{"id":803,"date":"2015-10-08T20:16:22","date_gmt":"2015-10-08T20:16:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/zelixart101\/?post_type=chapter&p=803"},"modified":"2015-10-26T23:58:02","modified_gmt":"2015-10-26T23:58:02","slug":"mosque-architecture","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/atd-herkimer-arthistory1\/chapter\/mosque-architecture\/","title":{"raw":"Mosque Architecture","rendered":"Mosque Architecture"},"content":{"raw":"From Indonesia to the United Kingdom, the mosque in its many forms is the quintessential Islamic building. The mosque, masjid<\/i> in Arabic, is the Muslim gathering place for prayer.Masjid<\/i> simply means \u201cplace of prostration.\u201d Though most of the five daily prayers prescribed in Islam can take place anywhere, all men are required to gather together at the mosque for the Friday noon prayer.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_804\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"560\"]\"The Figure 1. Mimar Sinan, courtyard of the S\u00fcleymaniye Mosque, \u0130stanbul, 1558[\/caption]\r\n\r\nMosques are also used throughout the week for prayer, study, or simply as a place for rest and reflection. The main mosque of a city, used for the Friday communal prayer, is called a jami masjid<\/i>, literally meaning \u201cFriday mosque,\u201d but it is also sometimes called a congregational mosque in English. The style, layout, and decoration of a mosque can tell us a lot about Islam in general, but also about the period and region in which the mosque was constructed.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_805\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]\"A Figure 2. Diagram reconstruction of the Prophet's House, Medina, Saudi Arabia[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe home of the Prophet Muhammad is considered the first mosque. His house, in Medina in modern-day Saudi Arabia, was a typical seventh-century Arabian style house, with a large courtyard surrounded by long rooms supported by columns. This style of mosque came to be known as a hypostyle mosque, meaning \u201cmany columns.\u201d Most mosques built in Arab lands utilized this style for centuries.\r\n

Common Features<\/h2>\r\nThe architecture of a mosque is shaped most strongly by the regional traditions of the time and place where it was built. As a result, style, layout, and decoration can vary greatly. Nevertheless, because of the common function of the mosque as a place of congregational prayer, certain architectural features appear in mosques all over the world.\r\n

Sahn (Courtyard)<\/h2>\r\nThe most fundamental necessity of congregational mosque architecture is that it be able to hold the entire male population of a city or town (women are welcome to attend Friday prayers, but not required to do so). To that end congregational mosques must have a large prayer hall. In many mosques this is adjoined to an open courtyard, called a sahn<\/i>. Within the courtyard one often finds a fountain, its waters both a welcome respite in hot lands, and important for the ablutions (ritual cleansing) done before prayer.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_806\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"560\"]\"An Figure 3. Mihrab & minbar, Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Cairo, 1356\u201363 (photo: Dave Berkowitz, CC BY 2.0)[\/caption]\r\n

Mihrab (Niche)<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_807\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]\"This Figure 4. Mihrab, Great Mosque of Cordoba, c. 786 (photo: Bongo Vongo, CC BY-SA 2.0)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nAnother essential element of a mosque\u2019s architecture is a mihrab<\/i>\u2014a niche in the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca, towards which all Muslims pray. Mecca is the city in which the Prophet Muhammad was born, and the home of the most important Islamic shrine, the Kaaba. The direction of Mecca is called the qibla<\/i>, and so the wall in which the mihrab<\/i> is set is called the qibla<\/i> wall. No matter where a mosque is, its mihrab indicates the direction of Mecca (or as near that direction as science and geography were able to place it). Therefore, a mihrab<\/i> in India will be to the west, while a one in Egypt will be to the east. A mihrab<\/i> is usually a relatively shallow niche, as in the example from Egypt, above. In the example from Spain, shown right, the\u00a0mihrab<\/i>\u2019s niche takes the form of a small room, this is more rare.\r\n

Minbar <\/i>(Pulpit)<\/h2>\r\nThe minbar<\/i> is often located on the qibla<\/i> wall to the right of the mihrab<\/i>. A minbar<\/i> is a pulpit from which the Friday sermon is delivered. Simple minbars<\/i> consist of a short flight of stairs, but more elaborate examples may enclose the stairway with ornate panels, doors, and a covered pulpit at the top.\r\n

Minaret <\/i>(Tower)<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_809\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]\"A Figure 5. Mimar Sinan, Minaret, S\u00fcleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul, 1558[\/caption]\r\n\r\nOne of the most visible aspects of mosque architecture is the minaret<\/i>, a tower adjacent or attached to a mosque, from which the call to prayer is announced. Minarets take many different forms\u2014from the famous spiral minaret of Samarra, to the tall, pencil minarets of Ottoman Turkey. Not solely functional in nature, the minaret serves as a powerful visual reminder of the presence of Islam.\r\n

Qubba <\/i>(Dome)<\/i><\/h2>\r\nMost mosques also feature one or more domes, called qubba<\/i> in Arabic. While not a ritual requirement like the mihrab, a dome does possess significance within the mosque\u2014as a symbolic representation of the vault of heaven. The interior decoration of a dome often emphasizes this symbolism, using intricate geometric, stellate, or vegetal motifs to create breathtaking patterns meant to awe and inspire. Some mosque types incorporate multiple domes into their architecture (as in the Ottoman S\u00fcleymaniye Mosque pictured at the top of the page), while others only feature one. In mosques with only a single dome, it is invariably found surmounting the qibla wall, the holiest section of the mosque. The Great Mosque of Kairouan, in Tunisia (not pictured) has three domes: one atop the minaret<\/i>, one above the entrance to the prayer hall, and one above the qibla<\/i> wall.\r\n\r\nBecause it is the directional focus of prayer, the qibla<\/i> wall, with its mihrab<\/i> and minbar<\/i>, is often the most ornately decorated area of a mosque. The rich decoration of the qibla<\/i> wall is apparent in this image of the mihrab<\/i> and minbar<\/i> of the Mosque of Sultan Hasan in Cairo, Egypt (see image higher on the page).\r\n

Furnishings<\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_810\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]\"The Figure 6. Mosque lamp, 14th century, Egypt or Syria, blown glass, enamel, gilding, 31.8 \u00d7 23.2 cm (Metropolitan Museum of Art)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThere are other decorative elements common to most mosques. For instance, a large calligraphic frieze or a cartouche with a prominent inscription often appears above the mihrab<\/i>. In most cases the calligraphic inscriptions are quotations from the Qur\u2019an<\/i>, and often include the date of the building's dedication and the name of the patron. Another important feature of mosque decoration are hanging lamps, also visible in the photograph of the Sultan Hasan mosque. Light is an essential feature for mosques, since the first and last daily prayers occur before the sun rises and after the sun sets. Before electricity, mosques were illuminated with oil lamps. Hundreds of such lamps hung inside a mosque would create a glittering spectacle, with soft light emanating from each, highlighting the calligraphy and other decorations on the lamps\u2019 surfaces. Although not a permanent part of a mosque building, lamps, along with other furnishings like carpets, formed a significant\u2014though ephemeral\u2014aspect of mosque architecture.\r\n

Mosque Patronage<\/h2>\r\nMost historical mosques are not stand-alone buildings. Many incorporated charitable institutions like soup kitchens, hospitals, and schools. Some mosque patrons also chose to include their own mausoleum as part of their mosque complex. The endowment of charitable institutions is an important aspect of Islamic culture, due in part to the third pillar of Islam, which calls for Muslims to donate a portion of their income to the poor.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_811\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]\"A Figure 7. Mihrab, 1354\u201355, just after the Ilkhanid period, Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran, polychrome glazed tiles, 343.1 \u00d7 288.7 cm (Metropolitan Museum of Art)[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe commissioning of a mosque would be seen as a pious act on the part of a ruler or other wealthy patron, and the names of patrons are usually included in the calligraphic decoration of mosques. Such inscriptions also often praise the piety and generosity of the patron. For instance, the mihrab now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, bears the inscription:\r\n

And he [the Prophet], blessings and peace be upon him, said: \u201cWhoever builds a mosque for God, even the size of a sand-grouse nest, based on piety, [God will build for him a palace in Paradise].\u201d<\/p>\r\nThe patronage of mosques was not only a charitable act therefore, but also, like architectural patronage in all cultures, an opportunity for self-promotion. The social services attached the mosques of the Ottoman sultans are some of the most extensive of their type. In Ottoman Turkey the complex surrounding a mosque is called a kulliye<\/i>. The kulliye<\/i> of the Mosque of Sultan Suleyman, in Istanbul, is a fine example of this phenomenon, comprising a soup kitchen, a hospital, several schools, public baths, and a caravanserai<\/i> (similar to a hostel for travelers). The complex also includes two mausoleums for Sultan Suleyman and his family members.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_814\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"560\"]\"A Figure 8. S\u00fcleymaniye Kulliyesi (view of kitchens and caravanserai), Istanbul[\/caption]","rendered":"

From Indonesia to the United Kingdom, the mosque in its many forms is the quintessential Islamic building. The mosque, masjid<\/i> in Arabic, is the Muslim gathering place for prayer.Masjid<\/i> simply means \u201cplace of prostration.\u201d Though most of the five daily prayers prescribed in Islam can take place anywhere, all men are required to gather together at the mosque for the Friday noon prayer.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Figure 1. Mimar Sinan, courtyard of the S\u00fcleymaniye Mosque, \u0130stanbul, 1558<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Mosques are also used throughout the week for prayer, study, or simply as a place for rest and reflection. The main mosque of a city, used for the Friday communal prayer, is called a jami masjid<\/i>, literally meaning \u201cFriday mosque,\u201d but it is also sometimes called a congregational mosque in English. The style, layout, and decoration of a mosque can tell us a lot about Islam in general, but also about the period and region in which the mosque was constructed.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Figure 2. Diagram reconstruction of the Prophet’s House, Medina, Saudi Arabia<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The home of the Prophet Muhammad is considered the first mosque. His house, in Medina in modern-day Saudi Arabia, was a typical seventh-century Arabian style house, with a large courtyard surrounded by long rooms supported by columns. This style of mosque came to be known as a hypostyle mosque, meaning \u201cmany columns.\u201d Most mosques built in Arab lands utilized this style for centuries.<\/p>\n

Common Features<\/h2>\n

The architecture of a mosque is shaped most strongly by the regional traditions of the time and place where it was built. As a result, style, layout, and decoration can vary greatly. Nevertheless, because of the common function of the mosque as a place of congregational prayer, certain architectural features appear in mosques all over the world.<\/p>\n

Sahn (Courtyard)<\/h2>\n

The most fundamental necessity of congregational mosque architecture is that it be able to hold the entire male population of a city or town (women are welcome to attend Friday prayers, but not required to do so). To that end congregational mosques must have a large prayer hall. In many mosques this is adjoined to an open courtyard, called a sahn<\/i>. Within the courtyard one often finds a fountain, its waters both a welcome respite in hot lands, and important for the ablutions (ritual cleansing) done before prayer.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Figure 3. Mihrab & minbar, Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Cairo, 1356\u201363 (photo: Dave Berkowitz, CC BY 2.0)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Mihrab (Niche)<\/h2>\n
\"This<\/p>\n

Figure 4. Mihrab, Great Mosque of Cordoba, c. 786 (photo: Bongo Vongo, CC BY-SA 2.0)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Another essential element of a mosque\u2019s architecture is a mihrab<\/i>\u2014a niche in the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca, towards which all Muslims pray. Mecca is the city in which the Prophet Muhammad was born, and the home of the most important Islamic shrine, the Kaaba. The direction of Mecca is called the qibla<\/i>, and so the wall in which the mihrab<\/i> is set is called the qibla<\/i> wall. No matter where a mosque is, its mihrab indicates the direction of Mecca (or as near that direction as science and geography were able to place it). Therefore, a mihrab<\/i> in India will be to the west, while a one in Egypt will be to the east. A mihrab<\/i> is usually a relatively shallow niche, as in the example from Egypt, above. In the example from Spain, shown right, the\u00a0mihrab<\/i>\u2019s niche takes the form of a small room, this is more rare.<\/p>\n

Minbar <\/i>(Pulpit)<\/h2>\n

The minbar<\/i> is often located on the qibla<\/i> wall to the right of the mihrab<\/i>. A minbar<\/i> is a pulpit from which the Friday sermon is delivered. Simple minbars<\/i> consist of a short flight of stairs, but more elaborate examples may enclose the stairway with ornate panels, doors, and a covered pulpit at the top.<\/p>\n

Minaret <\/i>(Tower)<\/h2>\n
\"A<\/p>\n

Figure 5. Mimar Sinan, Minaret, S\u00fcleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul, 1558<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

One of the most visible aspects of mosque architecture is the minaret<\/i>, a tower adjacent or attached to a mosque, from which the call to prayer is announced. Minarets take many different forms\u2014from the famous spiral minaret of Samarra, to the tall, pencil minarets of Ottoman Turkey. Not solely functional in nature, the minaret serves as a powerful visual reminder of the presence of Islam.<\/p>\n

Qubba <\/i>(Dome)<\/i><\/h2>\n

Most mosques also feature one or more domes, called qubba<\/i> in Arabic. While not a ritual requirement like the mihrab, a dome does possess significance within the mosque\u2014as a symbolic representation of the vault of heaven. The interior decoration of a dome often emphasizes this symbolism, using intricate geometric, stellate, or vegetal motifs to create breathtaking patterns meant to awe and inspire. Some mosque types incorporate multiple domes into their architecture (as in the Ottoman S\u00fcleymaniye Mosque pictured at the top of the page), while others only feature one. In mosques with only a single dome, it is invariably found surmounting the qibla wall, the holiest section of the mosque. The Great Mosque of Kairouan, in Tunisia (not pictured) has three domes: one atop the minaret<\/i>, one above the entrance to the prayer hall, and one above the qibla<\/i> wall.<\/p>\n

Because it is the directional focus of prayer, the qibla<\/i> wall, with its mihrab<\/i> and minbar<\/i>, is often the most ornately decorated area of a mosque. The rich decoration of the qibla<\/i> wall is apparent in this image of the mihrab<\/i> and minbar<\/i> of the Mosque of Sultan Hasan in Cairo, Egypt (see image higher on the page).<\/p>\n

Furnishings<\/h2>\n
\"The<\/p>\n

Figure 6. Mosque lamp, 14th century, Egypt or Syria, blown glass, enamel, gilding, 31.8 \u00d7 23.2 cm (Metropolitan Museum of Art)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

There are other decorative elements common to most mosques. For instance, a large calligraphic frieze or a cartouche with a prominent inscription often appears above the mihrab<\/i>. In most cases the calligraphic inscriptions are quotations from the Qur\u2019an<\/i>, and often include the date of the building’s dedication and the name of the patron. Another important feature of mosque decoration are hanging lamps, also visible in the photograph of the Sultan Hasan mosque. Light is an essential feature for mosques, since the first and last daily prayers occur before the sun rises and after the sun sets. Before electricity, mosques were illuminated with oil lamps. Hundreds of such lamps hung inside a mosque would create a glittering spectacle, with soft light emanating from each, highlighting the calligraphy and other decorations on the lamps\u2019 surfaces. Although not a permanent part of a mosque building, lamps, along with other furnishings like carpets, formed a significant\u2014though ephemeral\u2014aspect of mosque architecture.<\/p>\n

Mosque Patronage<\/h2>\n

Most historical mosques are not stand-alone buildings. Many incorporated charitable institutions like soup kitchens, hospitals, and schools. Some mosque patrons also chose to include their own mausoleum as part of their mosque complex. The endowment of charitable institutions is an important aspect of Islamic culture, due in part to the third pillar of Islam, which calls for Muslims to donate a portion of their income to the poor.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Figure 7. Mihrab, 1354\u201355, just after the Ilkhanid period, Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran, polychrome glazed tiles, 343.1 \u00d7 288.7 cm (Metropolitan Museum of Art)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The commissioning of a mosque would be seen as a pious act on the part of a ruler or other wealthy patron, and the names of patrons are usually included in the calligraphic decoration of mosques. Such inscriptions also often praise the piety and generosity of the patron. For instance, the mihrab now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, bears the inscription:<\/p>\n

And he [the Prophet], blessings and peace be upon him, said: \u201cWhoever builds a mosque for God, even the size of a sand-grouse nest, based on piety, [God will build for him a palace in Paradise].\u201d<\/p>\n

The patronage of mosques was not only a charitable act therefore, but also, like architectural patronage in all cultures, an opportunity for self-promotion. The social services attached the mosques of the Ottoman sultans are some of the most extensive of their type. In Ottoman Turkey the complex surrounding a mosque is called a kulliye<\/i>. The kulliye<\/i> of the Mosque of Sultan Suleyman, in Istanbul, is a fine example of this phenomenon, comprising a soup kitchen, a hospital, several schools, public baths, and a caravanserai<\/i> (similar to a hostel for travelers). The complex also includes two mausoleums for Sultan Suleyman and his family members.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Figure 8. S\u00fcleymaniye Kulliyesi (view of kitchens and caravanserai), Istanbul<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div>