Formal Structure in Muslim Ritual Buildings

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Abstract

Formal structure sources in ritual buildings that hinged on culture, geography, climate and aboriginal traditional architecture are variable. Repeat became an integral part and symbol of religion with creation and consistency of formal structures in each ordinance. In the other word form in ritual buildings considered as a sacred term. Formal structure doesn’t depend on geography, climate and habitat by creating such a cover and this manner continued forcedly. Each of the religions such as Hindu, Buddhist and Christian has similar formal structures in ritual buildings regardless of geographical placement. The Islamic ritual buildings accept a variable formal structure by the way. So the concept of form sanctity doesn’t boil down in Islamic ritual buildings.
Finding the roots of formal structure variation in Islamic ritual buildings is the object of current research. The methodology hinged on case study survey and takes the account of characteristic features of precedent mosques in variant geographic regions. Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, Shah-Jahan Jameh Mosque of Indian subcontinent and the Great mosque of Xi’an in China selected as case studies. Geographical and habitat variations are imminent. Therefore the solution is bringing characteristic features up to narrow theory down. This manner asserts that mosque forms picked their templates from geographical and habitat variations. Survey on formal structure roots at mentioned samples revealed that habitat of the same geographic region bring about these characteristics. Samples raised the profiles of space organizing, construction technology, decorating, color and build index. Habitat factor in each region has direct impact on formal structure of Islamic ritual buildings. 

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