Journal of Researches in Islamic Architecture

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City is consisted of a range of specific activities which are responsive to human needs. It deals with human’s features, thoughts and approaches and struggles to achieve formation of the city depending on his world-view and insight. Degree of desirability and quality of the city relates to intellectual space that are prevailing on it. Islam as a human insight which is rooted from their worldview that have defunded the tenet for human life has defined principles for human’s lifestyles which consists of absolute attributes of God, human’s and intellectual origins. This subject directs human perfection to the attributes of God, because it is related to human nature and common property of humans. The organization of the Islamic city present components and indexes propound life and idealistic city components and index that is proportional to human nature differ with insight. Accordingly, the necessity of the research is achieving the principle of Islamic city and response to human needs for achieve perfection. This paper deals with attitudes, categories component and indicators Islamic city that is proportional to the common natural tendencies. On the one hand, the research is a cross-sectional one that processes with analysis and physical content and it is strategic nature of interpretive. On the other hand, by using (logical-analytical) reasoning, it begins description and presentation of instances Islamic city and index organization city. Based on the research data, principal of Islamic city is based on inherent characteristics of human and social body of city that describe five natural tendencies. The trends according to martyr Motahhari’s opinion in book of nature consists of truth and achieve perfection, goodness and virtue, beauty, creativity and innovation and tendency to worship. This results for principles recognition. Accordingly, what is the meaning and principles derived from five natural tendencies was argument base on the Islam. It comes from innate human that trends to truth and achieve to the knowledge of indigenous and monotheistic. Also, the piety, introspection and Unitarianism is influenced. The tendency to goodness and virtue, personal and social virtue and justice will prevail in the city. Beauty trends reinforce beautiful sense at the individual community and content physical level. Creativity is an innate human tendency to feel that the Islam city of guidance, correction and makes lessons. Pure nature human in premier authority show trending to love and worship the qualities such as meditation, thank and centralism at the Islamic city. Meanings, principle influence by trends indicate that most cases be explained by characteristics of man- made, belief, values, realms of human existence and in other word, it is his worldwide. The root of all bad ones originated from ignorance and irrationality and the city that as worldview based on the human form has higher status in comparison with what is free of thought and intellect. So what qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the human body define is the wisdom or knowledge of the truth. Wisdom is the branch of the divine inspiration of the hidden secret in nature and the human body that god has entrusted. Wisdom is divine messenger of God that is strong and rich source of Islam that has interactive relationship with nature and the law. The urban design based on intellectual foundations of Islam, the principles of Islamic life and its behavioral pattern. Human and rational behavior flows in any of its spaces. On the other hand, the fact-based wisdom know and must be guidance until it guides him, and guidance as to the person who created the universe and man and knows him, who his needs .he is aware of the higher interests. Establish his eternal life and gives him schedules. Meaning, principles influenced by trends indicate that most cases explained by man-made characteristics of Islam is based on understanding of man and his objectives do and do not and indexes in religious texts such as “ Quran “ which is at the top of them. Shariah principles based on reason and consequently natural human tendencies and trends in response to insight or knowledge and asks to come to the intellectual life of the human being is perfect. Criteria and indicators can be divided in five groups of orientation and mental demands of his innate tendency to reach the truth and perfection, goodness and virtue, beauty, creativity, innovation and love and worship and because it is a response to all his needs, these trends provide the background of his relaxation and confidence and since the nature is put in the man and we all accept the fact that God is the accepted wisdom of human thought. Each of the five branches of arguments based on the intended meaning is rooted in the principles, criteria and indicators proposed by the organization identifies the Islamic city. Because these components are rooted in the principles and concepts appropriate to the areas affected by natural and man shall enjoy the physical and social aspect. In this way the city is structured according to Islamic social and physical factors and indicators are formed, is the rational and intellectual city that as human nature which is divided in the form (appearance) and means (conscience) program of physical (body) and affers community. Accordingly, we can say that Islamic city gaits on the worldview, belief, and human existence realm and by recognizing the existence realm and by recognizing the existence of real human needs and it’s identification, it troop fields flourishing spiritual life and growth of human perfection. Based on this research, comm:::union::: city in the physical aspect is originated based on the spiritual and influenced by religious. The nature is inherent characteristics of human with knowledge-based thoughts that create form and comm:::union::: morality and comm:::union::: city is effective in its intensity and the effect.

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In recent decade, various types of reports, articles, and books have been published in relation with Islamic city, but the terminology of “Islamic city” is not yet defined clearly in these publications. Explanation of the subject and its definition that called as Islamic city is the first step of this research. The descriptive and analytical method has been used as the research methodology in this paper, through which all the existing published literature were surveyed and analytically reviewed. Literature survey shows that most of the recent studies are about existing cities that Muslims settled over there. The recent publication about Islamic city can be classified into two groups. First, those who defined Islamic city based on dominating elements of existing traditional Islamic cities. The second group is those who define Islamic city based on significant Islamic advices. In the other word the first group tries to say what an Islamic city is, on the bases of existing city in Islamic era. The other group besides denying the first group definition tries to say what an Islamic city shall be on the bases of religious valid documents. In addition, addressing to some of Islamic general principals mentioned in the major Islamic documents such as holy book of Quran is another side of nowadays published studies. Unfortunately, Muslim thinkers and theorists in the field of urban design and planning  have little activities for presenting clear definition of Islamic city, pointing out its major criteria, and the approaches that one can physically crystallize various  religious thoughts with emphasis on Quran, “Nahj al-Balaghe”, and Hadiths (Important statement of Islamic religious leaders). Furthermore, the text context that was published by eastern experts has been studied and analyzed. In this regard, results of the studies were presented by focusing on the main key words in relation to urban areas and urbanism, in valid description of various specific Quran verses, and “Hadiths”. Discussion of this article also deals with a brief history of Islamic cities. In this regard a few towns related to Muslims, and their relation with Islam was studied as case studies. Then, application of Islamic thoughts, for an urban society is followed. In continuation, it has been tried to define and developed a process to determine the main principles for creating Islamic conditions on the bases of the significant aim and objectives of Islam religion. In this paper, views of various western and eastern scholars about: How one can define an Islamic city is reviewed. Result of the study indicates that western theorists have defined an Islamic city on the bases of the dominating physical features and elements of existing cities of Muslim inhabitance during various Islamic eras. The result of this section of the study shows that these elements are such as “Jame” mosque, bazaar, governor fort, and city enclosure walls. But, the eastern theorists who are familiar with Islamic religious verses and the advices of great But the result of the other section of the research indicate that: Islamic leaders show that: Islam is a perfect religion among other religions. It has useful fruitful teachings that many of them can be quiet responsive in achieving good criteria for planning and design of an Islamic city. Some of the eastern theorists who are familiar with Islamic religious verses and the advices of great Islamic leaders like prophet and Imams show that: the main concept and spiritual aspect behind each and every element in an Islamic cities and the various factors to call a city Islamic, is much more important than those physical one. They also believe that an Islamic city should be planned and designed on the bases of major Islamic principle concepts such as justice, unity security, privacy, etc.

In the end, to show the process that how one can reflect the Islamic advices in a physical situation, a conceptual presentation  which is already written by M. R. & A. Pourjafar (2013) about an Islamic Iranian mohalla is described and displayed in brief below. The design principles of «Mohallahs» (Traditional Persian-Islamic Neighborhood) in the Islamic cities since the beginning of Islam are examined in that research. Then the role of mosque as one of the important elements that defines the physical dimensions and also meets the needs of the social, political, cultural and residential sectors of the city was determined. The superiority of design principles of «Mohallahs» in Persian-Islamic cities with having Mosque, «Hoseiniah», «Tekyeh» and other religious buildings as their centers and hub of their socio/cultural activities in comparison with planning and design of present situation in Muslim residential areas, is shown clearly. Studying of «Mohallahs» in the old Persian-Islamic cities of Iran proves the sustainability, durability and significant role of mosque for quality dimensions of city designing and social issues in compare with neighborhood unit in the west. The study of Persian-Islamic advices also indicates Islam as a religion has many advices as far as neighborhood design is concerned. This can happen, on the bases of Quranic verses and «Hadiths», and conclusion derived from study of existing traditional Persian-Islamic «Mohallahs», through which a new modal has been proposed for Persian-Islamic «Mohallah». A central car free square with respect to social dimensions with all required, land uses and activities all around it was also proposed. The mosque and other religious and socio/cultural buildings are the focal points of this «Mohallah». The central urban space of the «Mohallah» has walkable accessibility from farther points all around it. The functional radius of the purposed «Mohallah» on the bases of the mentioned «Hadiths» by Imam Ali (Forty houses from the mosque, are neighbors) is about four to five hundred meters. This model may be used for designing of contemporary residential «Mohallah» in new towns and extension areas of existing cities in future. A purposed Islamic city may have number of such residential units called “Mohalla” around a bazaar complex (similarly designed on the bases of above process). In this way and the bases of above process, one can achieve various kind of Islamic city.

Finally, it is concluded that: The great religion of Islam has wise and rational advises and teachings. These can be converted into practical criteria through a proper process and programming. In this way, one can create responsive Islamic environment that may not be as utopian as heaven but, obviously they can be more responsive than what we are facing in our contemporary situation nowadays. No doubt, there are also many examples of Islamic-Persian cities with high quality of urban design. By analyzing their design one can derive various criteria and get many lessons for contemporary planning and design of the Iranian Islamic city. Therefore, hopefully, in this way we can create a better kind of environment for Muslims inhabitants that can answer most of their behavior and activities with creation of various convivial urban spaces.

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Despite many scholars in various domains including scientific, academic, professional and political fields talking about “Islamic city” and “Islamic ideal city” (Utopia), there is not a specific definition for “Islamic city” based on sacred Islamic texts. In other words, a variety of definitions and attributes of the “Islamic ideal city” are spread in texts based on different backgrounds and study domains of researchers. However, it seems that the appropriate definition for the “Islamic ideal city” as well as its essential and main attributes should be derived from the Islamic fundamental sacred texts, especially from the Holy Quran.

Moreover, to explain and clarify the definition of any phenomenon, its main attributes should be recognized and classified. The fundamental attributes for the Islamic ideal city include “foundations”, “pillars”, “ideal model”, “characteristics” and “principles” which should be derived from the Holy Quran. Indeed, this article endeavors to discover and recognize these attributes for the Islamic city by benefiting the Quranic teaching, with which the Islamic ideal city can be defined.

In other words, the basic hypothesis of the article is: “attributes and definition of Islamic City (Islamic Utopia) can be derived from the Holy Quran.”  Obviously, considering the comprehensiveness, everlasting and universality of Islam (and its Holy book: Quran) the definition and attributes of the Islamic city are fundamental and essential for all times and all places but their manifestations in different places and eras are subjected to cultural issues, environmental conditions, economic situations, available technology and other conditions of the specific era and place.

The article responds to the following questions:

1. What is the research method for recognizing the main attributes of the Islamic city from the Holy Quran?

2. What is the definition of Islamic City?

3. What are its main attributes according to Quranic teachings?

According to the background of different parts of the study and its issues, a variety of research methods such as discovery, commentary, deduction and analysis will be used.

To explain the manner of achieving the main goal of the study, it is useful to bring about a brief explanation about the main issues recognized from the Holy Quran.

As mentioned above, there is not an agreed definition for the very important term of “Islamic city.” It seems that the best and the most appropriate definition for “Islamic city” should be derived from the basic Islamic sacred texts, especially from the Holly Quran. The first stage in proposing the definition of this term is recognition of its foundations, definition of its pillars, its paradigm, its attributes and classification of its principles.

There are essential and important points which should be considered in Islamic built environment:

1. Islamic architecture and urban design need to be based on specific Islamic theoretical bases derived from Islamic sacred texts.

2. The Holy Quran is the main source of criteria and guidance for all Muslim activities including Islamic architecture and urban design and their theoretical bases.

3. The Holy Quran does not directly indicate details but timeless values and principles are indicated for creating an appropriate built environment for Muslim life.

4. Although attributes of Muslim acts and products should be derived from the Holy Quran, the main questions are:

- How can Muslim benefit from the Holy Quran in the field of architecture and urban design?

- What are the main principles and values and their original models which have to be considered in Islamic architecture and urban design? and

- Are there any relevant comments and basic principles and values on Islamic architecture and urbanism in the Holy Quran?

This study has been done with the attempt to respond to these important questions. It will endeavor to recognize and introduce those verses of the Holy Quran which indicate attributes of the Islamic built environment for Muslim life. Indeed, a series of principles and their application will be presented in order to design and identify those Islamic architecture and urban design by which Islamic built environment can be demonstrated.

The subjects and issues which clarify the attributes of these principles can be classified in seven categories:

I. Islamic Principles and Values:

The Islamic Divine Book indicates many principles and values which should be considered in all Muslim acts and activities. These principles and values are the main concern of Muslims and should predominate over their activities and include: tawhid, tasbih, dhikr, ibrah, islah and so on.

II. Universal Principles and Values:

Universal principles need to be considered in Islamic architecture and urban design. The relevant values and principles are introduced by indicating the reference verses of the Holy Quran. Justice, balance, hierarchy, truth, beauty, freedom and so on are the most important of universal principles.

III. Attributes of Allah's Acts

According to the Holy Quran, Man is the vicegerent of God on earth. Therefore attributes of Man's acts should be similar to the attributes of God's acts. Human who is the vicegerent of God must represent those qualities and seek the best way to creation and maintenance of a suitable environment for life and development of the earth, and his (or her) actions and activities must also be harmonized with the universal principles established by God. In other words, attributes of Allah's acts (as an original and basic model for human activities) are explored and introduced in this section by paying deep attention to the Holy Quran.

IV: Nature and Natural Elements

Man lives and acts on earth by benefiting from nature and natural elements. Recognition of spiritual meaning and material benefits of nature and natural elements are two important points which should be considered in human activities and relationships between man and nature. The spiritual and symbolic meaning of natural elements and their relationships with Man and his architecture and urban design are recognized and introduced by considering relevant verses of the Holy Quran.

V: Regulation of Social Relationships

The fifth section will deal with Man and his relationship with the society and those attributes by which a Muslim society can be manifested. Therefore, those verses of the Holy Quran that have expressed the attributes of Muslim society (ummah) and the effects of these attributes on Muslim architecture and urban design are discussed in this section.

VI. Ethics Islamic Values

Islamic teaching has introduced many moral values including two main parts: those that should be respected, and those which must be avoided. An appropriate city for Muslim life has to help people to live in the city according to these moral values.

VII. Attributes of the Built Environment

Those verses of the Holy Quran which indicate the elements and attributes of the built environment as well as their relationships with human beings have been gathered in this category.

VIII. Architectural and Urban Elements

The Holy Quran indicates many architectural and urban elements by which some Islamic architectural attributes can be recognized. This category includes the relevant verses that indicate suitable or unsuitable attributes of architectural elements which may contribute to identification of Islamic architecture and urban design.

Essential, basic and timeless principles for Islamic architecture and urban design will be flourished by paying deep attention to those verses of the Holy Quran which are collected here. These concepts, elements and words are related to one or more of the seven items mentioned above, such as Muslim society (individual, family, and neighbors), Muslim architecture, nature, natural elements, architectural timeless principles, symbols and signs and other relevant subjects. Indeed, this index is so comprehensive as to be used by not only architects and urban designers but also artists, environmentalists, social scientists and so on.

“Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah: And my success can only come from Allah” (The Holy Quran,11:88 )”

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So far, insufficiency of fluency non-native patterns in urban planning system and reliance on imported versions in our urban planning, which has imposed heavy consequences on our organization city. Superficial imitation of the patterns and lack of inclusion of indigenous socio-cultural foundations, not only failed due to an intolerance to adapt with Iranian-Islamic identity of the city but also but sometimes incomplete or improper implementation of them, has created double dilemma. Glorious history of Islamic civilization is full of strong evidence to show that always Muslims with intelligence and interaction with other cultures can use positive approaches of the others, Of course, in this way the main source was the Qoran and the Prophet (PBUH) and the Ahlul Bayt method. Therefore, localization and using benefit of the positive achievements, in particular the successful experiences, it can be catalyst and facilitator to achieve a model of their own culture. In this context and to respond to the significant challenges of development and conservation issues in the context of historical Islamic cities ,in this study scrutinizes, integrated urban regeneration policy and according to the contextually logic and its components, introduced native model of integrated urban regeneration in the context of historical Islamic cities. Obviously this issue is possible, after becoming today›s one-dimensional man and as a result imbalances in the structure of the city caused cultural gap and injection of indigenous component, only through recognition of the Islamic identity of the city and its components based on Islamic thought. Qualitative methods of this study, with descriptive-analytic approach, gathers information through using documentary. The main sources are the urban regeneration literature and the Book of God, Imams traditions, legacy of Islamic cities.Every religion can be clearly reflected in the construction of the physical, economic, social, cultural and geographical spaces which can be observed under the realm of religion. Islam binds importance and value of city to scale of its spirituality of the people. Therefore, Islamism of city depends on can present the principles and values that Word of God has defined to the Muslim community. A Islamic city is Islamic if  its physical aspect is manifestation and expression of Islamic values for human life and the basis of the attributes of divine action; Absolutely in such this structure, unison of material and spiritual components to unity, in totality-unity in diversity- must be fulfilled; Such that human virtues such as justice, moral virtues for example honesty, safety and security and in general all religious good nesses are plentiful in the Islamic utopia and of course, in considering to  physical aspect will not  never neglect the virtues and somehow is going to be built in such spaces that have virtue and reminder for human. Meanwhile the urban context, both historical and new, is objective space as constituents of the Islamic city in association with intellectual and practical space follow the realization of a goal. According to Islamic teachings, the ultimate goal of human is perfection and excellence that will not be possible unless we pay attention to God, therefore, in the Islamic urban planning all components must be noted and used to improve human. The deteriorated texture problems in the structure of our modern cities, not new and not fully solved and so far main part of this problem goes to the logic of policies that have been adopted. Nowadays, decision-makers face trouble because of lack of the pattern which adaptive to social, economic, and geographical attributes of country and rely on imported patterns. More patterns arising from the capitalist system that except their own interests, and not pursuing another target. It is clear that the adoption and use of global patterns not only is not required and pre assigned version for all cultures and nations, but also is not in many cases definitive. So it seems to achieve Islamic-Iranian model of progress, first, it should recognized basic principles of common pattern in all aspects of decision-making in solving problem and then be recognized main assumptions underlying them and adapted to the culture and conditions. Therefore, understanding the process of change and protection of them is key to integrated urban regeneration. In this study, Based on theoretical principles of Islamic city, model for integrated urban regeneration process in historical context are explained and localized, from this perspective lack of comprehensive theoretical mechanism for dealing with the deteriorated historical context in modern cities of our country will solved.

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The originality of meaning in architectural works such as the memorials of the martyrs of the holy defense, in addition to the historical link between different eras, leads to keeping alive the memory of the martyrs of the imposed war for the future generations and displays a sign of the identity, history and culture of Iran. Therefore, the memorials of the martyrs have signs that carry meaning. The purpose of the research is to explain the signs hidden in the martyrs' memorials based on their semantic authenticity in Iranian architecture. The research question is, from the point of view of semiotics, what is the originality of meaning in the architecture of the memorials of the martyrs of Imam Hossein University against Islam and Ponk University of Research Sciences? The current research has used analytical semiotics research method with the method of collecting information in a library-like manner from presented documents, and to codify the analysis done, the generalities and structure of the memorials of the memorial of the unknown martyrs in Imam Hossein (peace be upon him) and Ponk University of Research Sciences in Panj Nizam. environment, construction, access, physical-functional and landscape) and the concepts of the signs used were extracted and then with the primary classification, the hidden concepts were expressed at the levels of explicit, implicit and symbolic meaning. The results showed that in the memorials of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and the Punak University of Research Sciences, the semiotics and authenticity of the meaning in the systems and levels presented were based on the views, culture, beliefs and beliefs of the architects of these two memorials, up to the essence of the martyrs and their authenticity and sustainability. In defense of the motherland, through structural and physical factors, it should be deeply linked to Iranian identity and culture, and this link and the myth of the Iranian martyrs of the earth along with their immortality in the semiotic systems of access, which is the entry into our memory, and then by entering the landscape and the surrounding environment and at the end, show the main volume of memory and his body. In general, the architecture of the studied monuments is based on the architectural features that are hidden in their body and structural form based on the principles of Iranian-Islamic architecture, they have caused the continuity of implicit meanings through objective components, and therefore they are a symbol of the architectural white box that tells of mysticism and Spirituality and deep connection between these two are important