Mosque Architecture (NO. 10): A REVIEW OF THE ARTICLE: DOES ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE REFLECT ISLAM (FAITH)? —THE MISCONCEPTION AND FALLACY OF THE ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

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It has been a long fact-finding quest for more supportive and concordant ideas from   scholarly articles on mosque architecture. These corroborating facts are necessary for further enlightenment on the subject, and making a clearer study case.

In this piece, I would like to present a review-like approach on a paper presented at the “UIA 2017 Seoul World Architects Congress”, with a topic, Does Islamic Architecture reflect Islamic Faith? -

“Does Islamic Architecture Reflect Islam (Faith)?” ??2017-09-19“Does Islamic Architecture Reflect Islam (Faith)? - [PDF Document]
https://vdocuments.net/p-0263-does-islamic-architecture-reflect-islam-faith-2017-09-19does.html

To my understanding, the paper has succeeded in elaborating, what should be the right concept of architecture by Muslims that need to be in line with the deen. In fact, the concept of Historicism in arts and architecture of the Muslim world, should also be instituted on a new foundation.

The purview of the paper:

It touches on the Islamic architecture as a whole. But, giving special attention to mosque architecture, as it forms the main component and in fact, as the cynosure of study and the centre of admiration or attention of the Islamic architecture.

The paper reveals what are the relationships between Islamic Architecture and Islam, and how those buildings and features became or known as Islamic is the core matter that it pursues to conduct an inquiry into it.

It also inquires into what guidelines of the Islamic faith have represented in Islamic Architectures. Eventually, it will try to draw an outline where those buildings or features are parallel or contrast to the faith of Islam or otherwise.

The following are some take-home messages from the paper: 

  • A clear message, “Mosque should not be monumental and highly decorative. However, not all Mosques follow these guidelines. Some famous mosques like Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi; Vakil Mosque in Shiraz are highly decorative. Faisal Mosque in Pakistan and Cologne central mosque in Germany, are quite monumental. On the other hand, some well-known mosque like Chandgaon Mosque in Bangladesh and Da Chang Muslim Cultural Centre in China; are quite impressive architectural design without compromising the faith values.”
  • An excellent verification where many people are mistaken. “Some buildings like Taj Mahal, well known as Islamic Architecture, have serious conflict with Islamic faith. Those buildings might be architecturally enriched and significant but calling them Islamic would be controversial.”
  • A clear understanding, “Ordinary buildings seem more Islamic than well-known Islamic Architectures; whereas Islam opposes exaggerations in life and living, give preference to afterlife over worldly life. Therefore, the term “Islamic Architecture” might be more rational to use for ordinary, simple and minimalistic buildings rather than for palace like structures.”
  • Be heedful of this, “Some Muslim rulers were highly influenced by some architectural practice from other religions and regions. Taj Mahal (tomb of Momotaz at Agra, India) considered as one of the icons of Islamic Architecture though it has no relation with Islamic Faith. Building activity over graves is not allowed in Islam. Prophet (pbuh) once ordered “that the elevated and elaborate graves, which had been built out of arrogance or for the purpose of glorifying someone and his status, should be levelled to the ground” ; on another occasion He mentioned that it is forbidden to plaster or construct any things over grave.”
  • Mazar (mausoleum) in the funerary architecture, is another type of buildings which are constructed over the grave of any pious person. It is very popular in the Indian subcontinent and also other Muslim countries as well. However, in Islam, Mazar related activities are considered as a sinful act. Unfortunately, this culture is flourishing day by day. According to the Prophet (pbuh), “those who make the grave a place of worship are the worse creation before Allah.
  • Mosque according to Islamic Guidelines as promulgated by the paper: “The mosque is the centre structure of Islam and Islamic Architecture. In holy Quran, Mosque is several times mentioned as the place of worship to the Creator. One should enter Mosque for seeking well-being in Here and Hereafter (2;114 & 5;02). On another place in Quran mention that Mosque should build on piety for the purposes of purifying believers, must not build to cause harm or disunion among the believers. (9;107). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) always encourages building mosque, one of his famous quotes “He who built a mosque for Allah, Allah would build a house for him in Paradise”. He discouraged making monumental mosques and encourages making it low in height and also said to keep it clean and perfumed. Though Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) allowed to decorate Mosque in some extent but discourages it most of the time, Prophet (pbuh) said that “It is not convenient for me to enter a home which is decorated excessively.” (Abu Dawud, Salat,12) According to Dr. Spahic Omar, “Obviously, due to the mosque's position in both society and every true believer's life, the Prophet (pbuh) was concerned about the theme of mosque decoration more than about the other aspects of Islamic built environment. In one of such traditions, he is reported to have said that whenever people's performance weakens, they then start decorating their mosques. (Sunan Ibn Majah).”
  • At the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Rashidun Caliphs, Mosques were a simple structure. But later people added many features in it which later become essential parts of Mosque Architecture. Among them, some early Mosques: Dome of the Rock and Qibli Mosque at Al-Aqsa Mosque site, the Great Mosque of Damascus and the Great Mosque of Samarra. The evolution of those early Mosques that are the Symbol of Islamic Architecture and its excessive decorations. Its architecture and mosaics were of influence. (This is what Rasulullah had said as in the Hadith about decorations imitating of the Christian and Jews). Raja ibn Haywah and Beit Shean were the Muslim engineers in charge of this masterpiece, influenced by nearby Byzantine churches and palace. The decorative arts slowly established by them, and they are the founder of calligraphy (Kufic), glass mosaics and vegetal and geometrical abstracts. The purest arabesque type decoration was firstly found in there. 

    CONCLUSION

    The paper suggests that it is imperative to justify and clarify the relations between Islam and Architecture before naming them Islamic. Failing which, most people would be misguided about religion through architecture. It is suggested that it would be better to call them something else not Islamic as religious guidelines and philosophies are ignored in some of those called as Islamic buildings.

    In fact the term ‘Muslim Architecture’ should be used instead of ‘Islamic Architecture’, because Islamic is attributed to a perfection and many seem to abuse and defaulted in using it, while a Muslim is subject to making some mistakes. One of the earliest architects who got the term right as Muslim architecture, was Sir Banister Fletcher in his book, A History of Architecture. Many later architects falter.

    Let this paper on ‘Does Islamic Architecture reflect Islamic Faith?’ helps to usher the right concept of the Muslim Architecture to be pursued by the Muslims globally, especially when building their mosques.




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