered as the product of the Muslim Community. This is evidenced by the use of symbols or physical form and is usually considered to represent Islam comes from the Middle East. In designing the mosque, for example, oriented to the physical approach usually emphasizes the need for domes, towers, or mihrab as the elements that must exist in a mosque. This paper will attempt to explore ideas, philosophies and designs derived from the values and basic principles of Islam to then be interpreted and applied in the design of Islamic architecture in accordance with the spirit of the times, places and social conditions of society. It is hoped this research will open up a broader discussion of the development of various design and architecture of Islamic thought is more valuable, progressive and integrative in the future. Keywords: mosque; symbol; ornament; building

2021

Islamic architecture is an ongoing argument for an extended period. Is it Islamic architecture, Muslim architecture, or architecture in Islam? Is it just visual elements or a way to use the inner space? Whatever the answer is, we will use the term Islamic architecture in this paper. To search and dig out the identities of so-called Islamics. This paper is seeking after these identities and their relations with Islamic culture to solve international architecture concepts without modifications or adaptation. The main goal is to extract the sociocultural aspects that define that architecture to be called Islamic Architecture. An analytical research method uses some attempts to interact the environmental conditions and social aspects with cultural and religious values to define Islamic architecture's identity. The study result and summary could be used to evaluate the satisfaction of the built environment of Muslims when and wherever they are. As a comprehensive result, Islamic Desi...

Bagh-e Nazar Journal, 2023

Problem statement: Numerous studies have been conducted on the subject of Islamic architecture, but this article aims to challenge the concepts of “Islamic architecture” and “Muslim architecture” and distinguish between the two. The topic that has not been addressed so far is the definition of these two religious terms within the realm of religion. In this regard, the following questions are raised:- What is Islamic architecture?- What is Muslim architecture?- What is the difference between Islamic architecture and Muslim architecture?- Is Islamic architecture obtainable in modern times? Research objective: Understanding the reality of Islamic architecture and Muslims architecture, as well as distinguishing between these two, are the research objectives that are essential for research in this redard. Research method: This article examines the relationships between architecture as a science and Islam in terms of their types of connection. In this context, the opinions of scholars regarding the nature of Islamic architecture were studied using available library documents, and these definitions were classified into three categories: physical, semantic, and behavioral. Since religion determines the requirements and limits of Muslim behavior and does not consider physical constraints for architecture, understanding the true nature of Islamic architecture is essential. To understand this truth, studies were conducted using inductive reasoning methods, and Shia sources were scrutinized to define a new concept of Islamic architecture as the result of implementing the correct form and adhering to religious commands without any deficiencies or excesses. Conclusion: According to this definition, examples of buildings designed for Muslims are introduced in this article under the title of “Muslim architecture”. Muslim architecture is derived from incomplete interpretations, attempts, and efforts of Muslims to follow religious instructions, which are accompanied by personal tastes and understanding, prescribed laws, and ignorance, resulting in a gap compared to Islamic architecture. By studying pathological features and searching for the causes of this gap, Muslim architecture can be brought closer to Islamic architecture. To clarify this gap and its causes, the distinction between the two concepts of Islamic architecture and Muslim architecture is discussed.

Thresholds, 1992

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Journal of Islamic Architecture, 2012

The main problem of the theory in the arena of islamic architecture is affected by some of its Western<br />thoughts, and stereotyping the islamic architecture according to Western thoughts; this leads to the breakdown<br />of the foundations in the islamic architecture. It is a myth that islamic architecture is subjected to the<br />influence from foreign architectures. This paper will highlight the dialectical concept of islamic architecture or<br />muslim buildings and the areas of recognition in islamic architecture. It will also widen the knowledge in the<br />characteristics of each point in time according to the stages of islamic architecture from the prophetic age<br />moving through the architecture outside the city of Medina, the Caliphs, the Umayyad, Abbasid, and<br />architectural models by spatial and time periods, taking Iraq as the example to explain how the Islam influents<br />on architecture and vice versa.