Dissertation_Dr Faisal Almubarak

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contrasted qualities, between the private and public in urban life, as conditioned by Islamic
religion, are considered by De Montequin as "essential factors which precipitated the
characteristic physiognomy and personality and therefore the environment, of the classical
Islamic city." 47
C. Physical Characteristics of the Arab-Islamic city
THE SUQ/BAZAAR. The commercial element in the traditional Muslim city consists
of a complex set of small, contiguous stalls occupying sides of passageways or branches
which are covered by vaults, canvas shades or domes. Shops provide goods and services
according to the size and wealth of the town. Markets usually exhibit similarity in terms of
their organization. The shops edge a commercial spine. The bazaar is divided into a
sequence of specialized markets that supplant one another along the spine. Different
locations contain similar specialized goods and services. Noxious industries and clean
shops are separated according to deliberate functional land use.
Due to the bazaar area's importance in settlement life and due to its use by many town
residents and outsiders, it required special supervision from authorities. In some cases, the
state invested in the construction of the suq out of a need for steady income. The
increasing importance of the suq.as a source of income for the authorities caused the
development of an administrative institution, the Muhtasib, to supervise the organization of
market activity and the collection of taxes. The Muhtasib was aided by manuals as well as
by having the authority to establish land use zoning regulations.
The urban craft guilds were also instrumental in controlling the economic activities of
the town. They supervised prices, quality of goods and the number of shops per
profession. The status of the suq economy was innovative to the degree that it was touted
as a major innovation of the Muslim city. 48 Various unique responsibilities were devised
for the organization and administrative responsibilities such as the role of the Muhtasib, the
Nazir and Amin al Mustafad (officials who took care of consumer protection, water
provision, and waste disposal). Greetz considers the suq as the representation of Muslim
culture, a social institution and its economic element. He contends that if Islamic
civilization can be characterized by one of its leading institutions, then its the suq. He
states that