PRINCIPLES OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

• Architecture as Tawhid: Unity and Uniquity of Allah.

Also refering to the acts of devotion and faith. Mainly the sense of unity; wether in the gathering of people within spaces for purposes of devotion such as prayer or in terms of the space being an area of Muslim social life: education - public service - economic platform as others. spaces that are separated in terms of commercial from residential areas. 

• Architecture of Ihtiram; Respect.

The practice or art of submission is what may be defined as being respectful; this may be portrayed through architecture that shows devotion in calligraphy, harmony that may be seen within the use of geometrics within a space and respecting the essence of humanity through a building being regarded as a sanctuary. 

• Architecture as Ikhlas; Sincerity.

spaces that also show a sense of devotion in terms of factors such as decorative finishes such as calligraphy - Islamic inscriptions which portray sincerity through the devotion to the religion. The use of beautifully designed floral motifs with the abstraction of idols or faces (representations of humans) from these structures shows sincerity.

• Architecture as Pursuit of Ilm; Knowledge.

"Knowledge is the the light of truth". The importance of knowledge within Islam is crucial, so it is portrayed within architecture through inscriptions such as calligraphy of the arabic language - which is a scared language especially when used to show the Islamic message, there is the use of mathematics portrayed in Islamic art geometry - this is a crucial factor.

• Architecture for Iqtisad; Balance.

the act of achieving balance within spaces - functional and spiritual balance. In terms of using factors such as spatial proportions (scale) , textures, materials and lighting. it is also an understanding of nature and its portrayal within spaces and so forth - floral motifs

• Architecture of Haya; Modesty.

Humility - Decency - awareness. these are just a few words that may be linked to the notion of modesty. in terms of architecture; this refers to spaces that offer a sense of privacy wether through screening or separation of spaces, this may also be linked to climatic control where screens are used for shading from sun hence a sense of coverage. 

• Architecture as Dikr; Remembrance.

Remembrance within architecture may be represented through the harmony of monotonous spaces - repetition of various features that offer rhythmic precision - this factor signifies a sense of 'chanting' like a continuos representation of God's innumerable attributes. This can be seen through the use of rows of arch's which is a technique thats quite normally seen within Islamic architecture.