Is there Islamic Architecture?

[Olive touch]

Also here are some modern mosques which are part of the Islamic
architectures and it is influenced by old architectures with a modern twist:

In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia







image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


In Sudan



In Kuwait

[Muttie]

Originally Posted by Cyrus

I believe calling Persian, Byzantine and other architectures as Islamic architecture, is an insult to them, the architecture of Muslims can be seen in those tents of the Arabs in the desert, of course Arab tents were set up before Islam too but it is true that Muslims spread them to some other regions.

You totally ignore the alteration of these styles. Second, this response backs up my earlier remark about anti-Islamic sentiments. Thanks for proving my point.

Third Islamic architecture is an umbrella, it features styles from different Islamic civilizations. Thats why its called Islamic architecture. Its also called "Islamic architecture" because it often contains some distinct features, like caligraphy and returning patterns.

image hosted on flickr


This kind of style does not only apply to old buildings. Islamic architecture has evolved (just like any form of architecture) and has a modern touch these days. Still the distinct features are there: returning patterns etc. :

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

Marrakech airport 2 by Adam Fowler, on Flickr

[Cyrus]

Originally Posted by tpe

So do you agree that the mihrab is an architectural feature unique to Islam, and is not seen in Christian or Buddhist buildings?

Still not getting it?

You really don't know what Persian word Mihr (Old Persian Mithra) mean and who were Mihri (Mithraist)?!! What was the religion of Romans before Christianity? Do you know Parthians and about their religion? Do you know Mihrdad (Mithradates) the Great?

You can read here about an ancient Parthian Mihrab in Maraghe, northwest of Iran: http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Archae...hra_temple.htm



Altar or Mehrab (Mithraium) is a place which in Pre-Islamic Iran and Islamic period (Mihrab) is considered to be a window opening to God and the reality of this world. Also two braziers were placed on each side of the altar and statues were put around it. Between the altar and the entrance door, there was a corridor like a hall and if the temple was built in the Roman style, there were also long platforms on each side. Followers of Mithraism usually sat on these platforms and tables and the blessed food were placed in front of them.

More info about Mithraeum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraeum

[tpe]

Are you saying that a mihrab is equivalent to a Mithraic altar?

If so, then please name me ONE Mithraeum that was intentionally oriented towards MECCA (as is the case with all mihrabs).

Answer: there are NONE. Do not be ridiculous.

Moral of the story: do not confuse Etymology with Architecture.

Just because "Paradise" is derived for the Persian word for Garden does not mean that Heaven is LITERALLY a Persian Garden!

Originally Posted by Cyrus

You really don't know what Persian word Mihr (Old Persian Mithra) mean and who were Mihri (Mithraist)?!! What was the religion of Romans before Christianity? Do you know Parthians and about their religion? Do you know Mihrdad (Mithradates) the Great?

You can read here about an ancient Parthian Mihrab in Maraghe, northwest of Iran: http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Archae...hra_temple.htm



Altar or Mehrab (Mithraium) is a place which in Pre-Islamic Iran and Islamic period (Mihrab) is considered to be a window opening to God and the reality of this world. Also two braziers were placed on each side of the altar and statues were put around it. Between the altar and the entrance door, there was a corridor like a hall and if the temple was built in the Roman style, there were also long platforms on each side. Followers of Mithraism usually sat on these platforms and tables and the blessed food were placed in front of them.

More info about Mithraeum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraeum

[guy4versa4]

i really like islamic architecture..it like from heaven!some of good islamic architecture in malaysia
modern islamic architecture







tradition islamic architecture

[jb_nl]

There is very beautifull architecture in countries with an islamic background. And islam has influenced some religious buildings by their functions: like the waqf (charity, with fountains and schools) system and that mosques are built in the direction of mecca and have some aspects like the mihrab etc.

But as said, it is as impossible to say that a skyscraper in Rotterdam is christian or atheistic in essence like qasr il-3adam would be an islamic building. Yes it was built in an islamic area, so it's all about naming! Mostly we call something islamic when it was built in a region of which the majority is islamic or in a period in which it was islamic or when it was built by islamic craftsman. So that is what we mostly indicate by "islamic". But as said, objectively looking at most buildings (with the exception of some patterns, like mosque functions and waqf systems that are almost the same everywhere), there is nothing specificly islamic about it. A lot has been built or decorated by Byzantinian craftsmen (both in Syria, Palestina and Spain) in their own style, and as said, a lot of elements, like a high tower (minaret, originally same function as a church tower, to recognize it by it's elevation), decoration styles etc. have been lend from societies before islam came over there of have been taken over from others and evoled during some islamic empires and spread. Just like mostly with history, there are some changes in history, but a lot remains the same or gets adopted by the new dynasties, just the same was the case with the architectural styles the empires copied from their preceders when islamic rulers got in power.


So shortly said: if you see islamic architecture als architecture created in what we seem to call the islamic world and a mixture of styles in different areas during islamic empires, then yes, there is some kind of islamic architecture, even though it is very diverse. But if you would like a building in principle islamic atheistic or christian, then no, there isn't. A building doesn't have a religion, only the people who use it or made it.

[Muttie]

Originally Posted by jb_nl

There is very beautifull architecture in countries with an islamic background. And islam has influenced some religious buildings by their functions: like the waqf (charity, with fountains and schools) system and that mosques are built in the direction of mecca and have some aspects like the mihrab etc.

But as said, it is as impossible to say that a skyscraper in Rotterdam is christian or atheistic in essence like qasr il-3adam would be an islamic building. Yes it was built in an islamic area, so it's all about naming! Mostly we call something islamic when it was built in a region of which the majority is islamic or in a period in which it was islamic or when it was built by islamic craftsman. So that is what we mostly indicate by "islamic". But as said, objectively looking at most buildings (with the exception of some patterns, like mosque functions and waqf systems that are almost the same everywhere), there is nothing specificly islamic about it. A lot has been built or decorated by Byzantinian craftsmen (both in Syria, Palestina and Spain) in their own style, and as said, a lot of elements, like a high tower (minaret, originally same function as a church tower, to recognize it by it's elevation), decoration styles etc. have been lend from societies before islam came over there of have been taken over from others and evoled during some islamic empires and spread. Just like mostly with history, there are some changes in history, but a lot remains the same or gets adopted by the new dynasties, just the same was the case with the architectural styles the empires copied from their preceders when islamic rulers got in power.


So shortly said: if you see islamic architecture als architecture created in what we seem to call the islamic world and a mixture of styles in different areas during islamic empires, then yes, there is some kind of islamic architecture, even though it is very diverse. But if you would like a building in principle islamic atheistic or christian, then no, there isn't. A building doesn't have a religion, only the people who use it or made it.

In that case, even "Persian, Moroccan or Dutch" architecture is something which does not exist. A building does not have a nationality. Architecture is always man-made.

[jb_nl]

True, even between cities like Rotterdam and Amsterdam you can see different styles, because architecture is made by men and like men very organic and shifting. But just as with languages and how people look like: the closer things are to eachother the more they look like each other, while in isolated areas a distinct style (/language/cultural features, like on islands) may develop more easily. So just as the architecture in the south of Spain and Oujda, Tanja and Rabat look more like each other than the architecture of Tanja resembles that of Istanbul while Istanbul has much more in common with eastern European styles. Just like people: it's one big mix, and the closer to eachother, the more often they look more like each other.

[Cyrus]

There are no Islamic house, bridge, market, fortress, ..., there are a few Islamic buildings, like mosque and minaret, other religions have also some religious buildings, these buildings have some elements but are built in defferent architectural styles, and this architecture doesn't relate to just religion, it depends on the geographic location, the climate of the region, the culture of people who build them, and many other things, why you can't understand it?!!

[WaelJabir]

Actually I live in Sharjah, UAE and most of the buildings here are built on Islamic architecture.


Sharjah Municipality Building








Sharjah Souq (Market)



Sharjah Airport


Sharjah University



Even street lights

[guy4versa4]

yup..there are islamic architercture house,islamic architecture bridge and bla..bla..bla..what are u just list is type of building-house,tower bidge,fortress,mosque and also minaret.u still blind,thay why u cant identify type of building,style of building.islamic architecture exist..not just in mosque or minaret only..nowaday we can see islamic style in house,castle,bridge(in my photo list),skyscraper also have islamic style..first u need to seperate between islam religion and islamic world.its difrent,islamic world is consist of two elemant secular and religion..

[WaelJabir]

Also, this is a telecommunication company's HQ in Khartoum, Sudan.

[swerveut]

Originally Posted by Cyrus

You really don't know what Persian word Mihr (Old Persian Mithra) mean and who were Mihri (Mithraist)?!! What was the religion of Romans before Christianity? Do you know Parthians and about their religion? Do you know Mihrdad (Mithradates) the Great?

You can read here about an ancient Parthian Mihrab in Maraghe, northwest of Iran: http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Archae...hra_temple.htm


Altar or Mehrab (Mithraium) is a place which in Pre-Islamic Iran and Islamic period (Mihrab) is considered to be a window opening to God and the reality of this world. Also two braziers were placed on each side of the altar and statues were put around it. Between the altar and the entrance door, there was a corridor like a hall and if the temple was built in the Roman style, there were also long platforms on each side. Followers of Mithraism usually sat on these platforms and tables and the blessed food were placed in front of them.

More info about Mithraeum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraeum

You make it sound like all architecture came from Persia. I also know the persian word "Ab" which means water. So Mihr-ab from your concoction is Mithra's water.

Dude, get over your self! Not everything has a relation to Persia.
Mihrab is an Arabic word with Arabic etymology. It has nothing at all to do with Mitharium or what not. It doesnt even look like it!! If you look at wikipedia, it says this:
"The word mihrab originally had a non-religious meaning and simply denoted a special room in a house; a throne room in a palace,"

And lets say even if it was a Mitrhaist who made the first Mihrab. Does it matter? Not at all. It was in Islamic architecture and its adaptation to the mosque that made this architectural feature reach its zenith in terms of design and variation of forms. Really.

[end2012]

Christian Market, Buddhist Bridge, Jewish House.. Sounds stupid? Yes?

But Islamic Market. Okay! Islamic street lamp, Okay! Islamic footpath, Okay! All things belong to Islam!

[swerveut]

Originally Posted by nomarandlee

Saying that Mohammad commanded his fighters to fight "like hippies" is deeply patronizing and historically insulting among other fallacies in the article which I can't be arsed to go into.

Hippies here implies that they were ahead of time in their values and tolerance. I am a Muslim and I totally do not find that insulting. Rather, it is a complement.

Cheers.

[swerveut]

Originally Posted by end2012

Christian Market, Buddhist Bridge, Jewish House.. Sounds stupid? Yes?

But Islamic Market. Okay! Islamic street lamp, Okay! Islamic footpath, Okay! All things belong to Islam!

Wow! I have never heard of those either! Whoever made those up must be totally

Only though, if something is inspired by Islamic architectural forms or styles developed as a result of Islamic influence, it is only fair to call it Islamic architecture.

[Anabase]

Originally Posted by end2012

Christian Market, Buddhist Bridge, Jewish House.. Sounds stupid? Yes?

But Islamic Market. Okay! Islamic street lamp, Okay! Islamic footpath, Okay! All things belong to Islam!

Once again, Islam is not a religion like the others, it's also a culture. You'll never hear someone speaking about a christian finance, but there is an islamic one.

[end2012]

You have never heard? It is in this thread. See!

[Anabase]

Originally Posted by end2012

You have never heard? It is in this thread. See!

Christian finance, Christian bank, Buddhist economics? Where?

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by swerveut

Hippies here implies that they were ahead of time in their values and tolerance. I am a Muslim and I totally do not find that insulting. Rather, it is a complement.

Cheers.

Of course it would appeal to you because its a contrived historical whitewash!

That army was about as peace loving and "tolerant" as the Confederate army was progressive in racial acceptance.