Islamic Architecture
a) Evolution of Islamic architecture
Early Islamic architecture was influenced
by Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Mesopotamian architecture and all other lands which
the Early Muslim conquests conquered in the seventh and eighth centuries.
The principal Islamic architectural types for large or public buildings are:
Mosque
sharjah grand mosque,
Dubai
Tomb or mausoleum complexes
Humayun Tomb,
Delhi
Palace
Alcazar of Seville,
Spain
Fort
Red Fort,
Delhi
Madrassahs (theological schools)
Old Madrasah,
Tashkent
Khanqahs (monasteries)
Khanqah-e-Habibiya,
Pakistan
b) Features of a typical mosque, principles & influences
The mosque is the Muslim gathering place for prayer.
The three main types of mosques (As per architectural planning):
Hypostyle Mosque
Four Iwan Mosque
Centrally Planned Mosque
(No open space or
courtyard)
Four Iwan plan was originated in Iran but this has become the new plan for mosques all
over the Islamic world, used widely from India to Cairo and replacing the hypostyle
mosque in many places.
The main architectural components of a mosque are:
1. Minaret
A minaret is a slim tower with balconies or open
galleries from which a mosque's muezzin calls
the faithful to prayer five times each day.
Minarets may be square, round, hexagonal,
octagonal, or even spiral and they are usually
covered with a pointed roof.
2. Dome
Mosques are decorated with a dome
rooftop, particularly in the Middle
East.
The interior of a dome is usually
highly decorated with floral,
geometric and other patterns.
The main dome of a mosque usually
covers the main prayer hall of the structure.
3. Iwan
An iwan is a rectangular hall or space, usually
vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end
entirely open.
Openings are usually decorated with
calligraphy bands, glazed tilework, and
geometric designs.
4. Mihrab
The mihrab is an ornamental,
semi-circular groove in the wall
of the prayer room of a mosque
that marks the direction of
the qiblah—the direction facing
Mecca which Muslims face
during prayer.
Mihrabs vary in size and color,
but they are usually shaped like
a doorway and decorated with
mosaic tiles and calligraphy to
make space stand out.
5. Minbar
The minbar is a raised platform
in the front area of a mosque
prayer hall, from which
speeches are given. The
minbar is usually made of
carved wood, stone, or brick. It
includes a short staircase
leading to the top platform,
which is sometimes covered by
a small dome.
6. Ablution Tank
Ablutions (ritual washing) are part of the
preparation for Muslim prayer.
Sometimes a space for ablutions is set
aside in a restroom or fountain-like
structure along a wall or in a courtyard.
7. Arches
Islamic arches are categorized into four main styles:
Pointed
Ogee
The ogee arch is similar to the pointed arch. However, its point is composed of two
s-shaped lines, culminating in more twisting lines.
Horseshoe
The horseshoe arch is associated with Moorish architecture. As its crown can be
either rounded or pointed, this type of structure is defined by the dramatic widening and
narrowing of its sides.
Multifoil - This arch features multiple foils, or “leaves,” resulting in a scalloped
shape
.
8. Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a form of art that is considered as one of the most important and sacred
forms of Islamic art.
c) Construction techniques
1. Dome Construction
Single dome layout (nuclear dome layout)
Earring layout (pendentive layout)
Multiple dome layout
Multiple dome layout, Murat Pasha Mosque
2. Minaret Construction
Types of Geometric
patterns used in planning
of Islamic minarets
d) Imperial Style (Delhi Sultanate)
The Delhi Sultanate ruled the territory of Delhi between 1206 and 1526 CE.
The five dynasties included:
the Mamluk Dynasty (1206–1290)
the Khilji Dynasty (1290–1320)
the Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414)
the Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451)
the Afghan Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526)
Slave Dynasty
Slave Dynasty was called as mamulak dynasty.
This dynasty first started converting the existing Hindu structures into mosques.
Quwaat-ul-Islam mosque
Qutub minar
Arhai din ka jhopra
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e) Provincial Islamic Styles –Development of mosques
& tomb
The eight principle provincial styles which had significant regional manifestation of
the Islamic Architecture of India chronologically are as follows:
Punjab.
Bengal.
Gujarat.
Jaunpur.
Malwa.
Deccan.
Bijapur and Khandesh.
Kashmir.
f) Structures Qutab Complex at Delhi
QUTUB MINAR The Qutb Minar is the
tallest minaret in India.
In the 12th and 13th century, The Alai Darwaza, bears
Qutb-ud-Din Aibak and his the first surviving true
successors built this grand dome in India.
tower to celebrate the victory of
Muhammad Gauri on
Rajputs.
It was built using red sandstone
and marble.
Inscriptions record that 27
Hindu and Jain temples were
torn down and used for its
creation.
The height of the tower is 238’.
The tower was originally four
storeys high with a domed roof.
Storey
Each storey has a different pattern in
plan.
First storey- Alternate wedge shaped and
round projections
Second storey- Circular projections
Third storey- Star shaped
Fourth storey- Round
Balconies
Each storey has a balcony around it.
The balustrade around the balcony
originally showed merlons
called kanjuras.
The balconies are supported by stalactite
vaulting, represented by clusters of
miniature arches with brackets in
between, influenced by the tracery of
temple ceilings.
Material Specification
Fluted columns on the exterior, which have a 40 cm thick veneer of red and buff
colored sandstone.
Lime mortar and rubble masonry.
The building material absorbs the tremors; it is also built on rocky soil, which further
protects it during earthquakes.
The intricate balconies
held together
by stalactite
vaulting technique and
patterned with honey
combing is a special
feature of the minar.
Alai Darwaza
The Alai Darwaza is a main gateway from southern side of the Quwwat-ul-Islam
Mosque.
It was built by the Ala-ud-din Khalji in 1311 AD.
Alai Darwaza was the earliest example of first true arches and true domes in India.
The domed gateway is decorated with red sandstone and inlaid white marble
decorations, inscriptions in Naskh script.
The Darwaza measuring 17.3 x 17.3 m externally and 10.5 x 10.5 m internally.
The Shallow dome 14.1 m high mounting over a huge ornamental octagonal base
having a central knob.
Its interior fringed with embellishment of lotus buds.
The Darwaza had arched openings designed in pointed Moorish horseshoe shaped
styles on all the sides except the northern side where the arch was semi circular.
QUWWAT-UL-ISLAM MOSQUE
Built by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak in Qila Rai Pithora, the ancient Hindu citadel.
Built on the plinth of a Hindu temple which was dismantled.
The plinth was expanded to cover a rectangle of 150' X 212'.
This stylobate was then enclosed by a wall with cloisters on all sides.
Cloisters
Cloisters were three aisles deep.
Composed of pillars from Hindu
temples, placed one above the
other to achieve the desired
height
Sanctuary
The western part of the cloister
was the sanctuary.
The arrangement of the pillars
was made more spacious and
resolved into a series of bays with
shallow domed roofs.
Courtyard
The courtyard is 105' X 141',
surrounded by cloisters.
In the front of the centre of the
sanctuary stands the iron pillar with
the Garuda motif removed from its
pinnacle.
Screen (Maqsura)
In 1199, a screen of an arched facade
was added across the front of the sanctuary.
The screen is a wall of masonry 50' high at the centre, 108' wide and 81/2' thick.
The screen is pierced by 5 arches, the central arch 45' high and 22' in span and two
smaller ones on each side, each 25' high.
Each smaller arch had a clerestory above it, mainly for decorative purposes as it did not
serve in any way the sanctuary behind it.
The facade is embroidered with carvings of floral devices and Quranic verses.
The arches are not true arches but built by corbelling, hence we know they were built by
local workmen acting on verbal instructions from a Muslim clerk of works.
The ogee shape of the arch may be derived from the Buddhist caves of the Barahar hills
of Bihar and the Stupas of Sarnath.
Iron pillar
The pillar is 7.21-metre high and weighing
more than six tones.
It was originally erected by Chandragupta
II Vikramaditya (375–414 AD) in front of a
Vishnu Temple complex at Udayagiri around
402 AD.
The pillar bears an inscription
in Sanskrit in Brahmi script.
ALAI MINAR OF KHALJI
Sources and References:
1. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-islam/beginners-guide-islamic-
world-art/beginners-guide-islamic-art/a/common-types-of-mosque-architecture
2. https://www.learnreligions.com/parts-of-a-mosque-2004464
3. https://www.britannica.com/topic/mosque
4. http://factsanddetails.com/world/cat55/sub358/item1447.html#chapter-3
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_architecture#Characteristics
6. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islamic-architecture
7. https://mymodernmet.com/islamic-architecture/
8. https://sunderdeep.ac.in/islamic-architecture-introduction-origin/
9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095263513000502
10. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Type-of-Islamic-Geometrical-Patterns_fi
g5_305041390
11. https://www.examrace.com/Study-Material/Indian-Art-and-Culture/Delhi-Sult
anate-Imperial-Style.html
12. http://islamicarchitectureinindia.weebly.com
