the greatest islamic -...
TRANSCRIPT
Published by: Masha Books
Copyright © Masha Books
All rights are reserved and unauthorized production in any manner is prohibited
First Printed in India: 2018
Project Designer: Masha Books
Project Author: Yusuf Easa
Afghanistan• HeratMasjid 06• MinaretofJam 07• HeratCitadel 08• ShrineofHazratAli• Shahe-eDohShamshiraMosque• Jami’stomb• ShrineoftheCloak• OldcityofHerat
Algeria• MaqamEchahid• TlemcenGrandMosque• KetchaouaMosque
Bahrain• Al-FatehMosque• Beital-Quran
Bangladesh• AhsanManzil• SixtyDomeMosque• LalbaghFort• KhanMohammadMridhaMosque
Brunei• OmarAliSaifuddinMosque• IstanaNurulIman
Burkina Faso• BoboDioulassoGrandMosque
China• MosqueofXi’an
Bosnia and Herzegovnia• MehmedPasaSokolovicBridge• StariMost
Egypt• MosqueofAbuAbbasal-Mursi• Al-AzharUniversity• MontazaPalace• Aqmarmosque• Al-NasirMuhammadMosque• CairoCitadel• CitadelofQaitbay
Gibraltar• Ibraham-al-IbrahimMosque
India• AgraFort• TajMahal• Charminar• ChowmahallaPalace• BulandDarwaza• TombofMuhammedGhaus• Humayun’sTomb• RedFort• Akbar ’sTomb• JahazMahal• Shahibridge
Contents
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• QutbMinar• BaraImambara• JamaMasjid
Indonesia• BaiturrahamGrandMosque• MasjidAgungPalembang• GreatMosqueofDemak
Iran• JamehMosqueofIsfahan• ShahCheragh• NoushabnadUndergroundCity• SheikhLotfollahMosque• EramPalaceandGarden• GolestanPalace• SoltaniyehDome• Nasiral-MulkMosque• SultanAmirAhmadBathhouse
Iraq• ImamAliMosque• WadiofPeace• MosqueofSamarra• Al-Shaheedmonument• Fortressofal-Ukhadir• ImamHusaynShrine• CitadelofErbil
Jerusalem• Domeoftherock• Al-AqsaMosque
Lebanon• CitadelofTripoli
Malaysia• NegaraMasjid• PutraMosque• MoroccanPavilion
Mali• GreatMosqueofDjenne
Morocco• HassanIIMosque• KsarofAitbenHaddou• BahiaPalace• Chefchaouen• RoundMinaretofMoulayIdriss• HassanTower• Universityofal-Qaraouiyine
Oman• SultanQaboosGrandMosque• MisfatalAbreyeen• AlAlamRoyalPalace• AlHazmCastle
Pakistan• TombofJahangir• BadshahiMosque• WazirKhanMosque• Minar-E-Pakistan• Shalimargardens• FaisalMosque• LahoreFort
Qatar• HamadInternationalAirport
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Russia• NordKamalMosque
Saudi Arabia• Prophet’sMosque• QubaMasjid• Kasba• Masmakfort• Jawathamosque• King’sfountain• OldDir ’iyah• Dumatal-Jandal• Jeddahtower• GreatMosqueofMecca• KingdomCentre• Mada’inSaleh• IbrahimPalace
Spain• MezquitaCathedral• Alhambra
Syria• GreatMosqueofDamascus• CitadelofAleppo
Tunisia• GreatMosqueofKairouan
Turkey• SuleimanMosque• RustemPashaMosque• BlueMosque• CiniliKosk• HagiaSophia
• Topkapipalace• PertevniyalValideSultanMosque• DolmabahcePalace• NewMosque• BayezidIIMosque• GrandMosqueofBursa
Turkmenistan• NationalparkofIndependence• MausoleumofTurabek-Khanum
UAE• SheikhZayedGrandMosque• Burjal-ArabHotel• BurjKhalifa• JumeirahMosque
Uzbekistan• Mir-I-ArabMedressa• RegistanSquare• Shah-I-ZindaNecropolis• KaltaMinorMinaret
Yemen• Al-MuhdharMosque• Daral-Hajar• Sana’a• BrickbuildingsofZabid• AlSalehMosque• Shaharahbridge
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6 Greatest Islamic Monuments
Herat MasjidThe Herat Masjid stands at 800 years old and is one of the finest examples of Islamic
architecture in Central Asia. From the tile mosaic to the inspired usage of intricate
detailing and bright colours, it serves as a hymn in praise of Allah.
The Herat Masjid was built on the site of two smaller Zorastrian fire temples that were
lost to natural disasters. Construction was started by Ghiyas Ud-Din Ghori and after his
passing, it was continued by his brother Muhammad of Ghor. This was confirmed by an
inscription that was uncovered during a restoration attempt in 1964.
Afghanistan
Did You know?
Well known Timurid leader Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqara was
once the ruler of Herat
7 Greatest Islamic Monuments
Shams al-Din kart started to rebuild the mosque in 1306 as a result of its destruction at the hands
of Genghis Khan in 1221. This effort however was severely hampered by an earthquake in 1364.
The mosque was largely left untouched during the time of the Timurid rulers. It was Jalal al-
Din Firuzshah a prominent ruler under Shah Rukh that was credited with replacing the ruined
building with an entirely new building that had surrounding gardens. The detailing work was
so length that it alone took five years to complete, bringing in workers from across the empire.
The mosque was given one last renovation under the Mughal Empire by Prince Khurram.
While many of the mosaics have a Timurid origin, the mosque has its own designs in colours
and calligraphy. Two huge minarets flank the main entrance and almost every square centre is
covered in beautiful mosaics that have blue bands of Quranic script. The workshop (an on-going
restoration project since 1940) is in a courtyard to the left of the main entrance. The courtyard
also features the remnants of the original Ghorid decoration that is inlaid with Timurid tiling
which shows the change in artistic styles the mosque has witnessed.
8 Greatest Islamic Monuments
Before war and conflict came to
Afghanistan and political instability
made the place a hostile zone for
all travelers, societies and empires
flourished, leaving behind traces of
their greatness. One such example
of their legacy is the Minaret of Jam.
Located in a deep river valley
between towering mountains in
Afghanistan, the Minaret of Jam is a
62 meter tall minaret made entirely
of bricks that dates back to the 12th
century.
What makes this monument a
testament to Islamic architecture
is the intricate brick work, stucco
and glazed tile decoration. The
tiles themselves have alternating
bands showing geometric patterns
and naskhi calligraphy, kufic
calligraphy and verses from the
Quran.
Sadly though, the minaret is in
danger of erosion because of the
river Jam and Hari Rud, while
under constant threat of looters
and illegal excavations occurring
around the monument.
Minaret of Jam
9 Greatest Islamic Monuments
Did You know?
Due to its location, the Minaret of Jam is also
on the list of World Heritage in Danger
10 Greatest Islamic Monuments
The Citadel of Herat or Qala Iktyaruddin can be found in the centre of Herat in Afghanistan.
Dating back to 330 BC, it served as a base when Alexander the Great and his armies arrived
after the battle of Gaugamela. From then on, there were many empires that have used the
citadel in the past 2,000 years and it is also why the Citadel has been destroyed and rebuilt
in the many centuries that followed.
Civilization settled down in Herat as early as 6th century B.C. There is a mound that can
be found in the north part of the Old City, known as Kuhandazh. This mound is thought
to be the site where Alexander the Great built his fort in 330 B.C. Half a kilometre south
of the Kuhandaz lies the walled city. Aligned with the cardinal axes, Arab geographers
note that the city had four gates that head into crossing commercial avenues and a square
citadel. It is this citadel that is commonly referred to as the Herat Citadel. The Citadel was
ruled by many empires including (but not limited to) the Parthians, Kushans, Hephthalites,
Umayyads, Tahirids, Samarids, Ghaznavids and Ghurids. Herat initially thrived with the
Silk Road trade from Levant to India and China, only becoming more important during
the Ghurid dynasty of 1175. This city was among many that fell to the Mongol
invasion but was rebuilt by the Kartid governors in mid-thirteenth century.
Herat Citadel
11 Greatest Islamic Monuments
Between 1299 and 1300 Kartid Amir Fakhr al-Din reinforced the citadel’s walls, ramparts,
moats and towers. He also added a walled maidan to the west of the citadel, serving as an
open air mosque or idgah. His successor Ghiyath al-Din would build two palaces to the east.
Though it was all destroyed by Timur’s army in 1380, the Citadel was reconstructed once
again when Shah Rukh had to move his capital to Herat. He also added to the construction
by reinforcing the citadel in stone and fired brick. He also covered the exterior of the Herat
Citadel in glazed tiles.
During the 18th century, the citadel would have multiple uses under the Hotaki dynasty
and Durrani Empire. It would suffer some damage during the Anglo-Afghan war of 19th
century. Due to the conflict in the 19th century, the Arg-e Herat, a modern citadel was
immediately built to the north, to take over its defensive role. In 1953 the Citadel was
nearly destroyed when Herat’s army commander ordered its demolition. It was due to the
intervention of King Zahir Shah that the demolition was halted. The Citadel would undergo
some restoration work between 1976 and 1979. In later years, it would incur more damage
due to decades of war and neglect.
12 Greatest Islamic Monuments
It was between 2006 and 2011 that the Citadel was completely renovated. The new
restoration effort involved hundreds of Afghan craftsmen, with funds provided by the
German and U.S governments. When the older compound on the east was excavated, it
revealed two courtyard structures. This rectangular plan measured at 18 x 42 metres. The
plan is protected by 13 semi-circular towers. This area is known as the Upper Citadel, with
a distinctive look thanks to the usage of fired bricks.
The Kartid additions on the west are called the Lower Citadel. This section has walls
made of baked bricks and has a few Timurid period military structures. It also features
nine circular towers (only six have survived) found on the south and west walls. The well
known Malik tower is believed to be named after a Kartid malik. The tower also retains
some segments of its Timurid glazed tile decoration and parts of a Kufic inscriptive band.
13 Greatest Islamic Monuments
In 1970 an Ethnographic Museum, a Handicraft Workshop, a Military Museum
and an Archaeological Museum were set up inside the Lower Citadel. The biggest
attraction is the Citadel’s curtain wall topped with battlements. The Upper Citadel
was opened to visitors as an Open Air Archaeological Museum
with a northern section remade into a traditional residence.
A total of 1,100 items from the Herat region are inside the
museum at the citadel, of which 250 are on display
for the public.
14 Greatest Islamic Monuments
Another beautiful mosque that is popularly referred to as the ‘Blue Mosque’, the Shrine
of Hazrat Ali is one of the many beautiful buildings in Afghanistan. Many of the local
population believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib (one of the most important people in Islalmic
history) is buried here.
It was Ahmed Sanjar of the Seljuk dynasty that built the first shrine in this area, which was
among the many buildings lost to the Mongol invasion of 1220. Later, in the 15th century
Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqarah constructed the Mosque that is seen here and is the most
important landmark in the Mazar-I-Sharif. The mosque is very noticeable thanks to the
iconic twin blue domes that dominate the Herat skyline.
The rich blue tiling that covers the surface of the shrine is a modern design.
The Timurid decoration fell into a
state of disrepair, when the
building was covered
Shrine of Hazrat Ali
15 Greatest Islamic Monuments
in a simple whitewash till the 1860s. It was thanks to Sher Ali Khan that the mosque was restored.
There are many tombs of varying sizes and dimensions that were added over the years. These
tombs contain a number of notable Afghan political and religious leaders over the years. People
like Wazir Akbar Khan and Sher Ali Khan are buried here. It is thanks to these additions that the
mosque now has its irregular dimensions.
The doves that inhabit the shrine complex are well known throughout Afghanistan. Many believe
that the site is so holy that should a grey pigeon make its home here, it would turn white in 40
days. Another belief states that every seventh pigeon is
said to contain a spirit.
Did You know?
There are some who believe that the founder
of Zoroastrianism, Zoroaster is buried
here.