Islamic architecture: Islamic architecture analysis

Introduction

We were assigned to analyze buildings based on the Islamic principles implemented in structures. Here are few examples relating to Syria and Iraq timeline:

The Grand Mosque of Damascus

Figure 1: Great mosque of Damascus

During the first decade of the eight century, the Umayyad caliph Al-Walid bin Abd Al-Malik is said to have addressed the damascene masses in the following terms: “Inhabitants of Damascus, four things give you a marked superiority over the rest of the world: your climate, your water, your fruits and your paths. To these I wanted to add a fifth: This mosque.”

The Grand Mosque of Damascus, known more commonly as the Umayyad Mosque, The Great Mosque of Damascus is the first monumental work of architecture in Islamic history; the building served as a central gathering point after Mecca to consolidate the Muslims in their faith and conquest to rule the surrounding territories under the Umayyad Caliphate.

Its renowned medieval manuscripts reinforced the Umayyad mosque’s religious significance, and ranked as one of the wonders of the world due to it is beauty and scale of construction.

Umayyad Mosque in Syria is dated back to 1200 years BC, Where this place was a temple of the god "Haddad-Raman" the god of fertility and thunder and rain, When the Romans entered Damascus, they built a temple to the god Jupiter, and still has it’s lingering views which can be seen from the harem souk area to the Qaimariya area. When Rome converted to Christianity, the Church of John the Baptist was held in the North Western region of the temple. And when the Muslims entered Damascus, they shared the site of the church into two parts: the eastern section to become for Muslims and the western part to become for the Christians. And when Al-Walid bin Abd Al-Malik took the succession in 705, he wanted to build a mosque that has no parallel in the East, and Christians satisfy to sell the other half of the church in return for the Church of Ananias and other rights. Benefiting from what is existed, Al-Walid began building the mosque and re-forms the existence part of the church into an Islamic form and decorated with mosaics, miniatures and engravings. And it was one of the best-decorated mosques in the history of Islam. The Umayyad Mosque has the first minaret in Islam named Minaret of the “Arous” which means “Bride”. Today, the mosque has three 'minarets, four gates and a large dome called dome of the eagle, it also has three domes in the courtyard, four niches and huge murals of mosaics and also halls and museum. Inside the mosque, there is a tomb of Prophet Yahya (John the Baptist) and beside him the hero Saladin.

The Umayyad mosque tends to portray the principle of unity and uni-city of Allah “Tawhid” as it follows the ideas of the Prophet Mohammed mosque of in Medina and the mosque stands on a sight surrounded by the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world which shows unity and uni-city for the city

Figure 2: Schematics of the mosque

Also the principle of respect “Ihtiram” has been known as symbolism, harmony and purity of geometry, which can be seen on the wall detail inside the mosque.

Figure 3: Details of the Mosque represent Ihtiram

And the principle of sincerity “Ikhlas” which can be known as the integration of mathematics: embodiment of geometric proportion, harmony and balance which can be seen on the “Mehrab” and also on the path to the doors inside the mosque.

Figure 4: Principles of Ikhlas

The principle of pursuit of knowledge “Ilm” which can be defined as architecture of inscriptions by calligraphy, Arabic language or reveal Ilm & wisdom word of quran. And also by using the light as expression that illuminating affects of sunrays & moon light which can be seen on the doors and windows of the mosque.

Figure 5: principal of Ilm

The principle of remembrance “Dikr” can be defined as rhythmic precision mirrored in the contemplative chanting of God’s innumerable attributes “Dikr” which can be found on the dome and panels inside the mosque.