Islamic Architecture

-needs to be redefined

Prof. (Dr.) S. M. Akhtar

Professor & Dean Faculty of Architecture & Ekistics

Jamia Millia Islamia New Delhi-110025 India

Ph Fax+91 11 26983169 <drsmakhtar@gmail.com>

Abstract

Architecture got evolved with evolution of civilization and will continue till the end of the civilization, and it spreads over the whole civilization where ever it exists on the surface of the earth.  In the academic pursuit it is identified, classified and named either with the period of its creation or with the place that is location of its existence or origin.

But naming Architecture after a religion becomes very complex. Apparent feature of Architecture and Vocabulary that is Architectural Expression keeps Changing with times and place, where as religion has universal as well eternal timeless connotation.

So to relate Architecture with a Religion the parameters need to be explored, and bench marks of their interrelation ship needs to be matched. For this Architecture needs to be analytically explored to set the traits to match with a religion.

Architecture is commonly defined by four “Ps”,  P1- Place, P2- People, P3 –Period, P4 -Purpose, in common parlance, Architecture is named after the place or period. Both these attributes can be placed within the fold of P-1 and P-3 at the most to P-2.

Whereas Islam is a philosophy, Islam is a way to live. Islam which is eternal, for all times, -yesterday, -today, and tomorrow,  which is for the whole universe, which is for the global society.

There is another fifth ‘P’ beyond these Four ‘Ps’ to complete the expression of Architecture that is ‘P5’ -Philosophy. In common parlance when it is referred as ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE, it gets confined to a set type of Architectural Vocabulary which were in vogue during a particular period, and to a particular region.  When it is attributed to those two parameters Islamic get confined to a period or a region which is a paradox.  Islamic Architecture must be driven by Islamic way of life and be defined with the Islamic Philosophy in the Architectural expression. That is the interface on P-5.

The tenets of Islam that are truthfulness, modesty, functionality, discipline, order and should have the universal application for the contemporary society and for the future civilization. This should not be confined to what had happened during the Medieval Period. Islamic Architecture can not be confined to nostalgia.

Paper

Probably the term Islamic Architecture was coined by people from outside the Islamic world, who were just exploring an alien domain, totally unaware, having neither insight nor understanding of the term Islam. So the term Islamic Architecture got highly miscarried and mis-conceptualized. That was the time just after the resurgence of the British Power on the global level and diminishing dominance of the Islamic world over cultural and political arena in the global society. And those misconceptions got endorsed and propagated till the dominance of British Power continued.

20^th century was dominantly marked with nostalgia of Islamic Architecture which was more Islamic Archeology than Islamic Architecture. Consciously or sub-consciously it was in the mind of the British scholars who were dominating the academics also at that time that Islam in some thing of past, precisely of Medieval Period which was often referred as “Dark Age” by them. 

If that perception is taken then further the questions  are whether the Architecture of Arab region, Persian region, Asian region, South Asian region or East Asian region, which one should be called Islamic Architecture? Was the world beyond these regions untouched with Islamic Architecture? Or on the other side the Architecture of 7^th century, 8^Th or 9^Th or 10^th or 11^th …….or 18^th century be Called Islamic Architecture and after 18^th century it was a dead end for Islamic Architecture.

By the mid of 20^th century the British powers lost the Political dominance, but it took another half century to over come their academic and cultural dominance. Now with the emergence of 21^st century lot of things are getting re-explored, redefined and reoriented. So is the case with Islamic Architecture, it needs to be redefined to reorient, for which it needs to be re-explored with right context from with in.

Now there is a desperate hunch to evolve a definition for Islamic Architecture or frame the traits for defining Islamic Architecture. But all these attempts are landing in more and more confused state as reflected in this quote by some researcher of Islamic Architecture;

“I was, and still am, fascinated by the incredible design, engineering and language of Islamic architecture and arts. As I look at this Web Page about Islamic architecture, I kept asking myself what makes architecture Islamic?:

§  If Islamic architecture exists, then I must explain and define the qualities and features that set architecture in the Islamic world apart from other architecture

Though right now much clarity is not insight, but it is at the verge of emergence. As a first step the line between the past and future is to be drawn. And it is to be reaffirmed that there is a space and need for identification of Contemporary Islamic Architecture to serve the contemporary global society. A living society can not live with a Stagnant Architecture. A society can not be vibrant without a Reverberant Architecture.

Architecture too needs to be analytically defined to frame it with Islam to phrase it as Islamic Architecture. A clear line is to be drawn between Islamic Archaeology and Islamic Architecture, because Archaeology is what that has been past, and Architecture is what that is present and future, so a living religion can not be cascaded to confine with past. Islam is a living vibrant religion of large global society of today and of the future, so the Islamic Architecture too has to be contemporary and living for today and for future.

Truly speaking Islamic Architecture is more relevant today than it was in the past. Because today society has moved much closer to objective set forth 1400 years ago. As the Islam is for the Masses, today economy too has moved from feudal and elites and aristocrats to Masses.  Architecture is no more confined to rich of the society alone, now there is Architecture for Masses which is much closer to Islamic aspiration. Similarly holy Koran gives lot of emphasis on nature and natural resources, today’s environmental and energy concerns are not only of utmost importance but are highly critical for the human survival.

Architecture got evolved with evolution of civilization and will continue till the end of the civilization, and spans over the whole civilization on the surface of the earth.  In the academic pursuit it is identified, classified and named either with the period of its creation or with the place that is location of its existence or origin.

But naming Architecture after a religion becomes very complex. Apparent feature of Architecture and Vocabulary that is Architectural Expression keeps Changing with times and place, where as religion has universal as well as eternal timeless connotation.

So to relate Architecture with a Religion the parameters need to be explored, and bench marks of their interrelationship needs to be matched. For this Architecture it self needs to be analytically explored to set the traits to match with a religion.

Architecture is commonly defined by four “Ps”,  P1- Place, P2- People, P3 –Period, P4 -Purpose, in common parlance, Architecture is named after the place or period. Both these attributes can be placed within the fold of P-1 and P-3 at the most to P-2.

Whereas Islam is a philosophy, Islam is a way to live. Islam which is eternal, for all times, -yesterday, -today, and tomorrow,  which is for the whole universe, which is for the global society.

There is another fifth ‘P’ beyond these Four ‘Ps’ to complete the expression of Architecture that is ‘P5’ -Philosophy. In common parlance when it is referred as ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE, it gets confined to a set type of Architectural Vocabulary which were in vogue during a particular period, and to a particular region.  When it is attributed to those two parameters Islam get confined to a period or to a region which is a paradox.  Islamic Architecture must be driven by Islamic way of life and be defined with the Islamic Philosophy in the Architectural expression. That is the interface with P-5 that is philosophy precisely Islamic Philosophy.

The tenets of Islam that are truthfulness, modesty, functionality, discipline, order and should have the universal application for the contemporary society and for the future civilization.

Historically with the revelation of Holy Koran and advent of Islam prophet Mohammed PBUH himself brought the most diverse cultures and peoples together. "The concept of “Unity in Multiplicity” is the determining factor in integrating Islamic societies’ which lead to spread of Islam from one end to other end of the world in a very short span of time. “Equality Amongst All” and recognition of “Human Rights” provided the way for integrated universal society under the Islamic philosophy and practices.

Throughout history the Architecture of the Islamic world adapted and responded to different cultures and existing vernacular traditions of buildings with infusing strong order and discipline imbibing the soul of Islamic Philosophy and practice. Here I quote from my on paper presented during IAAC-2007 at New Delhi.

‘When the Term Islamic Architecture is accepted , it implies that It has to do with architecture  representing Islamic philosophy and symbolizing Islamic way of living, which is universal and that is for the global society, as well that has to be eternal, that is relevant for all times which have been passed and which will come as future. In this context it is to be seen that the four elements of Architecture that are defined as People, Period, Place and Purpose are complemented with a fifth element, which encompasses all these four elements that is “Philosophy’. The Architecture which imbibes the basic philosophy of Islam can be termed “ISLAMIC Architecture”.

Islam is a philosophy and a way of life, having emphasis on pluralistic living and universal brotherhood, harmony, rhythm, discipline, order, human value, simplicity and truthfulness. Complementing to these virtues of Islamic Philosophy and way of life, the magnetism of Islamic Architecture is in its pluralistic expression, strong discipline, scale, purity reflected in geometry, truthfulness of form and functionality, clarity of expression. It has no scope for falsification, camouflaging and arrogance,   Islam draw a very fine line between ‘Pride’ and ‘Proud’.

Care for Nature is the biggest issue of contemporary architecture, which is very well dealt and dwelt in Islamic commands,   Nature in its all dimension and form, from rational use of natural resources, to environment safe guard, ecology protection, and energy efficiency, economy. The tools and practices in vogue today to counter the environmental challenges may fail to deliver any effective results or prove fraudulent. But true Islamic Architecture definitely holds effective safeguards and answers to all of these challenges.

Functionality is another strong element of Islamic Architecture, which is one of the foremost element of the contemporary Architecture. As an example, take a minaret in a mosque, it got evolved out of functional need, not just as an expression of might, it role still remains to beacon.

There are many more direct sources for giving direction for the Architecture in Islamic Philosophy and way of living, They needs continuous exploration interpretation and adaptation. Like the Holy Quran it self which is for all times, so it keep revealing itself continuously with changing time and context, and it remains up to date and relevant for all times. Similarly the Islamic Architecture has to be up to date and relevant for all times and for all situations and context. It should not be confined to what had happened during the Medieval Period, Islamic Architecture can no more remain confined to nostalgia. The echo of Islamic Architecture (Archeology) may continue but the Islamic Architecture must resonate with the contemporary society. 

This has become more relevant today for the global society, as today’s architecture is heading with total aimlessness and hollowness, total confusion with shallow mirage chasing and arrogance. Totally defying and mutilating the nature, confused and camouflaged. It has become a challenge for architecture fraternity to steer the dynamic of today’s Architecture with more rational approach and Islamic Architecture is the way.

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Prof. S.M.Akhtar-Islamic Architecture-needs to be redefined- ICIAA 2008 Lahore.pdf