Islamic Architecture and Concepts Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following elements is not a component of the concept of din in Islam?

  • *mahabbah* (correct)
  • *ibādāt*
  • *îmān*
  • *ihsan*

What does the term umma signify in the context of Islam?

  • A place of worship
  • A religious text
  • Social and political unity (correct)
  • A historical figure

Which architectural feature is characteristic of an Ottoman mosque?

  • Simple flat roof
  • Centralized dome (correct)
  • Wooden pillars
  • Open courtyard

What was the early indicator of the direction of Mecca in mosque architecture?

<p>A spear (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which mosque was initiated by Sultan Ahmet in Istanbul?

<p>Blue Mosque (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of Islam is represented by the shahadah?

<p>Attestation of faith (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which architectural term refers specifically to a venue for congregational prayers in Islam?

<p>Jami (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are the Names of God in Islam related to the concept of His Attributes?

<p>Attributes are derived from the Names (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the dikka in a mosque?

<p>To accommodate the muezzins chanting responses (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which architectural feature distinguishes a masjid from a jémi?

<p>Absence of a minbar (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where did the architectural plan of the madrasa likely originate?

<p>Khurasan (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of Ottoman madrasas?

<p>They allow for the roofing of a small courtyard (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did the khānaqah serve in Islamic culture?

<p>A retreat or monastic haven for spiritual communities (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the madrasa?

<p>Large minbar for sermons (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What architectural feature does the Mustansiriyya in Baghdad lack?

<p>A pulpit and minaret (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which monastic order is associated with landscape meditation?

<p>Bektashis (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary orientation of bodies during burial in Islamic customs?

<p>In a horizontal position along the qibla (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the height of trees in cemeteries symbolize in Islamic tradition?

<p>The degree of glory enjoyed in Paradise by the deceased (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which architectural feature serves as a visual and liturgical climax in a mosque?

<p>The mihrab (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a minaret in Islamic architecture?

<p>To provide a high point for broadcasting the call to prayer (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a rāwda in the context of funerary practices?

<p>A funerary garden with eschatological significance (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of the dome in Islamic architecture evolved over time?

<p>It transitioned from small to covering the entire sanctuary (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the mihrab in a mosque?

<p>To mark the direction of Mecca (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are coffins treated in Islamic burial customs?

<p>They are optional, but vaults are essential (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a jämi mosque?

<p>To hold the Friday service. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true about ablution?

<p>It must be performed with clean running water. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What architectural feature distinguishes the Iranian madrasa?

<p>A fusion of the local <em>kiosk mosque</em> with the <em>madrasa</em>. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where did the madrasa plan originate?

<p>Khurasan. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following mosques is an example of a dome-dominated mosque?

<p>Üç Şerefeli Mosque. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the khānaqah?

<p>It serves as a monastic mosque. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which madrasa is one of the most sumptuous in Iranian architecture?

<p>Madrasa-i Shah. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What key function is associated with the daily prayer in a mosque?

<p>It may include both individual and collective prayers. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the square plinth of the türbe symbolize?

<p>The earthly realm (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a funerary garden in Islamic culture?

<p>A modular space with a specific geometric arrangement (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common feature of Islamic mausoleums?

<p>A funerary garden (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the tābūt commonly associated with in Islamic architecture?

<p>A replica of a coffin for a saint's tomb (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the early mihrab in Islamic architecture?

<p>To amplify the imam's voice (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the masjid related to the deceased in Islamic tradition?

<p>It embodies the connection of the <em>umma</em> to both the living and the dead. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinguishing feature of the Nizamiyya of Baghdad?

<p>It had a student body of around six thousand (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does the grave play in Islamic belief?

<p>It is a sacred site with a spiritual connection to the deceased. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which tree is most commonly associated with cemeteries in Turkey and symbolizes glory in Paradise?

<p>Cypress (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic best describes the türbe in Islamic architecture?

<p>It has a gable section that tapers towards the foot. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'khānaqah' refer to in Islamic culture?

<p>A monastic mosque and center for Sufism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What common visual metaphor is represented by tombstones in Islamic cemeteries?

<p>They act as silent witnesses to life and death. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which element evolved from the niche of Coptic churches into the defining feature of Islamic architecture?

<p>The mihrab (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following mausoleums are considered premier examples of Islamic funerary gardens?

<p>Humāyūn, Akbar, Jihangir, and Shah Jihan (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What architectural feature is common in the design of a funerary garden?

<p>Quadrants divided by two axes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is regarded as the greatest university in Islam?

<p>Nizamiyya of Baghdad (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Islam's core beliefs

Islam centers on belief in one God (Allah), His prophets, and the Quran as His final revelation.

Shahadah

The Islamic declaration of faith, comprising two parts: belief in one God and Muhammad as his messenger.

Umma

The Muslim community, unified by belief, not birth.

Masjid

A smaller mosque, used for daily prayers.

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Jami

A larger mosque used for congregational prayers, often on Fridays.

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Idgah

A place of prayer, possibly a temporary structure for special occasions.

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Early Mosque Architecture

Early mosques used a spear to indicate the direction of Mecca.

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Ottoman Mosques

Ottoman mosques featured monumental central structures with domes and semi-domes.

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Mihrab

A niche in a mosque that indicates the direction of Mecca.

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Minbar

A pulpit in a mosque from which sermons are given.

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Dikka

A platform in a mosque, usually positioned near the mihrab, where muezzins chant responses to the imam.

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Kursi

A lectern in a mosque, large enough to hold the Quran, used by the Quran reciter.

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Masjid

A mosque that does not have a minbar, distinguishing it from a congregational mosque (jami).

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Madrasa

A collegiate mosque, educational institution often with living quarters, based on the Iranian mosque plan.

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Khurasan

Region where the madrasa building style likely originated, initially as teachers' homes.

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Khānaqah

A monastic mosque, a retreat community in Islam.

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Bektashis

A major monastic order in Islam, with convents incorporating landscape into meditative practice.

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Barqiyya

A mosque that combines the functions of a mosque, madrasa, and monastery.

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Cruciform Plan

A building plan that has the shape of a cross.

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Īwān

A large, vaulted hall, a key component of Islamic architecture.

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Funerals (Islamic)

Follow a prescribed pattern, as laid out in the traditions of Islam, including a committal ceremony and prayer.

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Burial Customs (Islamic)

Guided by Islamic beliefs of salvation and resurrection, bodies are placed at right angles to the qibla and sometimes in vaults.

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Qibla

The direction towards Mecca, central to Islamic prayer and rituals.

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Minaret

A tall tower on a mosque, used for the call to prayer.

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Dome (mosque)

A curved roof, symbolic of heaven.

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Mihrāb

A niche in a mosque wall, indicating the direction of Mecca.

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Rāwda

A funerary garden in Islamic contexts.

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Türbe

A type of Islamic tomb, often highly decorative, with a gable top and tapering shape, symbolizing the transition from the material world to eternity.

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Funerary Garden

A modular garden space in Islam, often a square or rectangle, divided into quadrants, reflecting the idea of a Paradisal Garden.

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Gunbad-i Qābūs

A specific Iranian tomb designed to honor warriors.

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Catafalque (Tābūt)

A wooden replica of an Islamic coffin, often adorned for a saint's tomb.

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Islamic Cemetery categories

Cemeteries classified by those celebrating saints, heroes, or the deceased of a specific profession.

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Mosque as Visual Metaphor

The mosque symbolizes the community encompassing both the living and the dead.

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Grave (Islam)

A sacred place, a point of psychic contact between the deceased and the living.

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Formal Prayer in Islam

A repeated sequence of actions (standing, bowing, prostration, genuflection) showing reverence to God. Performed daily, congregationally, communally, and in pilgrimages.

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Masjid

Islamic house of worship, only having a mihrab, pointing the direction of Mecca.

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Jami'

A congregational mosque specifically used for Friday prayers.

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Ablution

A ritualistic cleansing before prayer to purify oneself for worship. Often partial or complete, needing running, clean water.

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Madrasa

Islamic school and university, often combining practical and beautiful design features with prayer spaces.

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Khurasan

Region where the plan of the Madrasa originated, combining pragmatism and beauty.

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Ottoman madrasas

Type of Madrasa that progressed through architectural developments, from earlier T-plan to later dome-focused.

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Iranian madrasas

A type of madrasa evolved from local styles, with minarets and a dome.

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Egyptian madrasas

Madrasas that evolved from earlier Syrian styles, developing a four-iwan design, and later merged with Mamluk and Ottoman styles.

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Khānaqah

A monastic mosque, accommodating both hermit-like and community-based monasticism.

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Funerary Garden

A common feature in Islamic mausoleums, designed as a formal garden with intersecting axes, often modular, and functional/recreational.

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Tomb Tower

A type of tomb, often preferred by warriors, characterized by a tall structure.

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Taj Mahal

A famous mausoleum, a perfect example of a central mortuary chamber with surrounding chambers for family.

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Mausoleum

A building housing a tomb, often with multiple chambers for the deceased and their family.

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Mihrab

The defining element in Islamic architecture, originating from Coptic niches, indicating the direction of Mecca.

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Early Mosque (no Mihrab)

Early mosques lacked a mihrab, using a stone marker for prayer direction.

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Madrasa

An Islamic university, crucial for knowledge transmission and Sunni orthodoxy.

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Khānaqah

Islamic monastic center considered the heart of Muslim monasticism, often in a mosque form.

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Tomb (Türbe)

Islamic tomb, evolving from the 'qibla' position to a covered mortuary chamber with a dome.

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Nizamiyya

A famous example of an Islamic university (madrasa) known as the greatest Islamic university, established in 1067.

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Cemetery Tree

Evergreen trees commonly planted in cemeteries, particularly cypress.

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Study Notes

Allah and Eternity: Mosques, Madrasas, and Tombs

  • Din (religion) encompasses three elements: îmân ("belief"), îbādāt ("religious obligations"), and ihsān ("right doing")
  • Îmân centers on belief in God's oneness, prophets, and the finality of Muhammad's prophethood.
  • The Shahada ("Creed") asserts belief in God and Muhammad as His messenger.
  • Islam emphasizes unity (ontological, social, and political) represented by the umma (Muslim community).
  • God's essence (dhat) is incomprehensible, but His Attributes (Names) are reflected in creation.
  • Ninety-nine Names of God, derived from the Qur'an, represent His Attributes.
  • God created man in His likeness, granting him seven essential Attributes (life, knowledge, will, power, hearing, seeing, and speech).

Liturgical Orientation and the Mosque

  • Mecca is the central point of the Muslim world, with the Ka'ba at its center, the axis mundi.
  • The Ka'ba is a hollow cube of stone, central to Islamic cosmology and the focal point for the Hajj pilgrimage.
  • The mosque's design is oriented towards Mecca by the mihrab, a niche in the qibla wall.
  • The Ka'ba's symbolic significance as the point of intersection of the spirit and the material is represented.
  • The mihrab's design is often elaborate and intricate.

The Mosque

  • Prayer is performed in four scales: individual, congregational, community-wide (town), and global (all Muslims).
  • Masjid ("mosque") is specifically for individual or small group prayer, and also used for other gatherings if the setting allows.
  • Jami' ("congregational mosque") is for Friday prayers or other congregational prayers.
  • Idgah ("place of prayer") is a large, open-air prayer space for major festivals.
  • Minarets call worshippers to prayer.
  • Fountains (sabil) provide ablution water for ritual cleansing.
  • Prayer rugs are essential, and shoes are removed before entering.

The Madrasa

  • Madrasas were closely linked with mosques, serving as extensions of educational, and even residential, functions.
  • The structure typically contained a courtyard with iwans.
  • Madrasas, unlike mosques, had rooms for students and teachers, and were designed primarily as educational institutions.

The Monastic Mosque

  • Early mosques contained features for monastic practices, such as khanaqahs and small rooms for prayer.
  • Khānaqahs served as places of community prayer and also provided accommodations for dervishes.
  • Monastic mosques frequently featured courtyards, cells for retreat, and gardens, reflecting their integration into the landscape.

The Celebration of Death

  • Islamic burial customs are closely tied to beliefs in salvation and resurrection.
  • Bodies are typically placed in a recumbent position with the head toward Mecca.
  • Memorial mosques are places dedicated to the remembrance of important figures, or where historical events took place.
  • Mausoleums and tombs are often elaborate architectural achievements, and are highly symbolic of Islamic traditions.

Cemeteries of Islam

  • Burial practices are influenced by beliefs on salvation and resurrection
  • Islam often utilizes gardens and specific types of architectural design as a way to emphasize spirituality, and memorialize the importance of the soul through various commemorative structures like mausoleums, and tombs.
  • Professional mourners guide the funeral procession and special stones or carvings reflect on the deceased's position and status.
  • Gravesites may often include cats placed nearby.
  • Cats were often part of the cultural and spiritual landscape and are considered to be one of the Prophet Muhammad's favourite creatures.

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Allah and Eternity: Mosques, Madrasas and Tombs PDF

Description

Test your knowledge of key concepts and architectural elements in Islam with this quiz. From the meaning of umma to the unique features of Ottoman mosques, explore the rich cultural and religious significance of these terms. Perfect for those studying Islamic philosophy and architecture.

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