History6 Gardens of Islam

8/2/2019 History6 Gardens of Islam

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The Gardens of Islam:The Gardens of Islam:

Earthly Paradise RevisitedEarthly Paradise Revisited

Dr. Safei HamedTexas Tech University

Department of Landscape Architecture


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The GardenThe Gardens of Islam:s of Islam: Earthly Paradise RevisitedEarthly Paradise Revisited

The Muslims emphasized the injunctions toThe Muslims emphasized the injunctions to

dress the garden and keep itdress the garden and keep it--man the stewardman the steward

They developed the belief that man couldThey developed the belief that man could

make a garden of naturemake a garden of nature

Paradise could be created on earth by wiseParadise could be created on earth by wisemen and realized by artistsmen and realized by artists

Design with NatureDesign with Nature

Ian McHarg, 1969Ian McHarg, 1969


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What is an Islamic GardenWhat is an Islamic Garden??

A landscape which is designed:A landscape which is designed:

With specific intentions in mindWith specific intentions in mind

Applying certain ideological Principles andApplying certain ideological Principles and

objectives rooted in the Islamic faith andobjectives rooted in the Islamic faith and

the Muslim culturethe Muslim culture

using distinct design elementsusing distinct design elements


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When was the typical IslamicWhen was the typical Islamicgarden Developed?garden Developed?

The Islamic Empire spanned from the 7The Islamic Empire spanned from the 7ththto the 16to the 16thth century. From thecentury. From the

establishment of the 1establishment of the 1stst Islamic State inIslamic State in

Medina to the peak of the OttomanMedina to the peak of the OttomanEmpire, the Islamic civilizationEmpire, the Islamic civilization

dominated a millennium, encompasseddominated a millennium, encompassed

half the world, and shaped the historyhalf the world, and shaped the history

of the human race.of the human race.


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Where can one find examples ofWhere can one find examples ofthe Islamic garden?the Islamic garden?

Western Asia: Iran, Turkey, and theWestern Asia: Iran, Turkey, and theArabian Peninsula.Arabian Peninsula.

SouthSouth--Eastern Asia: India, Pakistan,Eastern Asia: India, Pakistan,

Kashmir, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan.Kashmir, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan.

The Middle East: Syria, Lebanon, Iraq,The Middle East: Syria, Lebanon, Iraq,

Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Europe: Spain (Granada, Cordova,Europe: Spain (Granada, Cordova,

Seville and Toledo).Seville and Toledo).


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What are the typical designWhat are the typical designelements of an Islamic garden?elements of an Islamic garden?

CourtyardsCourtyards

Water featuresWater features

TreesTrees

FlowersFlowers

Calligraphy on WallsCalligraphy on Walls


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For what purpose did theFor what purpose did thedesigner of the Islamic gardendesigner of the Islamic gardenuse water?use water?

To emphasize architectural elementsTo emphasize architectural elements

To add dynamic qualityTo add dynamic quality

To mask outdoor noisesTo mask outdoor noises

To provide pleasing soundsTo provide pleasing sounds

To irrigate plantsTo irrigate plants To moisturize the dry environmentTo moisturize the dry environment

To sooth the dusty environmentTo sooth the dusty environment


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What are the factors that mayWhat are the factors that mayhave influenced the design of thehave influenced the design of the

historic Islamic gardens?historic Islamic gardens?

Earlier civilizationsEarlier civilizations

The Holly QurThe Holly Quran: Gardens arean: Gardens are

mentioned 164 times.mentioned 164 times.

The Sunnah: Traditions of ProphetThe Sunnah: Traditions of Prophet

MuhammedMuhammed The arid environmentThe arid environment


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The Holy Qur'anThe Holy Qur'an: Chapter 27: Chapter 27--6060

God has created the heavens and theGod has created the heavens and the

earthearthAnd He sends you down rain from the skyAnd He sends you down rain from the sky

Yea, with it we cause to grow wellYea, with it we cause to grow well--plantedplanted

orchardsorchards

Full of beauty and delightFull of beauty and delight


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The Holy Qur'anThe Holy Qur'an: Chapter 55: Chapter 55

For those who fear the day of judgment,For those who fear the day of judgment,

there will be two gardensthere will be two gardens(55(55--46)46)Abounding in branchesAbounding in branches(55(55--48)48)

In them (each) will be Two SpringsIn them (each) will be Two Springs

flowing freelyflowing freely(55(55--50)50)

In them will be fruits of every kind, twoIn them will be fruits of every kind, two

and twoand two(55(55--52)52)


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How has the Islamic faithHow has the Islamic faithinfluenced the landscape designerinfluenced the landscape designer??

Balance between physical and metaphysicalBalance between physical and metaphysical

Multiple useMultiple use

DiversityDiversity

BeautyBeauty

ModerationModeration

ContextualityContextuality

IndividualismIndividualism


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Balancin g t h e Ph y sica l an d Ba lanc in g t h e Ph y sica l an d Metaphys ica l Metaphys ica l

1.1. The concept of unityThe concept of unity2.2. The belief of the seen and unseenThe belief of the seen and unseen

3.3. The harmony among god, humans,The harmony among god, humans,and natureand nature

4.4. The duality of humans: material andThe duality of humans: material and

spiritspirit


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The m u l t i p l e use The m u l t i p l e use

1.1. Accommodating recreational activitiesAccommodating recreational activities

2.2. LifeLife--sustaining oasissustaining oasis3.3. Displaying beauty and scenic qualitiesDisplaying beauty and scenic qualities

Dive rs i t y D ive rs i t y

1.1. Science and artScience and art

2.2. Natural and urbanNatural and urban

3.3. Tangible and symbolicTangible and symbolic

4.4. Light and shadowLight and shadow


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Beau ty Beau ty

1.1. Arts were integrated into lifeArts were integrated into life

2.2. Beauty without arroganceBeauty without arrogance

3.3. Inner richness vs. Humble appearanceInner richness vs. Humble appearance

God i s beau t i f u l an d h e God i s beau t i f u l an d h e

l oves beau t y l oves beau t y (Prophet Muhammad)(Prophet Muhammad)


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Modera t i on Mode ra t i on

Reason vs. NatureReason vs. Nature

Spiritual vs. PhysicalSpiritual vs. Physical

Rational vs. ArtisticRational vs. Artistic

W e hav e i ndeed cr eat ed you a W e have ind eed c reat ed y ou a

m i d d le n a t i o n m i d d le n a t i o n (The Qur'an)(The Qur'an)


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Con tex tua l i t y Con tex tua l i t y

1.1. Zoning in city planningZoning in city planning

2.2. Harmony with nature and respect ofHarmony with nature and respect ofGodGod--made environmentmade environment

3.3. Harmony with people and respect ofHarmony with people and respect of

ones neighborones neighbor

A system of planning is evident from theA system of planning is evident from the

very many bazaars, markets, squares,very many bazaars, markets, squares,streets, and other localitiesstreets, and other localities


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I n d i v id u a l i sm I n d i v id u a l ism

1.1. Humans are responsibleHumans are responsible

2.2. No intermediaryNo intermediary

3.3. Free willFree will

4.4. The right decision is unique in spaceThe right decision is unique in spaceand timeand time

5.5. Regional variationRegional variation


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In this perusal there are two clear paradoxes. The sameIn this perusal there are two clear paradoxes. The sameSemitic people, living in the same arid and hostileSemitic people, living in the same arid and hostile

environment, deriving their religious views from theenvironment, deriving their religious views from the

same source in genesis, developing two quite distinctsame source in genesis, developing two quite distinctviews of manviews of man--nature.nature.

The first, presented in Islam, emphasized that manThe first, presented in Islam, emphasized that man

could make paradise on earth, make the desert bloom,could make paradise on earth, make the desert bloom,

that he was the creator and steward. The Jews andthat he was the creator and steward. The Jews and

later Christians emphasized conquestlater Christians emphasized conquest

Ian McHargIan McHarg

Design with NatureDesign with Nature, 1969, 1969

History6 Gardens of Islam

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