Islamic Architecture Based on Monotheistic Values, Morality: Expert

IQNA – Islamic architecture is one that is based on religious teachings, moral goals, social justice, and monotheistic values, a researcher an expert said.

Speaking to IQNA, Mohsen Akbarzadeh said Islamic architecture is different from the architecture of Islamic lands, with the latter being the result of different historical, cultural, and climatic experiences formed in different eras, from traditional to modern.

He said that Islam as a comprehensive religion that plays a role in various aspects of human life, from economic and political issues to cultural and scientific issues, is also concerned with the physical environment of human beings and its impact on individual and social life.

“You can’t expect a religion that is meant to guide the individual and society to be indifferent to the architectural and urban spaces where humans live. Ignoring this dimension creates a serious gap in the ideological system of Islam.”

He added that in Islamic sources, especially Quranic verses and the Hadiths of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS), there are explicit and direct statements about the characteristics of city, how it is built, the shape of the houses, the architecture of mosques, markets, streets, fields, bridges and other elements of urban life.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Imam Ali (AS), who had experience in governance, provided clear views on architecture and urban spaces, he said, adding that they have opposed some architectural phenomena and have established some structures and patterns.

Akbarzadeh went on to say that Islam, through its valuable teachings, also has something to say about contemporary issues, including neighborhood rights, environmental protection, energy conservation etc.

“They all make sense in architecture and urbanism. In the Islamic view, even if a subject is Mubah, it can still be given the status of Mustahab (recommended) or Makrouh (advised against), and in some cases, halal and haram are also mentioned in architecture. So, Islam has not only a view of architecture, but a view that is broad, diverse, and observant of fundamental values.”

Asked whether the architecture found in Islamic countries can be called Islamic architecture, he said it cannot be called Islamic simply because an architectural phenomenon has occurred in Islamic lands.

“You can’t call all the architectural traditions in lands like Iran, Turkey, Arabia, India, North Africa definitively ‘Islamic architecture’. These countries and regions each have their own distinctive styles and traditions, which sometimes differ or even conflict with each other.”

For example, he said, in Iranian mosques, the floors are very simple, but the walls from about two meters high upward are covered with intricate tilework and decorations, reaching their peak in the domes.

“In contrast, Moroccan mosques feature highly detailed tiled floors, while the walls and ceilings remain completely plain and white. Can one be considered Islamic and the other non-Islamic? Both styles have developed within the Islamic world and reflect the art and culture of their respective regions. Therefore, a distinction must be made between ‘architecture of Islamic lands’ and ‘Islamic architecture’. The former reflects the historical and cultural experiences of various Muslim peoples, while the latter should be based on religious principles and values.”

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