ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

North Africa and Southern Asia

The Muslim faith flourished principally in the countries of

Marble

was generally available as an article of trade to the locality.

HAREM

A woman’s place was in the private part of the household-the

Types of Islamic Architecture

Mosque

Madrassa

Hammam

Caravanserai

Casbah/Citadel

Mausoleum

Mosque

place for worship

Madrassa

public school

Hammam

structural design for a hot bathhouse

Caravanserai

a roadside inn for travelers

Casbah/Citadel

a fortress

Mausoleum

tomb or a monument

salah

(prayer)

Masjid

Arabic word for the mosque for “a place of prostration” or bowing down to Allah.

Imam

“someone who stands in front”.

muezzin

calls Muslims to prayer from the minaret. He recites the adhan, or call to prayer, at set times.

Wudu

Muslims wash in a special sequence

MASHRABIYA

It is a type of projecting oriel window enclosed with carved wood latticework located on the secondary story of a building or higher lined with stained glass.

SAHN

Courtyard for prayers, they are usually big in area to accommodate people, combined with ablution.

mihrab

Part of a mosque, referring to a niche in the wall which points the worshipers toward Mecca.

MAQSURA

Enclosure in a mosque,situated near the mihrab and minbar, defined by a metal or timber screen, used by a ruler for the purpose of protection and status.

DIKKA

Is a term in Muslim architecture for a tribune raised upon columns from which the Qur’an is recited and prayers are intoned by the imam of a mosque.

MINBAR

Part of a mosque, referring to a “pulpit”, or a place from which a religious leader (an “imam”) speaks to the people. It looks something like a staircase.

qubba

The Arabic term for dome

PRAYER AREA/HALL

Main area top perform the congregational pray

RIWAQ

Is an arcade or portico open on at least one side. It often serves as the transition space between interior and outdoor spaces.

ARABESQUE

Designs of biomorphic, floral patterns representing the underlying order and unity of nature with a great deal of accuracy.

ARABESQUE

Also as Islimi.

The Kaaba

the “cubic” shrine in Mecca, the center of Islamic worship and the holiest place in Islam.

Medina

Burial Place of Muhammad

The Dome of the Rock

Built by the Caliph Abd al-Malik and completed in 691 A.D. The building encloses a huge rock located at its center from which the Prophet Muhammad ascended (went up) to heaven at the end of his Night Journey.

Muslims

People who follow the religion of Islam

Sufism

Muslim movement in year 900

Five Pillars of Islam

Shahadah
Salat

Zakat
Sawm

Hajj

Sharia

Their decisions filled in a set of laws

burka

Women are expected to be well covered

when they go outdoors. In some countries,

they have to wear a veil covering their body.

In Arab countries, such a covering

mosque

the traditional place of worship for Muslims.

Allah

is the Arabic word for God in Islam, representing the singular, all-powerful deity worshipped by Muslims.

Hegira

the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

India to Spain

Muslims ruled an empire that stretched from

Sunnis

focus on following the Prophet's example

Shias

focus on the lineage of Muhammad's family through a series of Imams.

Shahadah

sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith

Salat

performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times a each day.

Zakat

paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy.

Sawm

Fast from dawn to dusk during a month called Ramadan

Hajj

pilgrimage to Mecca

Qur’an

These practices (pillars) are based on the holy book of Islam

Friday

holy day, or day of worship.

Pisé walling

rammed earth walling, was almost universal in the alluvial plains.

metalwork

There was a long tradition of ceramic production, use of gypsum plasters, glass manufacture and the various forms of _______ needed for buildings.

‘continental’

Muslim world lies within a grip of some form of ______ climate, with extremes of temperature and modest rainfall.

Window openings

are minimized and rainwater disposal neglected.

Cooling effect

of structures with very heavy walls and high rooms has been widely exploited.

men

Public life was reserved for

Women

played a secondary role.

Prophet

Government was normally direct, the law was based on the teachings of the ____

Mecca

main religious centers

Hadith

is a collection of his sayings or injunctions.

Human and animal forms

rarely depicted in decorative art as Allah's work is matchless.

Calligraphy

used to enhance the interior of a building by providing quotations from the Qur'an.

convey power

Use of impressive forms such as large domes, towering minarets, and large courtyards are intended

MOORISH ARCHITECTURE

added horseshoe arches, interlacing arches, and elements also used in other Spanish Revival styles like courtyards and tilework.

Mozarabic Style

horseshoe-shaped arch and the ribbed dome.”

MUDEJAR ARCHITECTURE

an extremely refined and inventive use of brick and glazed tiles in architecture, especially in the belfries.”

SELJUK ARCHITECTURE

unusual plan consisting of a domed hall, standing on arches with three open sides giving it the kiosk character.

OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURE

characterized by as pointed arches, tile decoration, wide roof overhangs with brackets, and domes were retained.”

OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURE

characterized by as pointed arches, tile decoration, wide roof overhangs with brackets, and domes were retained.”

Ablution Room

A space in Islamic architecture designed for ritual washing before prayers, often featuring basins and distinct architectural elements.

qibla

wall is the wall in a mosque that faces Mecca.

rak’ah

a special sequence of movements and verses from the Qur’an

Prayer mats

have an arch design on them, which is pointed in the direction of Mecca.

compass

used to find the qibla--the direction of Mecca--so that Muslims can pray to face the right way.

prayer cap

usually worn by men as a sign of modesty and humility.

prayer beads

are used to help Muslims recite all the names of Allah.

pishtaq

Persian term for a portal projecting from the façade of a building,