ARCHITECTURE OF THE

ISLAMIC WORLD
NOTES
Taken by Hamza Iqbal from 1001
Inventions: Muslim Heritage in
Our World

Town Planning
Criteria

Application

1.
2.
3.
4.

1.

These cities would be found majority of the time in really

hot climates resulting in the need of shade. Thus narrow
covered streets, inner courtyards, terraces, and gardens
were planned.

2.

Religion was and culture was important, so the mosque

had a central position. Around the mosque would be
narrow, winding, quiet streets that led away from public
places to private life. Economic activities would strictly be
in the public and on main streets, letting the residential
area be in peace. The religious elite resided close the
mosque and handled social and legal issues.

3.

Islamic Law was applied on the city in terms of physical and

social relations between the public and private realms, and
between neighbors and social groups. For example the
height of a wall be at a length that would not let a passerby
see into property.

4.

People would often voluntarily group themselves into

different quarters based off similarities in family,
ethnicities, and religious beliefs. In these quarters they had
kinship solidarity, defense, social order and similar
practices. However this didnt cause problems between
quarters in the city, as generally the people followed the
teaching of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that There is
no difference between an Arab and a non-Arab except by
the extent of their righteousness. (narrated by Ahmad ibn
Hanbal, Musnad)

Weather and landscape

Religious and cultural beliefs
Sharia Muslim Law
Social and Ethnic Groupings

Town Planning
Courtyard houses would be the caterer to all the points that were needed. The
neighborhoods created by them gave a semi-private feel, because the houses were inwardlooking and lattice work was found on windows, private doors, and passageways.
Administrative centers such as school, hospitals, and mosques were funded by religious
endowments called waqfs, and property laws were left to customary law on the local level.
The four criteria of town development had urban areas growing in zones. The main mosque
would be at the center, a souk or a market after, followed by a citadel near an outer defensive
wall surrounding residential quarters. These were all joined by an intricate network of streets
that led to the outer wall. The souk would be split into areas as well, such as those for spices,
gold, fish, perfume and other goods, items such as candles and incense being sold near the
mosque. Booksellers and binders could be found nearby as well. This part of the souk near the
mosque would be a place for social gatherings, administration, trade, arts and crafts,
hammam baths, and hotels. The citadel was the governmental palace, located usually located
in a high part of town near the outer wall, and was district of its own . In the area of which a
muezzins call could be heard, neighborhoods clustered. They had their own mosque, school,
bakery, and shops, and were full of activity despite how quiet they may have seemed. They
even had their own gates which were closed after late prayer and opened before early prayer
time. Around all of this was well defended wall with multiple gates. Outside of that wall were
the cemeteries and animals souks, as were more private gardens and fields. Streetlights that
were mainly oil burners and lanterns were lit at sunset. There was also the collection of litter
and the cleaning and draining of the sewage system, a system of canals directly below the
roads. The city district employed people to maintain these.

Appetizers for the

Coming Information

Muslims felt that architecture needed to get across a

number of concepts, like Allahs (Gods) infinite power.
This was shown in ways such as geometric patterns,
arabesque designs, highly stylized foliage, flower motifs,
and calligraphy. Human and animal forms rarely were
used in decoration as Allahs work is matchless. Large
domes, towers, and courtyards gave a feeling of space
and majestic power. The decoration of these buildings are
concentrated on visual aesthetics, since Islam opposes
unnecessary spending yet doesnt oppose having a
comfortable, enjoyable life as long as people live in the
boundary of Gods law and guidance. The Muslim
wisdom Strive for you earthly life as you will live forever
and strive for your hereafter as you will die tomorrow
really sums up the Muslims attitude to architecture too; if
youre going to make it, make it modestly and
beautifully. (1001 Inventions: Muslim Heritage in Our
World) Rose windows are one such decoration that have
been related to Islamic architecture, found often in
Europe. Interestingly the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne has
the tallest, earthquake-resistant minarets in the country.
The architect of this building Sinan, also built the
Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul that reduced smoke
pollution taking the soot in a process that collected it in a
fountain producing a high quality ink used in calligraphy.
It repelled bugs and bookworms, prolonging the life of
manuscripts as well.

Arches
They are essential in architecture due
to their spanning large spaces and
supporting huge loads. Since they are
strong and flexible, they have been
made bigger and wider. Muslims were
masters of the arch, and likened their
motif to that of he curve of the palm
trees. Knowledge of geometry and
laws of statics caused the dreaming
up of various arch types. What they
did structurally was to reduce the
thrust of the arch to a few points, the
top and sides. These could then be
easily reinforced, leaving other areas
free from support, so lighter walls and
vaults could be built, saving materials
in building. (1001 Inventions: Muslim
Heritage in Our World)

Arches
Types and Concepts

Description and Application

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

1.

The Horseshoe Arch

Intersecting Arches
The Pointed Arch
The Multi-foil Arch
Ogee Arch

2.
3.

4.

5.

The horseshoe arch was an extended version

of the semi-circular arch. Despite its lack of
strength, its looks were impressive. It was
also a symbol of sainthood and holiness.
Intersecting Arches meant that they could
build bigger and higher, adding the possibility
of an additional second arch on top.
Mainly, the advantage pointed arches gave
was that the thrust of the vault was
concentrated on a narrow vertical area that
could be supported by a flying buttress.
Architects could thus lighten the walls and
buttresses.
Multi-foil arches became popular in Europe
mostly through their decorating of Moorish
buildings in Andalusia. Originally, they were
from Iraq.
The ogee arch was originally developed in
Muslim India. It is constructed in the form of
two S shapes facing each other.

Vaults
A vault architecturally is a stone arch
that makes a ceiling or a canopy,
having a roof over a large space.
Metal girders and trusses were
introduced in the 19 th century.
Muslims refined the vault so that they
could make them bigger and higher.
They did this by making vaults that
were as strong as the Roman ones,
but finer with thinner curtain walls.
This idea also made its way to Europe,
gaining popularity there. It is quite
notable that the Great Mosque of
Cordoba was where European
architecture gained ideas and
concepts from. Its many types of
arches, vaults, and domes were
inspirations.

Vaults
Types and Concepts

Description and Application

1.
2.
3.

1.

Rib Vaulting
Gothic Rib Vaulting
Muqarnas

2.

3.

The ribbed vault was a vault that was

strengthened by single semi-circular arches
below the vault to add extra support. They
looked like ribs, thus the name. A large
amount of the thrust of the vault was
concentrated on these ribs, relieving the
pressure on the walls, enabling the builder to
make them thinner and higher. (1001
Inventions: Muslims Heritage in Our World)
Muslim architects introduced small stone
similar to bricks between the ribs.
Known in Europe as the Gothic rib, this
complex type of vaults was actually first used
in the mosques of Toledo and Cordoba. It has
crossed arches, creating a beautiful rib
pattern.
The last vault well visit here is the stalactite
vault or muqarnas. They are 3-D forms made
from geometrical shapes and carved into
vaults, domes, niches, arches and wall
corners. (1001 Inventions: Muslim Heritage
in Our World)

The Dome
If you take an arch and make it 3-D,
that would basically be a dome. In
Islamic architecture it has two main
symbolic meanings: to represent
the vault of heaven and the divine
dominance engulfing the emotional
and physical being of the faithful.
(1001 Inventions: Muslims Heritage
in Our World) There is also a
functional use in which it
emphasizes particular areas such as
the nave or the mihrab, and at the
same time lighting the building.

The Dome
Types and Concepts

Description and Application

1.
2.
3.

1.

The semi-circular dome is the most common form of the

dome. It is also the oldest and the most widespread. The
size of the dome grew so much that they could cover
entire sanctuaries. At first, these were made in a harder
process. Changes had to be made to make the building
process easier. First the wooden centering was replaced
with brick coursing and the use of four squinches made
of radiating semi-circles to produce a circular base for the
dome. This brick coursing was constructed by laying an
arch of bricks on edge, leaning at an angle against an end
wall. Subsequent arches were laid parallel, and cemented
with mortar to the flat brick faces of the previous arch
until a vault or ceiling was produced. The Muslims also
used ribs, which enable them to construct the dome in a
similar way to rib vaulting. (1001 Inventions: Muslim
Heritage in Our World)

2.

Also known as the onion-shaped dome, this form was

liked by the Mughals, who spread the idea in Persia, the
sub-continent, and Asia. They were made of wooden
shells in a stilted semi-circular form, supporting the
lanterns and the bulbous cupolas. This form goes hand in
hand with ogee arch.
Impressive mosques impose their cloud reaching
minarets on our minds, counter-posing the central dome
on the landscape and skyline. The duality of the dome
and minaret created aesthetic appeal that was imitated
by many western architects, including Sir Christopher
Wren. (1001 Inventions: Muslims Heritage in Our World)

Semi-circular Dome
The Bulbous Dome
The Duality of Dome and
Minaret

3.

Muslim Architecture in the World

Types and Concepts

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Sir Christopher Wren

The Spire Tower
Bookshops
Public Baths
The Tent
From Kiosk to Conservatory
Gardens
Fabulous Fountains

THIS CONCLUDES THE

MAIN NOTES FOR
Architecture of the Islamic World