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Muslim Spaces of Worship and Gathering

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<strong>Muslim</strong> <strong>Spaces</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Worship</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Gathering</strong>


CONTENT<br />

MUSLIM SPACES OF<br />

WORSHIP AND GATHERING<br />

Introduction<br />

The Mosque / Masjid<br />

Shrines <strong>and</strong> Related <strong>Spaces</strong><br />

The Cemevi<br />

The Jamatkhana<br />

The Mevlevihane <strong>and</strong> Sama‘khana<br />

<strong>Spaces</strong> <strong>of</strong> Personal Retreat<br />

Further Reading<br />

05<br />

11<br />

43<br />

61<br />

65<br />

79<br />

93<br />

101


Geometric Pattern:<br />

A photograph <strong>of</strong> the geometric pattern that adorns<br />

the interior <strong>of</strong> the Ismaili Centre Burnaby. In Islamic art<br />

geometric patterns represent the symbol <strong>of</strong> unity <strong>and</strong> the<br />

ultimate source <strong>of</strong> all diversity in creation.<br />

Photo credit: Asif Lakhani.<br />

Overleaf:<br />

Glass crystalline dome descending to a white onyx<br />

translucent block. In designing the Ismaili Centre,<br />

Toronto, Charles Correa’s vision was to create a building<br />

that responds to the traditions <strong>of</strong> Islamic architecture in a<br />

contemporary design using modern materials.<br />

Photo credit: Gary Otte.<br />

INTRODUCTION


The historical formation <strong>of</strong> <strong>Muslim</strong> societies has resulted<br />

in diverse communities <strong>of</strong> interpretation, reflecting a rich<br />

intellectual, cultural, spiritual <strong>and</strong> institutional pluralism.<br />

This diversity is invariably reflected in the formation <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Muslim</strong> spaces <strong>of</strong> worship <strong>and</strong> gathering throughout<br />

history, <strong>and</strong> continues today.<br />

This short introduction to <strong>Muslim</strong> spaces <strong>of</strong> worship <strong>and</strong><br />

gathering showcases aspects <strong>of</strong> the richness <strong>and</strong> diversity<br />

<strong>of</strong> the worldwide <strong>Muslim</strong> community (Umma) through<br />

the variety <strong>of</strong> spaces used for expressions <strong>of</strong> piety <strong>and</strong><br />

community gathering.<br />

6 7


For many centuries, a prominent feature <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>Muslim</strong> religious l<strong>and</strong>scape has been the variety <strong>of</strong><br />

spaces <strong>of</strong> gathering co-existing harmoniously with<br />

the masjid, which in itself has accommodated a<br />

range <strong>of</strong> diverse institutional spaces for educational,<br />

social <strong>and</strong> reflective purposes. Historically serving<br />

communities <strong>of</strong> different interpretations <strong>and</strong> spiritual<br />

affiliations, these spaces have retained their cultural<br />

nomenclatures <strong>and</strong> characteristics, from ribat <strong>and</strong><br />

zawiyya to khanaqa <strong>and</strong> jamatkhana.<br />

His Highness the Aga Khan at Foundation Ceremony,<br />

Dubai Ismaili Centre, 13 December, 2003<br />

8 9


THE MOSQUE / MASJID


Baadshahi Mosque<br />

Photo Credit: Credit: Guilhem Vellut, Creative Commons.<br />

The Mosque / Masjid<br />

The mosque/masjid is the most prominent<br />

congregational space in the <strong>Muslim</strong> world,<br />

however, little attention has been given to<br />

its varied types <strong>and</strong> uses amongst <strong>Muslim</strong><br />

determine the nature <strong>of</strong> the rituals that take<br />

place in a mosque <strong>and</strong> the considerations<br />

to whether or not a mosque accommodates<br />

one gender or both.<br />

communities.<br />

The word jami‘ refers to a place <strong>of</strong> communal<br />

The English word ‘mosque’ refers, in<br />

actuality, to a series <strong>of</strong> words used in the<br />

languages spoken in the <strong>Muslim</strong> world. The<br />

most common <strong>of</strong> these is masjid, a word <strong>of</strong><br />

Arabic origin, signifying a place where one<br />

prostrates. In old Semitic languages such as<br />

Aramaic, Nabatean, Syriac <strong>and</strong> Amharic, a<br />

masjid refers to a place <strong>of</strong> worship <strong>of</strong> other<br />

gathering, <strong>and</strong> is distinguished from a masjid<br />

in that it accommodates large numbers <strong>of</strong><br />

congregants for the weekly Friday mid-day<br />

prayer. In Indonesia, jami‘ is referred to<br />

as masjid agung (great mosque), which is<br />

usually a larger space than jami‘. The term<br />

also signifies the ‘royal’ or ‘principal’ mosque<br />

in a town or city.<br />

religions as well. Over time, the word came<br />

to be specifically referenced, in the <strong>Muslim</strong><br />

tradition, to the principal <strong>Muslim</strong> space for<br />

gatherings <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fering prayers.<br />

Buildings dedicated as musallas, namazgahs<br />

or namaz-khanas are usually informal spaces<br />

used by <strong>Muslim</strong>s for private or small group<br />

prayers <strong>and</strong> can <strong>of</strong>ten be found in public places<br />

The regional <strong>and</strong> historical developments <strong>of</strong><br />

the types <strong>of</strong> mosques, including the variety<br />

<strong>of</strong> architectural features, is influenced by<br />

a number <strong>of</strong> factors ranging from culture,<br />

such as train <strong>and</strong> bus stations. In parts <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Arab world, a musalla can also designate a<br />

large space, usually on the outskirts <strong>of</strong> a city,<br />

used twice yearly for the ‘Id or festival prayers.<br />

language, politics <strong>and</strong> the forms <strong>and</strong> The term ‘Id-gah is used more commonly for<br />

expressions <strong>of</strong> piety. These factors also such spaces amongst South Asian <strong>Muslim</strong>s.<br />

12 13


The Mosque <strong>of</strong> The Prophet<br />

al-Masjid al-Nabawi<br />

al-Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia<br />

Built in 622 CE by the <strong>Muslim</strong> community<br />

in Yathrib, later called al-Madina al-<br />

Munawwara, the mosque <strong>of</strong> the Prophet<br />

was situated next to the Prophet’s house.<br />

It was essentially a square enclosure, built<br />

with palm trunks <strong>and</strong> mud walls <strong>and</strong> was<br />

accessed through three doors, Bab al-<br />

Rahma, Bab Jibril <strong>and</strong> Bab al-Nisa’. Within<br />

this enclosure, there was a shaded area to<br />

the south called the suffrah, which aligned<br />

the prayer space facing north, towards<br />

Jerusalem. Later on, the Prophet changed<br />

the direction <strong>of</strong> this space (qibla) to the<br />

south – facing masjid al-Haram or the<br />

Ka’ba, in the city <strong>of</strong> Mecca. Seven years<br />

later, the mosque was doubled in size, to<br />

accommodate the increasing number <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Muslim</strong>s.<br />

Floor plan <strong>of</strong> al-masjid al-Nabawi as it may<br />

have looked in the time <strong>of</strong> the Prophet.<br />

Credit: Keith Turner (Draftsman), MIT Libraries,<br />

Aga Khan Documentation Centre.<br />

Read more about al-Masjid al-Nabawi<br />

Courtyard <strong>of</strong> al-Masjid al-Nabawi.<br />

Credit: Adzril, Creative Commons.<br />

14<br />

15


A contemporary view <strong>of</strong> al-masjid al-Nabawi.<br />

Credit: Elias Pirasteh, Creative Commons.<br />

16<br />

17


The Great Umayyad Mosque<br />

al-Jami‘ al-Umawi al-Kabir<br />

Damascus, Syria<br />

The Great Umayyad Mosque in the old city<br />

<strong>of</strong> Damascus, is the first monumental work<br />

<strong>of</strong> architecture in the <strong>Muslim</strong> history. The<br />

mosque is situated on the site <strong>of</strong> a Christian<br />

basilica dedicated to St John the Baptist,<br />

the Prophet Yahya, who is a figure <strong>of</strong><br />

reverence to both Christians <strong>and</strong> <strong>Muslim</strong>s.<br />

From 661 CE, during the reign <strong>of</strong> the first<br />

Umayyad caliph Mu‘awiya, <strong>Muslim</strong>s shared<br />

the church with the Christians. They prayed<br />

in the eastern section <strong>of</strong> the ancient temple<br />

whilst the Christians prayed in the western<br />

side.<br />

This collective use continued until the reign<br />

<strong>of</strong> the fifth Ummayad caliph, al-Walid bin<br />

Abdul Malik (d. 705 CE), when the prayer<br />

space became inadequate. The caliph<br />

negotiated takeover <strong>of</strong> the whole space by<br />

the <strong>Muslim</strong>s, promising safety to all other<br />

churches around the city <strong>and</strong> the addition <strong>of</strong><br />

a new church which would be dedicated to<br />

the Virgin, for Christians as compensation,<br />

in return.<br />

Read more about Jami‘ al-Umawi al-Kabir<br />

TOP IMAGE: The Great Mosque<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Umayyads in Damascus.<br />

Credit: Dan, Creative Commons.<br />

18<br />

Qibla, prayer direction, <strong>and</strong> minbar, platform for issuing<br />

sermons at the Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Damascus.<br />

Credit: Russell Harris, The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies.<br />

Shrine housing the head <strong>of</strong> Prophet Yahya (St John the Baptist)<br />

situated inside the Mosque space.<br />

Credit: Russell Harris, The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies.<br />

19


The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Mahdiyya<br />

Mahdiyya, Tunisia<br />

The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Al Azhar<br />

Cairo, Egypt<br />

Al-Jami‘ al-Kabir, the Great Mosque, <strong>of</strong> Mahdiyya was originally built in 916 CE by the<br />

first Fatimid Imam-Caliph, Abd Allah al-Mahdi, the founder <strong>of</strong> the Fatimid dynasty.<br />

Established in 909 CE as a Shi‘i caliphate in north Africa, the Fatimids posed a direct<br />

challenge to the Abbasid caliphate, who ruled from Baghdad, <strong>and</strong> the Umayyads <strong>of</strong><br />

al-Andalus ruling from Cordoba, Spain. Mahdiyya, in present-day Tunisia, was capital<br />

city founded by the Fatimids.<br />

Watch a video clip <strong>of</strong> The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Mahdiyya; Read more about The Great<br />

Mosque <strong>of</strong> Mahdiyya<br />

In 973 CE, during the reign <strong>of</strong> fourth Fatimid<br />

imam-caliph al-Mu‘izz, the caliphal seat<br />

was transferred to the newly founded city<br />

<strong>of</strong> Cairo, Egypt. Al-Azhar mosque was built<br />

in Cairo <strong>and</strong> the first khutba, sermon, was<br />

delivered from its pulpit, minbar, in 972<br />

CE. From that time until today al-Azhar<br />

has continued to serve as a distinguished<br />

<strong>Muslim</strong> educational institution.<br />

Other well-known surviving mosqueuniversities<br />

from the early period <strong>of</strong> Islam<br />

are Jami‘ al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco<br />

<strong>and</strong> Jami‘ al-Zaytuna, in Tunis, Tunisia.<br />

Read more about The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> al-<br />

Azhar<br />

Read about Fatimid Cairo as described by<br />

Nasir-i Khusraw, an eleventh-century CE<br />

Isma‘ili da‘i, philosopher <strong>and</strong> poet<br />

20<br />

The surviving Fatimid portal <strong>of</strong> the Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Mahdiyya.<br />

Credit: Shiraz Kabani, The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies.<br />

Contemporary view <strong>of</strong> al-Azhar Mosque.<br />

Credit: Nasser Rabat, MIT Libraries, Aga Khan Visual Archive.<br />

21


The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Huajuexiang<br />

Xian, China<br />

The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Huajuexiang is the largest <strong>and</strong> best preserved <strong>of</strong> the early<br />

mosques <strong>of</strong> China. Built in fifteenth century CE, during the reign <strong>of</strong> the Ming Dynasty.<br />

The mosque is a great example <strong>of</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> Chinese architectural elements in mosque<br />

architecture.<br />

Read more about Huajuexiang Mosque<br />

TOP IMAGE<br />

A view <strong>of</strong> the courtyard <strong>of</strong> the mosque.<br />

Credit: Preston Rhea, Creative Commons.<br />

BOTTOM IMAGE<br />

Interior view <strong>of</strong> the Mosque.<br />

Credit: Rizwan Mawani, The Institute <strong>of</strong><br />

Ismaili Studies.<br />

Entrance to the Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Huajuexiang.<br />

Credit: Mararie, Creative Commons.<br />

22 23


Masjid-i Imam<br />

Isfahan, Iran<br />

Masjid-i Imam, formerly known as Masjid-i Shah, was commissioned in the early 17 th<br />

century by Safavid Shah Abbas. The mosque was constructed on the south side <strong>of</strong><br />

Isfahan’s royal square, the maydan.<br />

Read more about Masjid-i Imam<br />

General View <strong>of</strong> Masjid-i Imam.<br />

Credit: Daniel C. Waugh Archive, Aga Khan Documentation Centre at MIT.<br />

The Portal <strong>of</strong> Masjid-i Imam.<br />

Credit: Daniel C. Waugh Archive,<br />

Aga Khan Documentation Centre at MIT.<br />

24 25


Badshahi Masjid<br />

Lahore, Pakistan<br />

Considered one <strong>of</strong> the last great monuments<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Mughal period, the mosque remains<br />

the largest on the Indian subcontinent. It is<br />

adjacent to the western wall <strong>of</strong> the Lahore<br />

Fort, <strong>and</strong> was commissioned by the Emperor<br />

Awrangzeb (1658-1707) to house a number<br />

<strong>of</strong> relics <strong>of</strong> the Prophet.<br />

Read more about the Badshahi Masjid<br />

Interior view <strong>of</strong> the arcade in Badshahi Masjid.<br />

Credit: Guilhem Vellut, Creative Commons.<br />

TOP IMAGE<br />

Exterior View <strong>of</strong> the Badshahi Masjid.<br />

Credit: Guilhem Vellut, Creative Commons.<br />

BOTTOM IMAGE<br />

Sunset at the Badshahi Masjid.<br />

Credit: Matthieu Paley,<br />

Aga Khan Development Network.<br />

26 27


A view <strong>of</strong> the courtyard <strong>of</strong><br />

The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Herat.<br />

© Aga Khan Trust for Culture.<br />

The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Herat<br />

Herat, Afghanistan<br />

The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Herat is the city’s first congregational mosque. It was built on<br />

the site <strong>of</strong> two smaller Ghaznavid mosques that were destroyed by an earthquake<br />

<strong>and</strong> a fire. The present mosque survives from Gurid times (1011–1215 CE).<br />

Read more about the Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Herat<br />

A Kart period (791–1389 CE) cauldron in mosque courtyard.<br />

Credit: Archnet.org. Reproduced with permission <strong>of</strong> the Fine Arts Library <strong>of</strong> the Harvard College Library.<br />

28 29


Ulu Camii ve Darüşşifası<br />

Divriği, Turkey<br />

The Ulu Camii ve Darüşşifası is the oldest<br />

<strong>and</strong> most elaborately decorated medieval<br />

monument in Anatolia. The mosque<br />

was built in 1229 CE by the Mengujukid<br />

emir Ahmet Shah, <strong>and</strong> the hospital was<br />

commissioned by his wife Melike Turhan<br />

Melek.<br />

The Ulu Camii ve Darüşşifası, are well<br />

preserved <strong>and</strong> have a storied history,<br />

including use during World War II as the<br />

secret vault for the treasures <strong>of</strong> the Topkapi<br />

Palace.<br />

Read more about Divigri Ulu Camii ve<br />

Darüşşifası<br />

Decorative detail on the portal.<br />

Credit: University <strong>of</strong> Hawaii Museum.<br />

A view <strong>of</strong> Ulu Camii ve Darüşşifası in the surrounding urban setting <strong>of</strong> Divriği.<br />

Credit: University <strong>of</strong> Hawaii Museum.<br />

30 31


‘Idgah Kashghar<br />

Xingjiang, China<br />

University Mosque<br />

Depok, Indonesia<br />

Incorporating older structures dating back to late 10th century CE, the ‘Idgah was<br />

built by the ruler <strong>of</strong> Kashgar, Saqsiz Mirza, in the mid-15th century CE.<br />

Read more about ‘Idgah Kashghar<br />

The basic design concept <strong>of</strong> this<br />

contemporary mosque, built in 1990, is<br />

derived from the general type <strong>of</strong> masjids in<br />

Indonesia that are characterised by multitiered<br />

ro<strong>of</strong>.<br />

Read more about the University Mosque <strong>of</strong><br />

Depok<br />

A view to the main staircase <strong>of</strong> the mosque.<br />

Credit: Courtesy <strong>of</strong> the project architect,<br />

Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> ‘Idgah Kashghar.<br />

© The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies.<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> the mosque.<br />

Credit: Courtesy <strong>of</strong> the project architect,<br />

Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<br />

View <strong>of</strong> the mosque’s main gate.<br />

Credit: Courtesy <strong>of</strong> the project architect,<br />

Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<br />

32 33


Gr<strong>and</strong> National Assembly Mosque<br />

Ankara, Turkey<br />

A distinguished architectural feature <strong>of</strong> the<br />

National Assembly mosque is the qibla wall<br />

that opens onto the terraced garden. The<br />

arrangement <strong>of</strong> the qibla wall <strong>and</strong> the mihrab<br />

in glass is rather unconventional. With a<br />

view to the l<strong>and</strong>scaped gardens, the act <strong>of</strong><br />

prayer becomes completely transformed<br />

by bringing the worshipers physically closer<br />

to nature. By the means <strong>of</strong> such design<br />

features the mosque acknowledges its<br />

environment, thereby enhancing the acts<br />

<strong>of</strong> prayer <strong>and</strong> devotion that are essential to<br />

Islam. The mosque received the Aga Khan<br />

Award for Architecture in 1995.<br />

Read more about the Gr<strong>and</strong> National<br />

Assembly Mosque<br />

The glass qibla wall overlooking a l<strong>and</strong>scaped garden.<br />

Credit: Reha Günay, Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<br />

The Gr<strong>and</strong> National Assembly Mosque amidst the Parliament buildings in the background.<br />

Credit: Reha Günay, Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<br />

34 35


Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque<br />

Tanjung Bungah, Malaysia<br />

Cologne Islamic Cultural Centre<br />

Cologne, Germany<br />

The Tengku Tengah Zaharah mosque, also known as Floating Mosque, is a free-st<strong>and</strong>ing<br />

white sculptural form. Sitting against the backdrop <strong>of</strong> the vast South China Sea, the<br />

mosque is built on an open s<strong>and</strong>y area with water flowing under it.<br />

The centre is considered a prototype for the<br />

co-existence <strong>of</strong> <strong>Muslim</strong>s <strong>and</strong> non-<strong>Muslim</strong>s<br />

in Germany. The main elements <strong>of</strong> the<br />

centre are grouped around a raised public<br />

plaza, accessed by a wide staircase. At the<br />

street level, there is bazaar <strong>and</strong> a conference<br />

room. The library, <strong>of</strong>fices <strong>and</strong> museum<br />

frame two sides <strong>of</strong> the plaza <strong>and</strong> reflect the<br />

existing urban fabric in height <strong>and</strong> massing.<br />

The domed prayer hall dominates the third<br />

side. Over 70% <strong>of</strong> the energy needed for<br />

heating <strong>and</strong> cooling is derived from the onsite<br />

geothermal resources.<br />

Read more about Cologne Islamic Cultural<br />

Centre<br />

General view to Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque.<br />

Credit: Bahrin Shah Raja, Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<br />

TOP IMAGE:<br />

Aerial view <strong>of</strong> the Cologne Islamic Cultural Centre.<br />

Credit: Architecturbüro Paul Böhm,<br />

Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<br />

BOTTOM IMAGE:<br />

Ground level view <strong>of</strong> the Cologne Islamic Cultural Centre.<br />

Credit: Bjarke Liboriussen, Creative Commons.<br />

36 37


COMMUNITY SPECIFIC MOSQUES<br />

al-Kazimiya<br />

Baghdad, Iraq<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> al-Kazimiya.<br />

Credit: Historical Atlas <strong>of</strong> the Islamic<br />

World (2004).<br />

The shrine <strong>of</strong> al-Kazimiya is located near Baghdad. It is a major pilgrimage site for<br />

the Twelver Shi‘a, Ithna‘ashari, communities. The shrine hosts the tombs <strong>of</strong> imams<br />

Musa al-Kazim <strong>and</strong> Muhammad al-Taqi, the seventh <strong>and</strong> ninth imams <strong>of</strong> the Twelver<br />

Shi’i lineage, respectively. The shrine is also the final resting place for famous Shi‘i<br />

scholars such as al-Shaykh al-Mufid <strong>and</strong> al-Sharif al-Radi (who compiled the Nahj al-<br />

Balagha, The way <strong>of</strong> Eloquence, which is a well-known collection <strong>of</strong> letters, sermons<br />

<strong>and</strong> sayings attributed to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib).<br />

Interior view <strong>of</strong> the al-Kazimiya Mosque.<br />

Credit: shia-forum.de.<br />

38 39


Zahara Syedna Hatem<br />

Haraz, Yemen<br />

Fathiyyah al-Idrisiyyah / Santri Fadris<br />

Tasikmalaya, Indonesia<br />

Zahara Syedna Hatem is a significant pilgrimage site for the Bohra Ismailis. The site hosts a<br />

mosque, <strong>and</strong> the house <strong>and</strong> tomb <strong>of</strong> the third Da‘i al-Mutlaq <strong>of</strong> the Tayyibi Ismailis, Syedna<br />

Hatem ibn Ibrahim (d. 1199).<br />

The mosque belongs to the Idrisiyyah Sufi tariqa. The complex consists <strong>of</strong> a masjid, residence<br />

for 400 male <strong>and</strong> female students <strong>and</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> self-sufficient <strong>and</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>it-making farming<br />

initiatives to fund the complex. Both men <strong>and</strong> women participate in the prayers within the<br />

same space, separated by a curtain.<br />

Ariel view <strong>of</strong> Zahara Syedna Hatem.<br />

Credit: Fayz-e-Husayni Trust, Bombay.<br />

A view <strong>of</strong> the house <strong>of</strong> da‘i Hatem<br />

at Zahara Syedna Hatem.<br />

Credit: Abbas Ali, Creative Commons.<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> Fatihiyya Idrisiyya.<br />

Credit: Santri Fadris.<br />

Students at Fatihiyya Idrisiyya.<br />

Credit: Santri Fadris.<br />

40 41


SHRINES AND<br />

RELATED SPACES


Mazar-e Sharif<br />

Credit: Embassy <strong>of</strong> Afghanistan, Washington, DC.<br />

Shrines <strong>and</strong><br />

Related <strong>Spaces</strong><br />

These spaces are attributed to Sufi saints, shaykhs <strong>and</strong><br />

pirs, <strong>and</strong> are <strong>of</strong>ten built around their homes or final<br />

abodes, or at places which they have visited or where<br />

they are said to have performed miracles. <strong>Spaces</strong> for<br />

the commemoration <strong>of</strong> the death <strong>of</strong> Imam Husayn<br />

<strong>and</strong> his family at Karbala are also significant pilgrimage<br />

sites, particularly for the Twelver Shi‘i communities.<br />

In addition, spaces for private retreat <strong>and</strong> meditation<br />

are also <strong>of</strong>ten found in shrine complexes.<br />

44 45


Dargah <strong>of</strong> Ajmer Sharif<br />

Rajasthan, India<br />

Imam-zadeh Imam Saleh<br />

Tehran, Iran<br />

The dargah complex is attributed to the Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. His wife<br />

<strong>and</strong> daughter are also buried in the same complex. The dargah has several separate spaces<br />

<strong>and</strong> monuments that are used for different rituals.<br />

The Imamzadeh is a significant pilgrimage site in northern Tehran, hosting the tomb <strong>of</strong> Imamzadeh<br />

Saleh, a son <strong>of</strong> the seventh Imam <strong>of</strong> the Twelver Shi‘a, Musa al-Kazim.<br />

See the list <strong>of</strong> monuments at the Dargah <strong>of</strong> Ajmer Sharif<br />

Read more about the Dargah <strong>of</strong> Ajmer Sharif<br />

Death anniversary commemoration (urs) at Khwaja<br />

Muinuddin Chishti dargah.<br />

Credit: Zakir Naqvi, Creative Commons.<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti dargah.<br />

Credit: Zakir Naqvi, Creative Commons.<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> Imamzadeh Saleh.<br />

Credit: Oliver Laumann, Creative Commons.<br />

46 47


Rawza / Mazar-e Sharif<br />

Northern Afghanistan<br />

Marabout Alfa Mouhama<br />

Bokary, Mali<br />

Mazar-e Sharif, literally meaning, Tomb <strong>of</strong> the Exalted, is considered by Afghan Shi‘a as the<br />

final resting place <strong>of</strong> Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (d. 661 CE). Legend contends that the Imam’s<br />

body was moved from Najaf to a secret tomb near Balkh, which was re-discovered by a<br />

mullah in the village <strong>of</strong> Khwaja Khayran in the early 12 th century CE.<br />

The term marabout is used for a saint or hermit in the North African <strong>Muslim</strong> context, as well<br />

as for their burial places, which are regarded with reverence.<br />

Read more about Mazar-e Sharif<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> Lardé Balé Mosque behind a partial view <strong>of</strong><br />

the tomb <strong>of</strong> the marabout.<br />

Credit: Sebastian Schutyser, Aga Khan Trust for Culture.<br />

Tomb <strong>of</strong> the marabout Alfa Mouhama Bokary, 1820,<br />

at Lardé Balé Mosque.<br />

Credit: Sebastian Schutyser,<br />

Aga Khan Trust for Culture.<br />

Genral view <strong>of</strong> Mazar-e Sharif.<br />

Credit: Embassy <strong>of</strong> Afghanistan, Washington, DC.<br />

48 49


Zikrikhana Teertej<br />

Baluchistan, Pakistan<br />

SPACES TO COMMEMORATE THE<br />

MARTYRDOM OF IMAM HUSAYN<br />

Zikri <strong>Muslim</strong>s are followers <strong>of</strong> the Indian Sufi Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri, who is said to have<br />

founded the Zikri tariqa in the 15 th century CE. Jaunpuri claimed the status <strong>of</strong> Mahdi – a<br />

messianic reformer <strong>of</strong> Islam, to himself. Followers <strong>of</strong> the Zikri belief system flourished in the<br />

16 th century, in Baluchistan.<br />

Read more about the Zikris in Pakistan<br />

Amongst the Twelver Shi‘a, Ithna‘asharis,<br />

who are the largest <strong>of</strong> the Shi‘i <strong>Muslim</strong><br />

communities, there are a series <strong>of</strong> spaces<br />

used as part <strong>of</strong> the rites <strong>and</strong> ceremonies<br />

to commemorate the martyrdom <strong>of</strong><br />

Imam Husayn, the gr<strong>and</strong>son <strong>of</strong> Prophet<br />

Muhammad. These spaces are visited<br />

throughout the year, but are particularly<br />

busy in the first 10 days <strong>of</strong> the Islamic<br />

month <strong>of</strong> Muharram. The ceremonies are<br />

<strong>of</strong>ten marked by retellings <strong>of</strong> the stories<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Prophet’s gr<strong>and</strong>son <strong>and</strong> his family,<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> the events leading to their death at<br />

Karbala.<br />

In Iran, retellings are also accompanied by<br />

passion plays (ta‘ziya) re-enacting the last<br />

days <strong>of</strong> Imam Husayn’s life. In South Asia,<br />

replicas <strong>of</strong> Imam Husayn’s shrine or tomb<br />

(tabut), made anew each year, are paraded<br />

<strong>and</strong> processed along with st<strong>and</strong>ards (‘alams)<br />

<strong>and</strong> replicas <strong>of</strong> other relics belonging to the<br />

family <strong>of</strong> Imam Husayn, taken out only at<br />

this auspicious time <strong>of</strong> the year.<br />

These spaces take on various names, usually<br />

depending on the part <strong>of</strong> the world in which<br />

they are located. In Hyderabad Deccan, they<br />

are known as ashurkhanas; further north in<br />

South Asia, they are known as imambaras;<br />

in Bahrain, they are called matam, referring<br />

to the practice <strong>of</strong> beating one’s chest as<br />

a display <strong>of</strong> grief <strong>and</strong> mourning; in Iran,<br />

they are called husayniyas, in the east <strong>of</strong><br />

the country <strong>and</strong> tekkiya in the western<br />

districts <strong>of</strong> Kurdistan <strong>and</strong> Kermanshah, <strong>and</strong><br />

mashhads in Syria.<br />

General View <strong>of</strong> Zikrikhana Teertej, Baluchistan.<br />

50<br />

Credit: Dawn.com.<br />

51


Badshahi Ashurkhana<br />

Hyderabad, India<br />

Bibi ka Allawa<br />

Hyderabad, India<br />

The Badshahi Ashurkhana was commissioned, in late 16 th century CE, by the fifth sultan <strong>of</strong><br />

the Qutb Shahi Dynasty, Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah. The ashurkhana, in addition to the<br />

prayer space, comprises several other spaces such as the space for <strong>of</strong>ferings (niyazkhana),<br />

space for beating drums (naqaarkhana), space for devotees to rest (saraikhana), <strong>and</strong> space<br />

for serving food to masses <strong>of</strong> people (langarkhana). There are also other spaces dedicated<br />

to various functions related to worship, <strong>and</strong> to accommodate large gatherings.<br />

Bibi ka Allawa is one <strong>of</strong> the oldest religious monuments <strong>of</strong> Hyderabad. Allawa is a Persian<br />

word, meaning a place where stabdards (‘alams) are kept with reverence. The practice <strong>of</strong><br />

installing the ‘alam at Bibi ka Allawa is over 400 years old, dating back to the period <strong>of</strong><br />

Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah.<br />

General View <strong>of</strong> the Badshahi Ashurkhana.<br />

Credit: Shiaindia.com.<br />

Relics representing the battle st<strong>and</strong>ards used<br />

by Imam Husatyn <strong>and</strong> his entourage,<br />

housed at the Badshahi Ashurkhana.<br />

Credit: Rajesh, Creative Commons.<br />

Entrance to Bibi Ka Allawa.<br />

Credit: Times <strong>of</strong> India.<br />

52 53


General view <strong>of</strong> the Chhota Imambara.<br />

© Aga Khan Trust for Culture.<br />

The Bara <strong>and</strong> Chhota Imambaras<br />

Lucknow, India<br />

The Bara/Great Imambara is a fine example <strong>of</strong> the first period <strong>of</strong> Nawabi architecture. It<br />

is one <strong>of</strong> the few existing buildings in Lucknow that are devoid <strong>of</strong> European elements. The<br />

Chhota/Small Imambara was built by the Qajar ruler, Ali Shah, around the middle <strong>of</strong> the 19 th<br />

century, <strong>and</strong> hosts his own mausoleum <strong>and</strong> the tomb <strong>of</strong> his mother next to him.<br />

Read more about the Bara Imambara <strong>and</strong> the Chhota Imambara<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> the Bara<br />

ara.<br />

Credit: Aga Khan Trust for Culture.<br />

Interior view <strong>of</strong> the Bara Imambara.<br />

Credit: Aga Khan Trust for Culture.<br />

54 55


The Moaven al-Molk Takkiya<br />

Kermanshah, Iran<br />

The Husainiya Dar es Salam<br />

Dar es Salam, Tanzania<br />

The Moaven al-Molk Takkiya in the old part <strong>of</strong> Kermanshah, western Iran, is a beautiful<br />

husayniya from the end <strong>of</strong> the Qajar period (r. 1785–1925).<br />

Decorative details <strong>of</strong> the tiles at Moaven Mulk Tekiyye.<br />

Credit: Commons.wikimedia.org.<br />

Decorative details <strong>of</strong> the tiles at Moaven al-Molk Tekiye.<br />

Credit: Commons.wikimedia.org.<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> Moaven al-Molk Tekiye.<br />

Credit: Commons.wikimedia.org.<br />

Commemoration <strong>of</strong> Imam Husayn’s martyrdom at<br />

Husayniya Dar es Salam.<br />

Credit: Commons.wikimedia.org.<br />

56 57


Mashhad al-Husayn<br />

Aleppo, Syria<br />

Founded during 1183-1260 CE to commemorate the martyrdom <strong>of</strong> Imam Husayn, Mashhad<br />

al-Husayn is among the first few remaining Shi‘i monuments from 12 th -century CE Aleppo.<br />

The other surviving Shi‘i monument nearby is Mashhad al-Dikka, also known as Mashhad<br />

al-Muhassin. Together, the two sites embody the great Shi‘i traditions that thrived in 12 th<br />

-century CE Aleppo.<br />

Read more about Mashhad al-Husayn<br />

A view <strong>of</strong> the Mashhad complex showing a later addition <strong>of</strong> a canopy that was built over the courtyard.<br />

© Aga Khan Trust for Culture.<br />

View <strong>of</strong> iwan on west side <strong>of</strong> courtyard from the 1990s.<br />

© Aga Khan Trust for Culture.<br />

58 59


THE CEMEVI


General View <strong>of</strong> the Kartal Cemevi.<br />

Credit: Commons.wipimedia.org.<br />

The Cemevi<br />

The Cemevi literally means gathering-house. It is the term used by Alevi <strong>and</strong> Bektashi<br />

<strong>Muslim</strong>s <strong>of</strong> Anatolia <strong>and</strong> the Balkans to refer to their places <strong>of</strong> communal gathering. The<br />

space, <strong>of</strong>ten a pillared circular room, has its origins in a rural context, but can now be found<br />

in major urban centres where Alevi <strong>and</strong> Bektashi communities live. The cemevi <strong>of</strong>ten forms<br />

the central element <strong>of</strong> the large vakfi or dergah complex which can also include a library,<br />

educational facilities <strong>and</strong> a small cemetery.<br />

Interior view <strong>of</strong> the Sahkulu Dargah <strong>and</strong> Cemevi.<br />

Credit: BBC Turkey.<br />

62 63


THE JAMATKHANA


Kinshasa Jamatkhana interior.<br />

© the.ismaili.<br />

The Jamatkhana<br />

The term Jamatkhana is derived from the<br />

Arabic word jama‘a, gathering, <strong>and</strong> the<br />

Persian word khana, referring to a house<br />

or place, which together can be translated<br />

as ‘a place <strong>of</strong> congregation’ or ‘assembly<br />

house’. The term has its origins in the Indian<br />

subcontinent, <strong>and</strong> has historically been used<br />

to refer to the covered outdoor spaces used<br />

by Sufis <strong>of</strong> the Chishti tariqa for fraternal<br />

discussions, <strong>and</strong> during the sessions <strong>of</strong><br />

teaching <strong>and</strong> counsel conducted by their pir<br />

or shaykh. In this context, the Jamatkhana<br />

is most <strong>of</strong>ten found within important tomb<br />

complexes such as that <strong>of</strong> Salim Chishti in<br />

Fatehpur Sikri <strong>and</strong> Mu‘inuddin Chishti in<br />

Ajmer. <strong>Spaces</strong> designated as Jamatkhanas<br />

can also be seen in Mughal complexes, such<br />

as that <strong>of</strong> the Taj Mahal in Agra.<br />

The term is also used by other communities<br />

<strong>of</strong> the subcontinent. Amongst the Alevi<br />

<strong>and</strong> Dawoodi Bohra communities <strong>of</strong> South<br />

Asia, the term refers to the space where<br />

community members gather for social<br />

occasions, including communal meals. The<br />

Nizari Ismaili communities throughout the<br />

world also refer to their congregational<br />

spaces as Jamatkhanas which have been<br />

designated for the community’s religious<br />

<strong>and</strong> social practices<br />

Images presented in the following pages<br />

are <strong>of</strong> Jamatkhanas belonging to the global<br />

Shi‘a Imami Isma‘ili <strong>Muslim</strong> community.<br />

66 67


Plano Jamatkhana, USA.<br />

© the.ismaili.<br />

Nawabad Jamatkhana, China.<br />

© The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies.<br />

Glenview Jamatkhana, USA.<br />

© the.ismaili.<br />

Brongshal Jamatkhana, Hunza.<br />

© The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies.<br />

68 69


Salamiyya Jamatkhana Syria.<br />

© The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies.<br />

Hasnabad Jamatkhana, Mumbai, India.<br />

Credit: Shaukat Ch<strong>and</strong>ani.<br />

Mahoosk Jamatkhana, Iran.<br />

© The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies.<br />

Tashkorgan Jamatkhana, China.<br />

Credit: Nuram.<br />

70 71


Karimabad Jamatkhana, Surat, India.<br />

Credit: Hussein Charania.<br />

TOP IMAGE<br />

Kalanguzar Jamatkhana, Doshi, Baghlan,<br />

Afghanistan.<br />

Credit: Hussein Charania.<br />

Karimabad Jamatkhana, Karachi, Pakistan.<br />

Credit: Pyarali Jiwa.<br />

BOTTOM IMAGE<br />

Mwanza Jamatkhana, Mwanza, Tanzania.<br />

Credit: Al-Karim Walli, Archnet.org.<br />

72 73


The Ismaili Centre, Burnaby<br />

© the.ismaili.<br />

The Ismaili Centres<br />

The Ismaili Centres belong to the historic<br />

category <strong>of</strong> Jamatkhana. They are symbolic<br />

markers <strong>of</strong> the permanent presence <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Ismaili community in the regions in which<br />

they are established. Rooted in the rich<br />

tapestry <strong>of</strong> Islamic heritage <strong>and</strong> traditions,<br />

the architecture <strong>of</strong> each Ismaili Centre<br />

incorporates spaces for social <strong>and</strong> cultural<br />

gatherings, intellectual engagement<br />

<strong>and</strong> reflection, as well as for spiritual<br />

contemplation.<br />

The Ismaili Centres serve as ambassadorial<br />

hubs, representing the Ismaili community’s<br />

attitude towards the <strong>Muslim</strong> faith <strong>and</strong><br />

modern life, while extending a h<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

friendship <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing to enhance<br />

relationships among faith communities,<br />

government <strong>and</strong> civil society.<br />

Read more about The Ismaili Centres<br />

74 75


The Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe<br />

© the.ismaili.<br />

76 77


THE MEVLEVIHANE AND<br />

SAMA‘KHANA


Whirling dervishes at Galata Mevlevihanesi.<br />

Credit: istanbul.com.<br />

The Mevlevihane <strong>and</strong><br />

Sama‘khana<br />

The mevlevihane also known as a<br />

sama’khana or tekke is used by the Mevlevi<br />

Sufi order (tariqa), known more popularly<br />

as the ‘whirling dervishes’. This Sufi order,<br />

named after the 12 th -century mystic <strong>and</strong><br />

poet, Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rumi, has a<br />

large following in Anatolia <strong>and</strong> the Balkans,<br />

as well as in its diasporic communities.<br />

Historically, important lodges have existed<br />

throughout the former Ottoman Empire,<br />

attesting to the presence <strong>of</strong> significant<br />

Mevlevi communities in these regions.<br />

The mevlevihane is the central element <strong>of</strong><br />

the dervish lodge in which members <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Sufi tariqa live, gather <strong>and</strong> pray. It is usually<br />

square or rectangular in shape, with a<br />

central octagonal performance ground on<br />

which the main ceremony is staged. At the<br />

two ends <strong>of</strong> the central hall are places for<br />

accompanying musicians <strong>and</strong> an area where<br />

the post or dyed red sheepskin mat is kept<br />

- representing the presence <strong>of</strong> Mawlana<br />

Rumi himself. In Konya, it is Rumi’s tomb<br />

rather than the post which is located in the<br />

main hall.<br />

80 81


Gallery <strong>of</strong> the Sama’khana after restoration.<br />

Credit: Barry Iverson, Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<br />

Mevlevi Sama‘khana<br />

Cairo, Egypt<br />

The Mevlevi Sama‘khana complex is an<br />

eighteenth century theatre <strong>and</strong> monastery<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Mevlevi whirling dervishes order. The<br />

Sama‘khana went through an extensive<br />

restoration in 1979.<br />

Read about conservation <strong>of</strong> the Mevlevi<br />

Sama‘khana<br />

View <strong>of</strong> the Sama‘khana from the cloisters.<br />

Credit: Barry Iverson,<br />

Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<br />

Whirling dervishes at the gallery <strong>of</strong> the Sama‘khana.<br />

Credit: Commons.wikimedia.org.<br />

82 83


Sama‘khana at Dargah Agha Sahab<br />

Jabalpur, India<br />

The dargah is dedicated to an early 19 th -century Sufi figure, Hazrat Meerza Agha Mohammed,<br />

from Lucknow, India.<br />

Read more about the Dargah Agha Saheb <strong>and</strong> view a photo album <strong>of</strong> events at the dargah<br />

The Khanaqah/Tekkiya <strong>and</strong> Zawiya<br />

The khanqah is one <strong>of</strong> the earliest institutionalised spaces for the practices <strong>of</strong> Sufi communities.<br />

In Egypt, they have existed since at least the 11 th century CE <strong>and</strong> were encouraged by the<br />

Ayyubid ruler, Salah al-Din. The khanaqah complex <strong>of</strong>ten coupled religious piety with a place<br />

for wayfarers, providing food, shelter for novices <strong>and</strong> travellers passing through the city.<br />

The khanqahs are most prevalent in Egypt, Syria <strong>and</strong> Iran, with examples in India. It is <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

equated with the term tekke or tekkiya, which are in more common use in Turkey <strong>and</strong> Iran.<br />

The zawiya, which literally means a corner, refers to a section <strong>of</strong> a home or, in more recent<br />

times, to a purpose-built structure in which Sufi Communities path/way (tariqa) congregate<br />

for their weekly remembrance (dhikr) sessions. These are most <strong>of</strong>ten found in northern<br />

Syria <strong>and</strong> Egypt.<br />

Khanaqah <strong>of</strong> Sultan Barquq<br />

Cairo, Egypt<br />

Commemoration <strong>of</strong> Urs (death anniversary)<br />

<strong>of</strong> Agha Saheb at the Dargah.<br />

Credit: Agharang.<br />

Mehfil-e Sama‘, ceremony <strong>of</strong> listening,<br />

at Agha Saheb Dargah.<br />

Credit: Aragang.<br />

The khanaqah complex was built by<br />

Sultan Barquq, the founder <strong>of</strong> the Burji or<br />

Circassian Mamluk Dynasty, between 1384<br />

<strong>and</strong> 1386 CE.<br />

Read more about the Khanaqah <strong>of</strong> Sultan<br />

Barquq<br />

84<br />

A view <strong>of</strong> the khanaqah <strong>of</strong><br />

Sultan Barquq from the street.<br />

Credit: Maison Bonfils, Archnet.<br />

Reproduced with permission <strong>of</strong> the Fine Arts.<br />

85


Khanqah-e Shah Hamdan Srinagar<br />

Jamu <strong>and</strong> Kashmir<br />

Tekiyya Sulaymaniyya<br />

Damascus, Syria<br />

The khanqah <strong>of</strong> Shah Hamdan, built in the memory <strong>of</strong> Mir Sayed Ali Hamdani, is one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

oldest <strong>Muslim</strong> shrines located on the banks <strong>of</strong> the river Jhelum, in Srinagar.<br />

The takiyya complex is located on the banks <strong>of</strong> the Barada River, built by the Ottoman Sultan<br />

Suleyman I or Sulayman al-Qanuni between 1554 <strong>and</strong> 1560. The complex initially consisted<br />

<strong>of</strong> a large mosque, a soup kitchen, <strong>and</strong> a hospice. A separate madrasa was added by Sultan<br />

Selim II (1566-1574), <strong>and</strong> is linked to the tekiyya complex with a market (suq).<br />

Read more about Tekiyya Sulaymaniyya<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> the khanqah <strong>of</strong> Shah Hamdan.<br />

Credit: Commons.wikimedia.org.<br />

A view <strong>of</strong> the courtyard with a pool in foreground.<br />

Credit: Interamericaninstitute.org.<br />

86 87


Entrance to the mosque at the Hala Sultan Tekke.<br />

Credit: Stephania Zographaki, MIT Libraries,<br />

Aga Khan Visual Archive.<br />

Hala Sultan Tekke<br />

Larnaca, Cyprus<br />

Located to the south <strong>of</strong> the city <strong>of</strong> Larnaca, on the shore <strong>of</strong> the Salt Lake, the Hala Sultan<br />

Tekke is a sacred pilgrimage site for the <strong>Muslim</strong> community <strong>of</strong> Cyprus. The complex consists<br />

<strong>of</strong> a mosque, a tomb – widely believed to be <strong>of</strong> Hala Sultan, the sister <strong>of</strong> the Prophet’s foster<br />

mother – a cemetery, <strong>and</strong> living quarters for men <strong>and</strong> women.<br />

Interior view <strong>of</strong> the prayer hall at the Hala Sultan Tekke.<br />

Credit: Stephania Zographaki, MIT Libraries,<br />

Aga Khan Visual Archive.<br />

Door towards the tomb <strong>of</strong> the Hala Sultan Tekke.<br />

Credit: Stephania Zographaki, MIT Libraries,<br />

Aga Khan Visual Archive.<br />

88 89


Zawiya Tijaniya<br />

Fez, Morocco<br />

The zawiya is the congregational space for<br />

the Tijaniya Sufi community, named after<br />

the Sufi Sheikh Ahmed Tijani.<br />

Learn more about the Tijaniya Sufi<br />

community<br />

Decorative details <strong>of</strong> the exterior <strong>of</strong> Zawiya Tidjaniya.<br />

Credit: Tidjaniya.com.<br />

Interior view <strong>of</strong> the Zawiya.<br />

Credit: Tidjaniya.com.<br />

90 91


SPACES OF<br />

PERSONAL RETREAT


<strong>Spaces</strong> <strong>of</strong> Personal Retreat<br />

The Zawiya <strong>of</strong> Sidi Bel Abbes<br />

Marrakech, Mororcco<br />

In addition to spaces for congregational<br />

In the Persian <strong>and</strong> Indo-<strong>Muslim</strong> world, they<br />

Commissioned in 1605, the Zawiya <strong>of</strong> Sidi<br />

prayers, there is a range <strong>of</strong> spaces in the<br />

are invariably known as chehel-neshini,<br />

Bel Abbes is dedicated to an influential 12 th<br />

<strong>Muslim</strong> world that facilitate meditation,<br />

chilla or chehel-khana, terms that refer to<br />

century CE Sufi saint, Sidi Bel Abbes (1130-<br />

personal reflection, reading <strong>of</strong> the<br />

the mystical practice <strong>of</strong> an inward retreat<br />

1205 CE). He is revered as the patron saint<br />

Qur’an in seclusion,<br />

reciting litanies<br />

lasting forty days. Amongst the Nurbakhshi<br />

<strong>of</strong> Marrakesh, <strong>and</strong> is counted among the<br />

<strong>and</strong><br />

remembrance, the repetition <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>Muslim</strong>s, centered in Baltistan, they are<br />

seven Sufi saints associated with the city.<br />

glorification <strong>of</strong> God’s names <strong>and</strong> attributes<br />

known as ‘itiqaf-khanas.<br />

The complex comprises <strong>of</strong> his mausoleum,<br />

(dhikr). These spaces bear a range <strong>of</strong> names,<br />

a mosque, <strong>and</strong> various religious <strong>and</strong><br />

but ultimately serve similar purposes. In<br />

In North Africa, spaces <strong>of</strong> Sufi congregation<br />

educational facilities organised around two<br />

the Arabic-speaking world, these spaces<br />

are also referred to as ribat. The ribats were<br />

linked courtyards. The complex is also an<br />

are most commonly known as retreats<br />

originally constructed as frontier posts<br />

asylum to the blind, as Sidi Bel Abbes was<br />

(khalwa). They can be found within mosque<br />

where travellers (particularly soldiers)<br />

well known for his charitable work on their<br />

complexes or on the perimeters <strong>of</strong> zawiyas<br />

could stay. Over time, the ribats came to be<br />

behalf.<br />

<strong>and</strong> khanaqahs. Amongst areas populated<br />

converted to spaces <strong>of</strong> Sufi congregations.<br />

by Hui <strong>Muslim</strong>s in China, they are known<br />

as bayt al-‘itiqaf. In this context, they<br />

Read about Zawiyas in the Sahara<br />

are portable structures brought into the<br />

mosque during the month <strong>of</strong> Ramadan <strong>and</strong><br />

used primarily by the akhun, (brothers) or<br />

imam on behalf <strong>of</strong> the congregation.<br />

Fountain at the entrance <strong>of</strong> the<br />

mausoleum <strong>of</strong> Sidi Bel Abbes.<br />

Credit: Delpha, Creative Commons.<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> the complex <strong>of</strong> the Zawiya <strong>of</strong> Sidi Bel<br />

94<br />

Abbes. Credit: Delpha, Creative Commons.<br />

95


The room for forty-day retreats (Chilla-khana), at the Chashma-i Ayub Mausoleum.<br />

Credit: Philip Huber, Archnet.org.<br />

The Chashma-i Ayub Mausoleum<br />

Near Bukhara, Uzbekistan<br />

The name <strong>of</strong> the site literally means ‘Well <strong>of</strong> the Prophet Jacob (Ayub)’. Legend holds that<br />

the Prophet made a well by striking the ground with his staff. The current mausoleum was<br />

constructed during the reign <strong>of</strong> the Mongol ruler Timurlane (d. 1405 CE). The water <strong>of</strong> this<br />

well is considered pure <strong>and</strong> healing.<br />

Read more about the Chashma-i Ayub Mausoleum<br />

Nomination <strong>of</strong> the Chashma-i Ayub as a World Heritage site at UNESCO<br />

General view <strong>of</strong> Chashma-i Ayub Mausoleum.<br />

Credit: Philip Huber, Archnet.org.<br />

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The Ribat <strong>of</strong> Sousse<br />

Sousse, Tunisia<br />

The Ribat <strong>of</strong> Monastir<br />

Monastir, Tunisia<br />

The ribat <strong>of</strong> Sousse is both the oldest <strong>and</strong> most typical surviving example <strong>of</strong> the ribat typology<br />

as it existed in medieval North Africa.<br />

The fortress was constructed in the late-ninth century CE <strong>and</strong> fortified in the Hafsid era (mid-<br />

13 th -16 th centuries, CE).<br />

Read more about the Ribat <strong>of</strong> Sousse<br />

Read more about the Ribat <strong>of</strong> Monastir<br />

The Ribat <strong>of</strong> Sousse amidst its surroundings.<br />

Credit: Russell Harris, The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies.<br />

Fotifications <strong>of</strong> the Ribat <strong>of</strong> Monstir.<br />

Credit: Encyclopedia Britannica.<br />

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FURTHER READING


Further Reading<br />

There is an increasing body <strong>of</strong> academic literature on spaces <strong>and</strong> expressions <strong>of</strong> piety amongst<br />

<strong>Muslim</strong> communities. The following titles provide an introduction to various perspectives<br />

on the history, development <strong>and</strong> use <strong>of</strong> spaces by <strong>Muslim</strong>s for worship <strong>and</strong> piety in both<br />

historical <strong>and</strong> contemporary contexts.<br />

Bloom, Jonathan M. Arts <strong>of</strong> the City Victorious: Islamic Art <strong>and</strong> Archtiecture in Fatimid North<br />

Africa <strong>and</strong> Egypt. New Haven, Yale University Press: in association with The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili<br />

Studies, 2007.<br />

Jiwani, Karim. <strong>Muslim</strong> <strong>Spaces</strong> <strong>of</strong> Piety <strong>and</strong> <strong>Worship</strong>. The Institute <strong>of</strong> Ismaili Studies: London,<br />

2006. [accessed September, 2017]<br />

Kahera, Akel Ismail. Deconstructing the American Mosque: Space, Gender <strong>and</strong> Aesthetics.<br />

Austin: University <strong>of</strong> Texas Press, 2002.<br />

Keshani, Hussein. “Architecture <strong>and</strong> the Twelver Shi‘i Tradition: The Great Imambara Complex<br />

<strong>of</strong> Lucknow,” Muqarnas 23 (2006), pp. 219–250.<br />

Flood, Finbar Barry. The Great Mosque <strong>of</strong> Damascus: Studies on the Makings <strong>of</strong> an Umayyad<br />

Visual Culture. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2000.<br />

Lifchez, Raymond. The Dervish Lodge: Architecture, Art <strong>and</strong> Sufism in Modern Turkey. Los<br />

Angeles: University <strong>of</strong> California Press, 1992.<br />

Geels, Antoon. “A Note on the Psychology <strong>of</strong> Dhikr: The Halveti-Jerrahi Order <strong>of</strong> Dervishes in<br />

Manger, Leif, ed. <strong>Muslim</strong> Diversity: Local Islam in Global Contexts. London: Routledge, 1999.<br />

Istanbul,” International Journal for the Psychology <strong>of</strong> Religion 6:4 (1994), pp. 229–251.<br />

Metcalf, Barbara Daly, ed. Making <strong>Muslim</strong> Space in North America <strong>and</strong> Europe. Los Angeles:<br />

Grabar, Oleg. Grabar, Oleg. “Architecture as Art” in Islamic Art <strong>and</strong> Beyond, volume III,<br />

University <strong>of</strong> California Press, 1996.<br />

Constructing the Study <strong>of</strong> Islamic Art. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 2006. First<br />

published in Aga Khan Award, Seminar Ten: Architecture Education (Granada, 1986), pp.<br />

Norton, Augustus, R. Shi‘ism <strong>and</strong> the Ashura Ritual in Lebanon. Saqi Books: London, 2004.<br />

33–42. [Accessed August, 2017].<br />

Rabbat, Nasser. ‘The Meaning <strong>of</strong> the Umayyad Dome <strong>of</strong> the Rock’, Muqarnas 6 (1989), pp.<br />

Hawting, Gerald, ed. The Development <strong>of</strong> Islamic Ritual. The Formation <strong>of</strong> the Classical<br />

12–21.<br />

Islamic World, 26. London: Ashgate, 2006.<br />

Stauth, Georg, ed. On Archaeology <strong>of</strong> ‘Sainthood <strong>and</strong> Local Spirituality in Islam: Past <strong>and</strong><br />

Jaschok, Maria <strong>and</strong> Shui Jingjun. The History <strong>of</strong> Women’s Mosques in Chinese Islam: A Mosque<br />

Present Crossroads <strong>of</strong> Events <strong>and</strong> Ideas’, in Yearbook <strong>of</strong> the Sociology <strong>of</strong> Islam 5 (2004).<br />

<strong>of</strong> their Own. London: Routledge, 2000.<br />

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