Cosmology and Architecture in Premodern Islam

Samer Akkach

Description

This fascinating interdisciplinary study reveals connections between architecture, cosmology, and mysticism. Samer Akkach demonstrates how space ordering in premodern Islamic architecture reflects the transcendental and the sublime. The book features many new translations, a number from unpublished sources, and several illustrations.

Referencing a wide range of mystical texts, and with a special focus on the works of the great Sufi master Ibn Arabi, Akkach introduces a notion of spatial sensibility that is shaped by religious conceptions of time and space. Religious beliefs about the cosmos, geography, the human body, and constructed forms are all underpinned by a consistent spatial sensibility anchored in medieval geocentrism. Within this geometrically defined and ordered universe, nothing stands in isolation or ambiguity; everything is interrelated and carefully positioned in an intricate hierarchy. Through detailed mapping of this intricate order, the book shows the significance of this mode of seeing the world for those who lived in the premodern Islamic era and how cosmological ideas became manifest in the buildings and spaces of their everyday lives. This is a highly original work that provides important insights on Islamic aesthetics and culture, on the history of architecture, and on the relationship of art and religion, creativity and spirituality.

Illustrations

Note to the Reader

Preface

Introduction

Abbreviations

1. Discursive Order

Cosmology: An Overview
Symbolism: A Critical Review
History and Symbolism
Sufism
Symbolism: A Sufi Perspective

2. Metaphysical Order

Being and Presence
The Primordial Presence
The Divine Presence
The Human Presence
The Epitome of Creation
The Presence of the Word

3. Cosmic Order

The Original Idea
Creative Breathing
The “Cloud” and Cosmic Forms
The World of Command
The World of Creation

4. Architectural Order

Gazing at the Sky
Ordering Spaces
Architecture and the Sacred
The Ka’ba: The First House
The Mosque and the Spatiality of Prayer

Afterword: Architecture and Cosmic Habitat

Notes

List of Arabic Manuscripts Cited

Selected Bibliography

Index

Sujets

• Islam
• History of religions
• History of architecture

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791483442
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Cosmology and Architecture in Premodern Islam

SUNY series in Islam Seyyed Hossein Nasr, editor

Cosmology and Architecture in Premodern Islam

An Architectural Reading of Mystical Ideas

Samer Akkach

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2005 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 122102365

Production by Marilyn P. Semerad Marketing by Michael Campochiaro

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Akkach, Samer. Cosmology and architecture in premodern Islam : an architectural reading of mystical ideas / Samer Akkach. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Islam) Includes bibliographical references and index. IBSN 0791464113 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Islamic art and symbolism. 2. Symbolism in architecture. 3. Architecture, Islamic. 4. Islamic cosmology. 5. Sufism. I. Title. II. Series. BP182.5.A34 2005 726'.2'01—dc22 2004014267

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Illustrations Note to the Reader Preface Introduction Abbreviations

Contents

Chapter 1. Discursive Order Cosmology: An Overview Symbolism: A Critical Review History and Symbolism Sufism Symbolism: A Sufi Perspective Chapter 2. Metaphysical Order Being and Presence The Primordial Presence The Divine Presence The Human Presence The Presence of the Word The Geometry of Being

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Contents

Chapter 3. Cosmic Order The Original Idea Creative Breathing The “Cloud” and Cosmic Forms The World of Command The World of Creation Chapter 4. Architectural Order Gazing at the Sky Ordering Spaces Architecture and the Sacred The KaFirst Houseba: The The Mosque and the Spatiality of Prayer Afterword: Architecture and Cosmic Habitat

Notes List of Arabic Manuscripts Cited Selected Bibliography Index

113 113 115 119 120 124 149 149 151 162 179 193 207

211 237 239 255

Photos

Photo 1.1

Photo 1.2

Photo 4.1 Photo 4.2

Photo 4.3

Photo 4.4

Photo 4.5

Photo 4.6

Illustrations

The complex of Shaykh MuhyjalDjn at ∙ thefoothillofQa¯siy¯uninDamascus. The dome over the tomb of IbnArabjin Damascus. The Umayyad Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. ThecentraldomedstructureatIbnT¯ulu¯n mosque in Cairo showing the geometry and spatial order of the centralized enclosed space model. The courtyard of the Sultan Hasan school ∙ in Cairo showing the geometry and spatial order of the centralized open courtyard model. The respondents’ platform(dikka)at the Sultan Hasan school in Cairo. ∙ The interior of the great Umayyad mosque of Damascus. ThetomboftheprophetYahy¯ainsidethe ∙ prayer hall of the great Umayyad mosque of Damascus.

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Figures

Figure 1.1

Figure 1.2

Figure 2.1

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Figure 2.7

Figure 2.8 Figure 2.9

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Figure 2.15

Illustrations

The hierarchy of shadows according to IbnArabj. Triplicity and quadrature underlying the order of universal manifestation. The seven states of Being viewed from various perspectives. The circle as a symbol of divinity in the state of first determination. The world as divine business(sha  n), according to IbnArabj(Futu¯ ha¯t). ∙ The geometric representation of the divine creative command according to IbnArabj. The first stage of manifestation according to IbnArabj¯ah)tF(¯utu. ∙ The second stage of manifestation according to IbnArabj(Futu¯ ha¯t). ∙ The third stage of manifestation according to IbnArabj(Futu¯ ha¯t,a:Dad¯¯aSr.d;rieb:MS. 1328). ∙∙ Pattern of proliferation according to IbnArabj. The human presence mediating between God and the world. The threedimensional cross as a symbol of the human presence. The three movements of spatial unfolding. The complementary movements of spatial expansion according to IbnArabj. The correlation of the Arabic alphabet and the human body (“Jawa¯ hir,” MS. 7127). The natural qualities of the Arabic alphabet (“Jaw¯ahir,”MS.7127). Diagrammatic representation of the formation of the word in Arabic.

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Figure 2.17

Figure 3.1

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Figure 3.6

Figure 3.7

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Figure 3.9

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Figure 4.1 Figure 4.2

Figure 4.3

Illustrations

The fundamental order of being according to IbnArabj¯(Ihans  laDwa¯a  ir). Diagrammatic representation of the geometry of being. The geocentric cosmos and domains of being according to IbnArabj. The form of the “Cloud” revealing the world of command according to IbnArabj(Futu¯ ha¯t). ∙ The divine Throne and the Footstool according to IbnArabj¯utu¯ah)t(F. ∙ The bearers of the divine Throne according to IbnArabj. The form of the Throne in the hereafter according to IbnArabj(Futu¯ ha¯t). ∙ The celestial Gardens according to IbnArabj (Fut¯uha¯t). ∙ The duodenary structure of theatlassphere according to IbnArabj. The heavens, the earths, the kingdoms, and Universal Man as invisible support according to IbnArabj)t(F¯utu¯ah. ∙ The formal correspondence between the letter nu¯n(N) and the world according to IbnArabj. The four nodal points of the moon’s monthly cycle according to alAmilj(“Tashrjh,” MS. 3103). ∙ Differentiating the motion of theatlassphere by reference to the divine Feet according to IbnArabj. The multilayered world according to IbnArabj (Fut¯uha¯t). ∙ The geometry of the concentric composition. The formal order of the centralized enclosed space model. The formal components of the centralized enclosed space model.

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