Mosque as an Urban Space

(The consequences of pre-Islamic urban life on post-Islamic civilization)

(North African civilizations - Libya and Egypt)

Libya has a rich history predating Islam, being part of the Roman territory before the Islamic era and subsequently influenced by various empires including the Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, and Ottomans.

The land of Egypt was fertile due to the Nile River. It went through four periods:

- Until 525 BC, pharaohs, gods, and "pyramids" characterized the period. Slaves transported multi-ton stones to the construction site of the pyramids and lifted the rocks to a height of 150 meters. Kahun was the settlement of the pyramid-building slaves for 20 years.

- The second period up to 30 BC, the era of Alexander's domination, the construction and prosperity of the city of Alexandria

- The third era, the period of dominance of the Roman Empire and the prosperity of Byzantine civilization

- The fourth Islamic era began in Egypt in 640 AD, and Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs were deciphered and translated in 1936.

The city of Tripoli

In Roman times, the city was called Tribulus. Muslims conquered it in 623-4 AD. Historical records and travel writings from 1306-8 provide information about the city. Some historical reports describe marble and granite arches and columns in mosques and street corners, which represent the city's atmosphere during Roman rule. The city was surrounded by a wall during the Roman era and had access to the sea. Throughout history, the city has undergone many changes. Throughout history, the city has undergone many changes. After the Muslim conquest of the city, the city wall was destroyed and replaced with a mosque. "Nafe Mosque" is the oldest mosque in Tripoli. The 13th century AD Osman Pasha School had a square structure with a domed roof, an entrance, a vestibule, a sloping canopy, an open front area, and a "cell" for students known as "Khalwas". Fandh (guest house) used to be a prominent symbol of the city, but today only old ruins remain. The two-story building had an open front area with a walled corridor, with a warehouse downstairs and stores upstairs. The houses were structures with an open front area, offering a solution to the challenge presented by the surrounding buildings. The roof had a wooden dome, and the house was adorned with tiled walls. The ancient Ajla Mosque, a resting place for caravans, was located in an oasis 200 km. from Ajibiya. It was a trade center on the route to Sudan and other African countries. The mosque had prismatic roofs and cross arches made of limestone and mortar. The Qibla wall, altar, and pulpit are still standing today.

Cairo

In Cairo, traces of Rome before Islam are visible. The city has been under Islamic rule since 641 AD and flourished during the Fatimid period. Cairo's historical buildings reflect various periods, from the Fatimids to the Mamluks. Domes and minarets, characterize the city's architecture and the Old City is part of the Cairo Metropolis. The Mosque of ibn Tulun (877-879 AD), built during the Abbasid period is similar to the Great Mosque of Samarra. Its minaret stands outside the mosque on a quadrangular base with spiral stairs leading to the top, and it features pointed crescents on the facade and a flat roof. During the Mamluk period, buildings such as mosques, tombs, and hospitals were constructed on the ruins of the Fatimid era, incorporating minaret, and either two stories and square or one-story and octagonal with a cylindrical structure. In the Islamic era, Cairo had five gates, 5-6 story buildings, numerous palaces, and four mosques: Azhar, Noor, Hakim, and Moez. The houses were separated, offering no view of each other.

During the Fatimid period (969-1171 AD), Cairo underwent significant development. The city initially resembled the small Roman city of Timgad but expanded slowly. Its first wall was made of brick, while the second wall, built between 1087 and 1093 AD, featured stone construction and square towers designed by Syrian and Byzantine architects. Three of which were standing until 50 years ago. Notably, large gates, including "Bab AlFatuh" and "Bab AlNasr," were part of this expansion. The Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, built during the Fatimid period (970-72 AD), is the oldest mosque of that time. It served as a center of knowledge and is considered the oldest Islamic university in the world. Another example is the "Al-Aqmar" mosque, built in 1125 AD. The mosques in Cairo were an urban space and integral parts of urban life, serving as places of worship, refuge, and housing for travelers, and remained open day and night.

The Ayyubids were instrumental in spreading Sunan school architecture in Egypt. An example is Shah Hassan's large school (1356-62), also known as a mosque, which was built based on the "Mustansariyyah" school of Baghdad. The building had four parts and structures for the four religious rituals of the Sunan religion. According to Ernest Cornell, this new architectural style was brought from Turkestan and followed in Cairo, with notable ornaments and carvings. The mosque, monastery, and tomb of Shah Baybars have a four-part structure with a columned nave. According to Cornell, the porch and dome in Egyptian mosque architecture were influenced by Syria, while the structure of the four porches, dome, and arched space was present in Iran before Islam during the Parthian and Sassanid eras.

By reviewing the texts:

- Adam Metz - Islamic civilization

- Carl, J. Dury

- Crowe

- Dleg Graber

- Ernest Cornell

- J. Hog

-? Laros encyclopedia

- Laseau

References

Derivatives from precious works of Stern, Jensen, Durant, Marzban

1-?? Abu Lughod, Janet. 1973."The Islamic city, historical myth, Islamic essence, and contemporary relevance". Ed. H. Amirahmadi, S. S. Elshakhs. Urban development in the Muslim world, Center for Urban Policy Research. New Brunswick, New Jersey.

2-Ardalan, N. and Bakhtiar, L.1973. The sense of unity. Chicago Press.

3- Hakim.B.S.1986. Arabic-Islamic cities: building and planning principles. London. K.P.

4-Hanna, N. 1984. Construction work in Ottoman Cairo 1517-1798

5- Neo, Samuel V.1973. "The walled city of Delhi, retrospect, and prospect”. “Ed.H. Amirahmadi.

?6- S. S. Elshakhs. Urban development in the Muslim world, Center for Urban Policy Research. New Brunswick, New Jersey.

7- Saqqaq, A. Y. 1987. The Middle East city: ancient traditions confront a modern world. 2d. ed. New York Paragon house publisher.

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