Revisiting K. A. C. Creswell’s Theory on the First Mosque in Islam (original) (raw)
Related papers
The Making of the Mosque: A Survey of Religious Imperatives
The Islamic History and Thought Series (Piscataway NJ: Gorgias Press, 2019)
In the absence of reliable archaeological evidence, the question of how the mosque was made represents a real challenge. Its origin remains moot despite many attempts to settle the question. While the structure built by the Prophet Muḥammad at Madina, soon after the Hijra in 622 AD, is believed by many to have later provided the prototype of the mosque, the dominant theory that it was only a private residence casts doubt on that belief. The current study provides fresh evidence, based on the Qurʾān, ḥadīth and early poetry, that this structure was indeed built to be a mosque. The study further investigates what such a finding may have to say apropos a number of undecided issues such as the immediate origins of the mosque type and the kind of impulses and modalities that determined its design and character. More particularly, this study seeks to explore whether early Islam, within the framework of the Prophet’s teachings and practices, as well as the Qurʾān, might have provided the necessary prompts for the making of the mosque and the shaping of its essential functional and architectural features. It also investigates how such religious imperatives may have interacted with the political, cultural and socio-economic contexts in which the mosque type materialized. As such, this book scrutinizes two dominant tendencies regarding the mosque type: the modern Western views on its non-Islamic origins and the Islamic legalistic views on what it should look like. This survey is positioned at the intersection between art, historiography, religious sciences and politics; it is not a typical monograph on architecture. As we shall see, it cuts across topics such as early Islam’s outlook on visual arts and aesthetics in general.
The Early Mosque Revisited: Introduction of the Minbar and Maqṣūra
Muqarnas Online, 2016
As the mosque evolved in response to the contested authority of Islam’s early rulers, the dependency of this authority upon the public audience in the mosque gave rise to a series of changes that occurred within the qibla of the mosque. By considering the congregational mosques at Kufa, Basra, Damascus, Wasit, and Madina between 630 and 715, and revisiting the development of their qibla spaces, three changes are presented as embodiments of this shift. This includes the development of the minbar as a platform for the khuṭba (Friday sermon) and of the enclosure screen (maqṣūra) in front of the qibla for the caliph, as well as the provision of direct access to the dār al-imāra via the qibla wall. By situating these developments within the context of contested religious and political authority in early Islam, this study challenges paradigms of formal influence in the interpretation of mosque architecture.
2008
This thesis and my graduate experience would not have been possible without the support of my friends, family, and professors. It would be impossible to name everyone who helped make this thesis possible, but I would first like to thank my parents and my grandparents, without whom I would have never had the courage or strength to succeed. I also owe a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Kenneth Honerkamp for the selfless devotion of so much of his time, his unending patience as a teacher, and his great compassion as a human being, all of which has taught me lessons that no book could ever convey. I would also like to thank Dr. William Chittick for never failing to answer my incessant questions, and opening my mind to the dimensions of Islamic philosophy. Also, I would like to thank Zinetta, our fabulous secretary, without whom none of this would be possible. In closing, I would like to thank the friends that I have made here in Georgia, whose companionship always made the tough times seem easier, and whose company I was blessed to have, even if for a short time. And finally, I would like to thank Bryan for his encouragement, understanding, and unending patience, and for always assuring me that in the end, it will all be okay.
The Influence of Ḥadīth on the Architecture of Early Congregational Mosques
University of Leeds, 2011
This study weighs up the influence of Ḥadīth, "traditions of the Prophet Muhammad of Islam", on the architecture of the major mosques which were built from the establishment of the Islamic state in 1/622 to the end of the Umayyad period in 132/750. The thesis is divided into eight chapters. The first of which is an introduction that deals with: (i) the reasons for underestimating the role of Ḥadīth in shaping mosque architecture; (ii) the main questions of the study; (iii) and the approaches and methodologies applied to handle such questions. The second chapter discusses the historiographical problems of Ḥadīth and other early Arabo-Islamic sources. The third investigates the nature and functions of the sizable hypaethral building which was reportedly erected by the Prophet and which we believe was a mosque, and not simply a private domicile. The fourth chapter examines the form of this structure, which - by definition - represents an embodiment of Ḥadīth regarding mosques. The fifth chapter, however, asks whether there was an 'orthodox' form of the mosque according to Ḥadīth. It also tries to explore the features of such a form, should it exist. The sixth and seventh chapters investigate whether and how Ḥadīth influenced the architectural evolution of the mosques which were built under the Rāshidūn and the Umayyads, respectively. Chapter eight is a conclusion that summarizes the findings of the study
The Form and Function of the Prophet's Mosque during the Time of the Prophet (pbuh
When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) migrated from Makkah to Madinah, the first and immediate task relating to his community building mission was constructing the city's principal mosque. Every other undertaking, including building houses for the migrants a majority of whom were poor and practically homeless, had to be deferred till after the Prophet's Mosques was completed. When completed, the form of the Prophet's Mosque was extremely simple. Its unpretentious form notwithstanding, the Mosque since its inception served as a genuine community development centre, quickly evolving into a multifunctional complex. The Mosque was meant not only for performing prayers at formally appointed times, but also for many other religious, social, political, administrative and cultural functions. It became a catalyst and standard-setter for civilization-building undertakings across the Muslim territories. In this paper, the significance of the Prophet's Mosque as a prototype community development center is discussed. The architectural aspect of the Mosque and its reciprocal relationship with the Mosque's dynamic functions is also dwelled on. The paper is divided into the following sections: 1) From Yathrib to Madinah; 2) Madinah (the city) as a microcosm of Islamic civilization; 3) The introduction of the Prophet's Mosque; 4) The main functions of the Mosque; 5) The architecture of the Mosque; 6) Seven lessons in architecture. 2
THEOLOGY OF A MOSQUE: The sacred inspiring form function and design in Islamic architecture
LONAARD, 2012
This paper looks at how a standard mosque concept's architectural and decorative features stem from Islamic principles and Islam's kalam (philosophical theology). It considers how the mosque is inextricably bound to convey the message of Islam through its architectural and decorative designs according to a mosque’s fundamental purpose as articulated in the Qur’ān, Surah An-Nur (The Light, chapter 24) verses 36 and 37: “to be erected for the commemoration of Allah’s name; where Allah is glorified morning and evening…” (transliterated).
Advances in Environmental Biology, 2015
Since the beginning of Islam the institution of mosque has been playing the central role in establishing, developing and flourishing Muslim communities. Scholars all over the world in a wide range of time period have unanimously agreed that the significance of mosque in the life of Muslims are undeniable. However present day mosques are failing to fulfill their role and lost their impact on the Muslim communities around the globe. Assuming the reason for this phenomena is mainly the deterioration of the concept of mosque from its original idea, this paper aims to review the early Islamic texts i.e. the perspective of Quran, Hadith and texts of the early scholars to propose a template for contemporary mosques based on its original concept and value.