Online Reflection 4

ISLAMIC MUSEUM & TV AL HIJRAH VISIT

This week we got the chance to visit IAM (Islamic Art Museum), situated in Kuala Lumpur. As told by our lecturer, the design of the building is actually based on the islamic principles as well. When I first entered the building, I realized most of the detailing they used are marble. It eventually creates a sense of respect in my heart whereby everything that in relation to God, the design and materials are usually came with very good quality. This has indeed show how Muslim sincerely submit to God through their sacrificial serving.

Below are some interesting photos that I took from the museum: 

BIBI KHANUM MOSQUE
One of the largest complexes in Samarqand, the mosque is dedicated to Timur's favorite wife, Saray Mulk Khanum. Construction of the mosque began in 1399 after Timur's Indian campaign. He decorated the mosque with precious stones captured during his conquests. The facades of the mosque are decorated with glazed bricks, mosaic faience and tile insets. The outcome is array of Kufic inscriptions arranged in a diagonal composition. The mosque was built using over 500 workers and 95 elephants. The monumental entrance portal with its flanking minarets double dome and brick decorations showcases the opulence of Timurid architecture.

This Mimbar, from which an Imam conducts his sermons, is composed of four steps and a seat with armrest. The front panel of the lowest step is inlaid with an inscription in both English and Persian: "This pulpit is made alike Safavi pulpit of Isfahan Jame Mosque ordered by Isfahan Saman Gostar Inv. Co. for IAMM. Done by Saeed Alizadeh, 1419 Hijrah".

TAJ MAHAL
The imperial Mughal tomb, the Taj Mahal, was commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1631 AD, in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. A synthesis of Indian, Persian, turkish and Italian architects, craftsmen and designers contributed to this vast complex, comprising a main gateway, an elaborate garden, mosque, guesthouse and several palatial buildings. It is strongly suggested that the chief architect for the Taj Mahal was Ustad Ahmed Lahauri. The Taj Mahal took 22 years to construct with a labour force of 20,000 workers. Structurally composed entirely of white marble, it was Shah Jahan's preferred building material. The decoration is of carved and inlaid floral motif, in a technique called pietra dura. Precious and semi-precious gemstones such as agate and jasper adorn the walls. Illuminating the facade entrance is calligraphy written in the Thuluth script by the renowned master calligrapher Abd al-Haq.

TENGKERA MOSQUE
Constructed around 1728, the Tengkera mosque is one of the oldest surviving mosques in Malacca, commissioned by the Dutch during the colonial period. Its roof design and ornamentation utilizes a blend of Malay with Javenese forms. It further incorporated a pagoda-shaped minaret that reflects the influence of Chinese architectural style, with ceramic tiles imported from the Qing Empire (1644-1799). Buried in the grounds of the mosque is Sultan Hussein Shah, the Johor and Singapore ruler of the 19th century, who signed over Singapore to Thomas Stamford Raffles in 1819.

I've learnt a lot throughout the entire visit. The collection of scale models indeed provide us a more intimate impression of all the sacred spaces whereby the gallery includes a re-creation of the interior of mosques that show us a clearer image of how a mosque shall look like.

Online Reflection 3

LECTURE 3

Through this lecture, it taught me about:

1) Architecture with Ikhlas: Sincerity

2) Architecture as pursuit of 'Ilm: Knowledge

ARCHITECTURE WITH IKHLAS: SINCERITY

"And withal, they were not enjoined aught but that they should worship God, sincere in their faith in Him alone, turning away from all that is false; and that they should spend in charity; for this is a moral law endowed with ever-time soundness and clarity." Al-Qur’an 98:5

To define this principle, there are two modes of expression of submission to God:

i) Outward physical actions of the body (prayer)

ii) Inward action of the heart

Through these, I've learnt to analyze whereby the islamic architecture got to reflect the principle through its exterior and interior. Other than that, this principle has explained that Muslim need to achieve their belief / Aqidah by removing their doubt of God from heart. Also, the sincerity of the heart involves deep contemplative or constant thoughtful as well as achieve purity in mind in order to build within the conformity to God's will.

To translate all these into architecture, the design considerations are expressed as below:

i) Spaces are constructed with the absence of human imaginary idols. All portraiture of rusul / prophet / divine messenger / apostle / companions / saints / Muslims scholars and etc. are avoided in order to prevent idolatrous worship and to show respect to God.

ii) Art without showing images but sublime silence for contemplation. Muslims use nature and project soul through geometric subtraction as well as the application of prominent role of mathematic. They are inseparable as it is the sacred nature of islamic architecture that also came from Quranic.

Nature such as flora is translated into architecture by using geometric subtraction, image source from lecture note

iii) Integration of Mathematics allows embodiment of geometric proportion, harmony and balance. For example like Karatay Madrassa (School of Sacred Science) by Jalaluddin Karatay, its architecture has shown sincerity by constructing a central dome that open to sky and evoke non-materiality and intellectual beauty by using the integration of mathematics.

Karatay Madrassa, image source from http://www.muslimheritage.com/ImageLibrary/karatayFigure4.jpg

Central dome of Karatay Madrassa, image source from http://dome.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.3/65652/157209_sv.jpg?sequence=2

Plan shows balance of Karatay Madrassa whereby it can be mirrored, image source from http://www.muslimheritage.com/ImageLibrary/InceFigure1.jpg

iv) Courtyard or garden are constructed in domestic living spaces. They are arranged around as it shows a celestial paradise presentiment according to al-Quran. For example like Palatine town of Medina Azahara, its high garden allows view to lower garden and general landscape that has provided a feeling of taste of paradise that placed at its feet, as it crossed with pools or pavilion in its intersection. By having gardens through which running water flow gives the sense of delight.

Palatine town of Medina Azahara, image source from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QLJyOgFyr2k/TbiDAWzczcI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/aIhIfdaTIsE/s1600/003-patio-jardin-medina-azahara-jardinsuperior-seccion-long.jpg

Acequia Court shows pool in courtyard, image source from http://www.eveandersson.com/photos/spain/granada-generalife-palacio-patio-de-la-acequia-large.jpg

v) Reflection of light, refraction and transformation of light rays produce from the water makes the buildings richer in terms of beauty, grace and elegance.

Arrayanes Court shows casted shadow and reflection of it, image source from http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6157/6191757615_04fb832bcd.jpg

One of the famous example would be the Alcazar of Seville, Spain that achieved "ikhlas" principle through architectural design.

Alcazar of Seville shows pool inside a courtyard, image source from  http://www.hotelsevillapalace.es/CLIENTES/www.hotelsevillapalace.es/imagenes/galeria/alcazares.jpg

ARCHITECTURE AS PURSUIT OF 'ILM: KNOWLEDGE

“Read - for thy Sustainer is the Most Bountiful One who has taught (man) the use of a pen - taught man what he did not know.” Al-Quran 96: 3-5

Knowledge is the light of truth. As Prophet Muhammad SAW always told Muslims that acquisition of knowledge is corresponding with clear vision and it is mandatory upon every Muslims. It can be portrayed through architectural way as below:

i) Architecture of Inscription. The Arabic language will be expressed using calligraphy that carved on the buildings to celebrate aesthetic and reveal ilm' and wisdom word of Quran.

Islamic Architecture of inscription, image source from http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5245/5374712720_72e6e7f4e4_o.jpg

ii) Architecture of light as expression. The building will illuminate due to the effects of sun rays and moon light and it will reveal intricacy through the casted shadow from the wall inscription or ornamentation. While the moving point source nature of sunlight will bring every individual at different spaces to project soul with light and experience God as if God is speaking to them.

Light as expression, image aource from http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/3/Vakil.jpg

iii) The building has to be the focal point of education and culture to allow Muslims develop wisdom and knowledge in order to perform well in future for evolution.

Al-Azhar Mosque as a place of knowledge spreading, image source from http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5191/5821545980_29afe3f43c_z.jpg

Arabic inscription on wall, image source from http://farm1.staticflickr.com/219/464483772_abc86d58f3_o.jpg

THE ABBASIDS OF BAGHDAD

The Abbasid dynasty (750-1517 AD / 132-93 AH) held political leadership of the Islamic world from the Umayyad caliphs in the middle of the eighth century, declaring their position as male descendants of Muhammad through his uncle, al-Abbas, to legitimize their assert to the caliphate.

Whereas Umayyad architecture developed from the Hellenistic and Late Antique tradition of the eastern Mediterranean, Abbasid architecture is noticeable by a new monumental scale, the utilize of structural systems composed of massive brick piers and arches, and adornment of brick and carved and molded stucco. Moving the caliphal capital from Syria to Iraq, where they discovered the new city of Baghdad, the Abbasids appropriated much of the eastern artistic traditions of the former Sasanian empire into their urban design and architecture. The new capital city of Baghdad was discovered near the ancient Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon, and with its symbolically charged round plan epitomizes the integration of eastern models of kingship into a new architectural ethos.

Abbasid Baghdad is also known as the Round City, because it was surrounded by a moat and outer wall that formed a perfect circle.  This unique layout was not completely without precedent—it was based on Sassanian traditions (the ancient Sassanian capital of Ctesiphon was located nearby), and incorporated earlier Near Eastern models of kingship. Image source from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Baghdad_150_to_300_AH.gif

Mosque

The combination of eastern traditions with building types established during the Umayyad period is especially evident in Abbasid mosques. Though they continued to make use of the Umayyad rectangular hypostyle plan with arcaded courtyard and covered prayer hall, the Abbasids constructed mosques characterized by their monumental scale and the integration of brick construction, stucco ornament, and architectural forms developed in Mesopotamia and regions to the east. The Great Mosque of al-Mutawakkil at Samarra, still the greatest mosque in the world, with its fortified appearance, reliance on brick construction, and the spiral minaret (perhaps drawing on the ancient Near Eastern tradition of the ziggurat) axially aligned with the mihrab, exemplifies the Abbasid mosque type. Other surviving Abbasid mosques are the late ninth-century Mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, the Tarik Khane of Damghan (Iran) of between 750-89, and the ninth-century Masjid-I-Tarikh in Balkh, Afghanistan.

The Great Mosque of al-Mutawakkil at Samarra, image source from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Great_Mosque_of_Samarra.jpg

For The Great Mosque of Samarra constructed by al-Mutawakkil was 256 by 139 metres (840 by 456 ft) and columns supported a flat wooden roof. The mosque was decorated with marble panels and glass mosaics. The prayer hall of the Abu Dulaf mosque at Samarra used arcades on rectangular brick piers running at right angles to the qibla wall. Both of the Samarra mosques have spiral minarets, the only examples in Iraq. A mosque at Balkh in what is now Afghanistan was about 20 by 20 metres (66 by 66 ft) square, with three rows of three-square bays, sustaining nine vaulted domes.

Palace

While, Abbasid palaces established the same monumental scale, the use of brick construction, and widespread stucco ornamentation that appear in the mosques. In contrast to the relatively modest and self-contained Umayyad estates, the Abbasid palaces of Samarra (founded 836, abandoned in 892) and the Jawsaq al-Kharqani or Bayt al-Khalifa of c. 836 included military quarters, extensive gardens and recreational spaces, residential courts and richly decorated ceremonial spaces in sprawling complexes along the Tigris.

Abbasid palace, image source from http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/imageislam/EricaImages/AbbPalace.jpg

The earliest Abbasid palace, constructed around 775, is the al-Ukhaidir Fortress. It shows a plan derived from earlier Sasanian and Umayyad palaces. The palace lies in the desert about 180 kilometres (110 mi) to the south of Baghdad. It is rectangular in shape, 175 by 169 metres (574 by 554 ft), with four gates. Three are in half-round towers that protrude from the wall, and one in a rectangular recess in the wall. Inside there is a vaulted entrance hall, a central court, an iwan (hall) open to the court opposite the entrance hall, and residential units. Sasanian techniques persist in the construction of vaults with pointed curves using rubble and mortar faced with brick and stucco, blind arches as adornment for large wall surfaces, and long vaulted halls with recesses behind arches supported by heavy pillars. Verbal descriptions signify that palaces in Baghdad had similar layout, although on a larger scale. 

Al-Ukhaidir Fortress, image source from http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/89110493.jpg

Palaces at Samara such as al-'Ashiq and al-Jiss, built around 870, portray polylobed moldings carved deeply into the intrados of the arches, giving the appearance of a foliate arch. Floors were sometimes of marble, more often tiled. The reception rooms of palaces at Samarra had carved or molded stucco dados decorating the lower part of the walls, and stucco also decorated doorframes, wall-niches and arches, in three distinct styles. Other palaces that have been excavated often have a domed central chamber surrounded by four iwans facing outward.

Abassid architecture shows the application of arches and stucco, image source from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Porte_Grande_Mosquée_El_Mehdi_Mahdia.JPG

Information's source from:

1) http://archnet.org/library/sites/sites.jsp?letter=&country_code=&place_id=&type=&style=Abbasid&usage=&century=&decade=&order_by=site&showdescription=1

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_architecture

For extra information please check out http://islamic-arts.org/2011/architecture-of-the-abbasids-iraq-iran-and-egypt/

Online Reflection 2

LECTURE 2

Through this lecture, it taught me about:
1) Architecture as Tawhid: Unity & Uniquely of Allah
2) Architecture of Ihtiram: Respect / Propriety

ARCHITECTURE AS TAWHID: UNITY & UNIQUELY OF ALLAH

It defines that "There is no God / Allah and Mohammad is his Messenger / Prophet" and there is no compulsion in Islam. We are given a choice but once we declare or sign the contract of Shahadah / Syahadah, we have to oblige to the Law of Islam. 

To define Tawhid in islamic architecture,

i) Muslims are urged to be unified and turn into a borderless community that transcends race, rank and wealth in order to witness the truth that divine reality is one, eternal and without association.

ii) The al-Quran teaches on haqiqa (formless essence) revelation or enlightenment that relates to nature of space, forms, order, orients and etc. which places man to the presence of divine unity.

iii) Building as catalyst that serves community in order to unify 'Umma. It has to be first built before building a community or nation. Other than that, it has to be used as a center for Muslim social life such as education, administration, court, public service, economic platform, military planning, govern country, religious event and etc. Also, it will be used as the five daily Solah Jamaah or congregation prayer.

iv) Urban planning means to unify the city according to Sunnah (Fiqh Law). It is through guide to everyday action and behavior. Muslims are requested to maintain practical and spiritual character that hold close-knit relationship with Allah. Therefore, the Fiqh Law is provided as a guide to teach them on the boundaries, heights and residents in designing the building. It will need to be separated from the residential area and spread along roads that interconnected as urban center. For example like Souq or bazaar, the activities are situated away but still accessible through narrow winding lanes as to link everything as a whole.

Kaabah Mecca, image source from http://web.uvic.ca/~rpn/files/pics/kaaba2.jpg

Kaabah is one of the prominent example to show the principle of architecture as Tawhid: unity and uniquely of Allah, as it is the direction whereby Muslims pray toward when they are carrying out their five daily prayers. It is a cuboid building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and it is the most sacred site in Islam. Al-Masjid al-Haram, the most sacred mosque in Islam, is constructed around the Kaaba. Muslims are expected to face the Kaaba during prayers, no matter where they are. From any specified point in the world, the direction facing the Kaaba is called the Qibla.

Qibla towards Kaabah, image source from http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/30500/Colosseum-Kaaba-30531.jpg

One of the Five Pillars of Islam requires every Muslim to carry out the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if able to do so. Multiple parts of the Hajj require pilgrims to make Tawaf, the circumambulation seven times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction. Pilgrims also perform this circumambulation during the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). However, the most dramatic times are during the Hajj, when millions of pilgrims gather to circle the building on the same day as the al-Quran said that "Purify my shrine for those who will walk around it, and those who will abide near it in meditation, and those who will bow down and prostrate themselves [in prayer]." Al Quran 2:125

The Kaabah is a semi-cubic building that stands about 15 meters high and 10-12 meters wide. It is an ancient, simple structure made of granite. In the SE corner, a black meteorite (the "Black Stone") is embedded in a silver frame. Stairs on the north side lead to a door which allows entry to the interior, which is hollow and empty. The Kaabah is covered with a kiswah, a black silk cloth which is embroidered in gold with verses from the Qur'an. The kiswah is re-done and replaced once a year.

Interior of the Kaabah, image source from http://0.tqn.com/d/atheism/1/7/M/f/KaabaInterior.jpg

ARCHITECTURE OF IHTIRAM: RESPECT / PROPRIETY

Ihtiram defines as respect or good manners and in order to translate it into islamic architecture, some design considerations are stated as below:

i) Muslims show respect to God by showing propriety towards Him according to Shahada.

ii) Muslims practice the five pillars (Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Fasting and Haji) to encourage every single individual in showing respectful consciousness to God as well as purify themselves in order to improve conduct and build up inner and outer self fulfillment that they are willing to submit own will to God.

iii) Prophet Muhammad is set as major exemplary and Muslim are needed to posse perfect good manners in propriety and praiseworthy characteristics.

iv) Al-Quran is used as a guide to show respect, to portray virtue and attitude of good manners. Muslims are required to be transcendent and mindful of actions in order to show their respect for the sake of Allah.

v) Practicing architecture parallel to respect God is encouraged through self-conscious act. It can be seen in building to serve the pillar of religion and to unify Muslim community. Buildings like Mosque, libraries and houses can be the unifiers of the community.

vi) Symbolism is expressed through architecture in order to show respect to God. The simple fundamental of applying geometric shapes to form patterns give the signs of harmony and purity.

Image source from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5K8PP-0Naw0fy4AB4LKn0-gKd-EPAicIfVKgC1UT5YDu-j-G1zCzyYRh9-1QaVxlWicV2OY7bSrPNHj7f0pkGuLXqdFLUCTRqXt1linPHw3Qz7dqpaZety06tbF1gP61d1y0H_1lH9Y/s1600/8.jpg

Image source from http://kameleonputnik.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/5/12750231/9265832.jpg

Image source from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9becRwiYxORaUxgaaP-C5hTDiqlmhH70WbicPLKg2QPioSj0ooMHcLJPQdZLTHcwbtsuNSsj6kwwXPkPewId8BiZ5VFvX_C9azDSMc6OI6eikQ8yP0C9kVXoQWAreuP2Q53AYT7BvZeCM/s1600/Double+Design.jpg

Image source from http://www.ncolonie.com/DatabaseofArtists/Islamic%20Art/thumbs/islamic-architecture-3.jpg

Image source from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kfkiGGB9nez6BO8XOyIphH30309D4FZdywOUUlZsHKwtzvvmn8JqR_m5iaLr7irlewnAM0ZLUDRTx-iaz-uw94GboB61DlFyo8Ka2Dfvqje9MQuk7e9VSeY3vJUG_fQMUikfJmAvXI-U/s400/27math190.2.jpg

vii) Essence of Islam and humanity are respected by acknowledging building as sanctuary. Muslims are encouraged to conserve the islamic buildings that had been constructed as well as continually expand the "Prophet's Mosque". Religious and prophetic significance of the building need to be preserved and restored as well as its phase of history.

Conservation in Islam:
a) Must firmly protect and continually enrich divine meaning and values of Islam.
b) In the process, won't hinder growth and change.
c) Change of physical form is permissible, to meet the challenges of transformation.
d) Growth and change mustn't jeopardize meaning and value.

Old Al-Azhar Mosque, image source from http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Kk_TYV7H1zo/TxLTonK7OkI/AAAAAAAAPIM/Q26yfjDtDsA/image011.jpg?imgmax=640

New Al-Azhar Mosque, image source from http://gerakanmahasiswapantaitimur.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/al-azhar-mosque-04.jpg

UMAYYAD ARCHITECTURE

The Umayyad period's greatest extent, image source from http://lostislamichistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Umayyad750ADloc.png

Between 661 and 750, Umayyad architecture has developed in the Umayyad Caliphate and mainly in its heartlands of Syria and Palestine. The main artistic influence came from the late antique classical naturalistic tradition, which had been prevalent on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. It drew expansively on the architecture of the defeated Byzantine and Sassanid empires, but introduced innovations in adornment and new types of building such as mosques with mihrab's and minarets.

Minaret, image source from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Minaret_of_the_Bride,_Umayyad_Mosque_01.jpg/768px-Minaret_of_the_Bride,_Umayyad_Mosque_01.jpg

In terms of religious buildings, the Umayyads often built their monuments on sites of historical or symbolic significance. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem (691), the first major Umayyad architectural undertaking accomplished under the patronage of the caliph ^cAbd al-Malik (r. 685–705), was constructed on a well-known site formerly occupied by Solomon's Temple and later associated with Muhammad's ascent to heaven. Other prominent religious buildings from the Umayyad period date from the reign of al-Walid (r. 705–15) and include the enlarged mosque in Medina (706–10), the former house of Muhammad. Also significant are the mosques of Damascus (706), where the site of the former Roman temple and fourth-century Byzantine church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist was transformed into the congregational mosque of the Umayyad capital, and of Jerusalem (709–15).

Almost all monuments from the Umayyad period that have survived are in Syria and Palestine. The sanctuary of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is the oldest surviving Islamic building.

The Dome of Rock in Jerusalem, image source from http://go-holyland.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Dome-of-the-Rock-Wikimedia-Commons-idobi.jpg

The Noble Sanctuary, image source from http://bibliaytradicion.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/003a1.jpg

"The Barada Scene" mosaic panel at the Umayyad Mosque of Damascus, image source from http://web.mit.edu/4.611/www/3-barada_panel_large.jpg

The Umayyad embraced the construction techniques of the Byzantine and Sassanid empires, and regularly re-used existing buildings. There was some innovation in adornment and in types of building. Most buildings in Syria were of high quality ashlars’ masonry, using great firmly joined blocks, sometimes with carving on the facade. Stone barrel vaults were only applied to roof small spans. Wooden roofs were used for larger spans, with the wood in Syria brought from the forests of Lebanon. These roofs generally had shallow pitches and rested on wooden trusses. Wooden domes were built for Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, both in Jerusalem. Baked brick and mud brick were used in Mesopotamia, due to lack of stone. Where brick was used in Syria, the work was in the finer Mesopotamian style rather than the more crude Byzantine style.

Qasr Mshatta carvings, image source from http://www.metmuseum.org/~/media/Images/Exhibitions/2012/Byzantium%20and%20Islam/blog/mshatta1.jpg?h=329&mw=495&w=495

The Umayyad hired local workers and architects. Some of their buildings cannot be distinguished from those of the previous system. However, in many cases eastern and western elements were combined to give an idiosyncratic new Islamic style. For example, the walls at Qasr Mshatta are constructed from cut stone in the Syrian manner, the vaults are Mesopotamian in design and Coptic and Byzantine elements appear in the decorative carving. The horseshoe arch appears for the first time in Umayyad architecture, later to evolve to its most advanced form in al-Andalus. Umayyad architecture is distinguished by the extent and variety of embellishment, including mosaics, wall painting, sculpture and carved reliefs with Islamic motifs.

Horseshoe arch applied in Umayyad architecture, image source from http://www.matrix.genezis.eu/geografia/staty/fotky/syria/Damascus-Umayyad%20Mosque-Minaret%20of%20the%20Bride.JPG

Information's source from:

1) http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/umay/hd_umay.htm

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_architecture