Islamic Architecture - Origin - Principles

1. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAM
MOHAMMED was born in the holy city of MECCA in 571 A.D.
Extreme poverty in his childhood prevented him from obtaining a proper education.
At the age of 24, he was appointed to look after the business of a rich widow –
KHADIJA, who was very pleased with the honesty & simplicity of Mohammed &
ultimately married him.
Probably a WELL – TRAVELLED MAN.
Had a CONTEMPLATIVE BENT OF MIND.
Felt restless in a society DEVOID of STRONG RELIGION.
At the age of 40, DIVINE REVELATION and REALIZATION dawned upon him at
MOUNT HIRA.
ARCHANGEL GABRIEL instructed him to preach the divine message among the
people as the PROPHET OF GOD.

2. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
He converted his family first. Then more people gradually started accepting his
religion.
The hostility of the religious authorities of Mecca compelled him to flee to MEDINA
in 632 A.D.
His flight to MEDINA was the turning point in the development of Islam, since from
that time it began to spread.
The followers of Mohammed fought with other Arab tribes in order to preach the
teachings of their master.
MEDINA defeated MECCA in war in 630 A.D. & Mohammed re-entered MECCA
triumphantly.
His followers spread into AFRICA, SPAIN and as far as FRANCE, before they were
finally defeated in 732.A.D., exactly a century after Mohammed died.

3. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
In the 15th century, the OTTOMAN
TURKS pushed till Vienna (Austria),
where they were finally stopped.
Twice, the Mohammedans made a
serious threat to overrun EUROPE.
Twice, CHRISTENDOM had a narrow
escape.
Islam met with less opposition in its
spread eastwards into INDIA, CHINA,
JAPAN and other SOUTH EAST ASIAN
countries.

4. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
SPREAD OF ISLAM
ISLAM is the 3rd greatest monotheistic religion to have sprung from the Semitic
peoples.
Established in the 7th century of the Christian era by the prophet MOHAMMED.
Islam flourished principally in the countries of south Asia & North Africa.
The spread of Islam has been frequently associated with
MILITARY CONQUEST
RACIAL MOVEMENTS
CONSEQUENT DISPLACEMENT OF ESTABLISHED
POPULATION.
The countries into which Islam spread were already rich with building tradition & the
important techniques of exploitation of natural resources & trade in building materials
had long been established.

5. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
Most of the territory under Islamic rule fell under a “CONTINENTAL” climate, with
extreme of temperature & modest rainfall.
CHRONOLOGY
622 A.D. - MOHAMMED moved from MECCA to MEDINA.
622-632 A.D. - MOHAMMED established the framework of Islam &
Set up the beginnings of the military organization
Changed with spreading the faith.
From 632A.D.onwards - Arabian tribes conquered Central Asia & progressed
rapidly towards the Atlantic.
A cultural link was always established with the
conquered land & the Arabian heath land -
the ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE to MECCA.
This did much to UNIFY the THOUGHT & ARCHITECTURE OF ISLAMIC PEOPLE.

6. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
ARABIC & OTHER MUSLIM CIVILIZATION
The land
ARABIA is a peninsula connected with both Africa & Asia, but geographically isolated.
The territory is usually rocky & barren, with a few oases in between.
There were a number of cities, but most of populations were migratory.
The people
The Arabs – Semitic by culture- loved warfare.
They were mystics, inclined to worship nature gods.
The typical Arab was an INDIVIDUALIST and SELF-RELIANT.
The religion
The common bond
They lacked the CENTRALIZED POLITICAL ORGANIZATION that is characteristic
of CIVILIZED SOCIETY.

7. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
A MOHAMMEDAN empire – not a country with well – defined boundaries, but
a collection of groups of people spread over broad territories & bound
together by a common devotion to a religious faith.
Fighting ceased for 4 months in each year, so that the faithful might Congregate
MECCA, where the KAABA, a sanctuary for the famous BLACK STONE
was a center of veneration.
 The people took advantage of this meeting to exchange wares & learning.
- Poets recited their verses. &
A general celebration was held, after which each group went it’s own way.

8. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
Political institutions
The ultimate authority was the CALIPH- successor of MOHAMMED & VICAR
of GOD on earth.
Usually he ruled in a very HIGH – HANDED & DICTATORIAL FASHION.
Economic life
The Arabs were a commercial people.
MOHAMMED was a merchant
KORAN showed a marked partiality towards tradesmen.
3 continents- AFRICA, ASIA & EUROPE were connected by ARABIC TRADE &
ARABIC was the language of commerce.
In their time, they were the leading agriculturists as well as producers of
manufactured goods.

9. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
Art
Muslims failed to develop a first – class art form.
The KORAN also imposed a limitation by prohibiting the representation of HUMAN
FIGURES.
Decorations consisted mainly of INTRICATE DESIGNS- often GEOMETRIC
PATTERNS - carved in WOOD & METAL.
Architecture
MOSQUES & PALACES were the chief architectural works.
Religious cults
The ARABIAN DESERT was the MOTHER of many RELIGIONS.
JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM and various other cults sprang up here.

10. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
ISLAM-THE RELIGION
ISLAM is the 3rd greatest monotheistic religion to have sprung from the Semitic peoples.
It is regarded as the natural successor to Judaism & Christianity & like them, it looks back
to the prophets & patriarchs common to both of them.
Its foundation was in essence an attempt to purify the established pattern of worship,
rejecting PAGANISM and providing a fundamental base for
“MONOTHEISM FREE OF IDOLATORY.”
“ISLAM” means, “surrender to God”.
“MUSLIM” is the word for one who professes the faith.
According to MOHAMMED, there is one merciful & compassionate GOD called ALLAH
and Mohammed is his prophet.
Mohammed has never claimed DIVINITY for himself; rather he has tried to established
himself as the prophet to whom god has made the complete revelation.

11. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
There are 3 works codifying ISLAM
KORAN - revelation through the Prophet.
HADITH - collection of his sayings
LAW - extracted from the prophet’s instruction, from tradition &
from example.
The Islamic faith produced in successive generations of its followers, a way of life and a
set of attitudes, which had great influence on their architecture.
Effects of these beliefs on ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE.
There is no essential differentiation in techniques between buildings of a RELIGIOUS
NATURE and others.
Important architectural endeavor is normally expended on buildings having a direct social
or community purpose, including that of worship.

12. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
Decorations tend towards the ABSTRACT, using GEOMETRIC, CALLIGRAPHIC
and plant motifs, with a preference for a uniform field of decoration, rather than a foal
element.
CHARACTER OF ISLAM
The form of worship is much simpler.
There are no priests.
The mosque is a place for prayer & reading the KORAN, rather than for a formal
service.
It is a personal & individualistic religion. The faithful Mohammedan needs no
intermediary between himself and his god.

13. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
MORAL PRINCIPLES
A TRUE MUSLIM should observe certain moral principles.
Reverence to parents.
Justice to all.
Charity to poor & destitute.
Honesty.
Frugality.
Abstention from drinking & gambling.

14. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
FIVE DUTIES
Certain duties are prescribed for a true Muslim
 Pray 5 times a day - SALAT
 Reading of KORAN - HADITH
 Giving 1/40th of one’s wealth every year as charity – ZAKAT
 Holding “ROZA” (fast during day) in the month of RAMZAN – SAWN
 Going to MECCA once in life time - HAJ
These are commonly called as the “FIVE PILLARS” of ISLAM.
A TRUE MUSLIM must be prepared to defend his FAITH even at the cost of his LIFE.