Monuments of the Arab Islamic Civilization in Iraq

Monuments of the Arab Islamic Civilization in Iraq

The Muslim Arab civilization

Iraq had a major role in the development of the Muslim Arab civilization, that is where Islamic Arab civilization reached out to the whole world. The establishment of the Muslim Arab state in Iraq was swift and it soon blossomed and stretched to form a set of various units and institutions. Such an expansion reflected on its mosques, as scientific attraction centres, which were renovated and enlarged. Baghdad, Basra, Wasset, Kufa, Mosul and others were prosperous Iraqi cities famous for their various civil and religious architectural buildings, which historians and travellers discussed and praised at length.

The architectural monuments and Islamic arts in Iraq mirror the genius of the Islamic nation and its creations under Islam. Their plans, architectural designs, and sculptural ornaments convey an image of pure authenticity, befitting for the greatness of the heavenly message that was carried by Arab Moslems as heralds guiding the whole humanity.

Most important Iraqi cities and their famous monuments

Basra

Basra is situated on the west bank of Shatt-al-Arab, some 67 Km away from the Arab Gulf and 549 Km south of Baghdad. It constitutes Iraq's access to the countries of the Arab Gulf and the Far East.

Muslim Arabs, led by the commander Sa'ad Bnu Abi Waqqas, conquered Iraq in Muharram 14 AH/ 636 AD at the famous battle of al-Qadissiyah after the fall of al-Mada'in. Basra was constructed on the battle's site in 16 A.H. / 737 A.D. by Utba Bnu Ghazwan al-Mazini, governor of the caliph Umar Bnu al-Khattab (God bless him), to be a camp for his soldiers. The caliph appointed the governors of Basra and fixed their salaries. He nominated Abu Mussa al-Ash'ari governor of Basra, with a salary of six hundred dirhams, and Sharih Bnu al-Harith its chief justice. 

In the centre of Basra were built the mosque, the Emir's abode and the treasury. All roads and streets led to the al-Jami'a mosque, and the road between Basra and Nassiriya still comprises many historical monuments of Basra's Arab Islamic buildings and palaces.

Kufa (17 A.H./ 638 A.D.)

Kufa is situated on the west bank of the Euphrates, and is a few miles away from the north-east of the ancient city of al-Hira, 156 km south of Baghdad and 18 km east of Najaf.

Kufa was founded by the Muslim commander Sa'ad Bnu Abi Waqqas in 17 AH/ 638 AD, two years after the construction of Basra and was designed in the same manner as it. It is reported that Sa'ad built it when he took up quarters in al-Mada'in after having defeated the Persians and conquered Iraq. Then, building increased until Kufa reached the height of its glory at the reign of the Umayyads, but it waned after al-Mansur founded Baghdad. However, Kufa remained an important and strategic centre at the military, commercial and cultural levels.

The Qadissiey Battle

................................................................................................................................

Baghdad
(Dar Es-Salam - the Round City -al-Mansur City)
(145 A.H./ 762 A.D.)

Baghdad was built in 145 A.H./ 762 A.D. at the reign of the caliph Abu Ja'afar al-Mansur, on the west bank of the Tigris. Its construction represents a landmark in the history of Arab cities and Islamic civilization. Baghdad had a distinguished role in the political and intellectual events that took place in the Arab Islamic world in particular and in the whole world in general.

It was built in a circular way with four gates: Sham Gate, Khurasan Gate, Basra Gate and Kufa Gate. It was surrounded by an external wall, but it increasingly grew so that the building extended to its western and eastern parts, including al-Mu'adam Gate, Shumasiya and al-Mukhram. Then, stately palaces, high buildings, great mosques and inns were built, as well as fountains, hostels, barracks, trade markets, treasury houses, schools and religious colleges. It became thus an intellectual centre and a beacon for students and scholars from all over the world.

Baghdad went then through dark periods. It was devastated and wrecked by the Tatars' invasion led by Hulagu in 656 A.H./ 1258 A.D. and the Mongol's invasion by Tamerlane in 795 AH. It was invaded also by al-Jala'iriyins, Safwiins and the Ottomans. Nonetheless, its historical monuments still exist to testify about the city's glory.

And today in the twenty-first century Dar Es-Salam is subjected to a new invasion (the American-British aggression).

The following are famous monuments of the Islamic civilization in Baghdad:

The Madrasa al-Mustansiriya in Baghdad (625 A.H./ 1227 A.D.)

................................................................................................................................

The Madrasa Al Mustansiriyah in Baghdad is considered one of the ancient Arab Islamic universities known for teaching Koran sciences, the Sunna of the Prophet, jurisprudence doctrines, Arabic linguistics, mathematics, religious duties and medicine. This school was most characterized of all its previous and contemporary schools by its special annex. In front of the madrasa's gate there was a clock used in knowing times of prayers and lectures. It was made and maintained by Nureddine Ali Bnu Taghlub Al Sa'ati (the clock maker).

This school was built by the Abbasid caliph al-Mustansir Billah in Baghdad on the side of Rusafa overlooking the Tigris between 625AH /1227AD and Jumada II in 631AH /1234AD. The Madrasa al-Mustansiriya is a rectangular building comprising a courtyard surrounded by porches, and in the middle of each side there is a 6-metres-wide halls, each surrounded by two classrooms. Students dormitories consisted of two floors and were at the end of halls. The architect enclosed all parts of the madrasa, such as rooms, halls, sitting rooms and porches, by a single frame encompassing all of them, and set a spacious and long courtyard in the middle.

................................................................................................................................

Lecture halls were built in the southern side whose ceilings are two floors as high as the opposite building that consists of rooms above which are arcades as high as the lecture halls. The two buildings are separated by a two-floor high corridor, connected with the external courtyard through two lateral apertures counter to the prevailing wind. Thus, the air bursts in under the pressure of external wind to fill the corridor's vacuum. Thanks to this processing, it seems the building is designed to receive the air in a horizontal way, which reveals the extent to which the Muslim architect grasped the principles of aerodynamics well before modern science got to its details.

................................................................................................................................

Vestiges of the middle Gate in Baghdad

Samraa is one of the important Arab Islamic cities in Iraq. It was the capital of the Abbassids after Baghdad. Today, Arabs and Muslims give it a venerable status, as the tombs of Imam Ali Al-hadi and of his son Hassan Al-'askari, God have mercy upon their souls, are located there.

Samarra is situated on the left bank of the Tigris, 135 km north of Baghdad. It was founded at the time of al-Mu'tassim Billah, the eight Abbasid caliph, in 221 A.H./ 836 A.D. for political and social reasons that are expounded in history books.

It was the dwelling place of seven Abbassid caliphs, who are: al-Wathiq, al-Mutawakkil, al-Muntasir, al-Musta'in, al-Mu'ataz, al-Muhtadi, and al-Mu'atamid who resided in it for some time and then went back to live in Baghdad.

Archaeological excavations in Samarra uncovered a number of the caliphs' palaces, such as the palaces of al-Asheq, al-Bellawra, al-Fawqani, al-Badi' and al-Jawasaq al-Khaqani, as well as other Islamic monuments. Moreover, Samarra's special Islamic arts represent an important era in the history of the development of Islamic arts in the eastern and western parts of the Islamic world.

A General View of Samarra

................................................................................................................................

The following are famous monuments of the Islamic civilization in Samarra:

The Mosque of the Caliph Al Moutawakkil ala Allah in Samarra
234- 237 in the Muslim calendar, 849- 852 after Christ

................................................................................................................................

The Mosque of the Caliph al Moutawakkel ala Llah is considered as the outstanding monument of the city of Samarra, and it still occupies the major position as far as splendour, architectural exactitude, and beauty are concerned, among all ancient mosques in the Islamic world, as it remained intact despite the human and natural destructions throughout the centuries.

Samarra is the city where aspects of the Abbassid dynasty's civilizational style are most apparent. The city was founded in the north of Baghdad, by orders of the Caliph Moatassem in the year 221 in Hegira year, 836 A.D. It remained the capital of the caliphate and the Abbassid empire for more than 50 years during which 7 Caliphs tried to make of it a city comparable to Baghdad as far as constructions and monuments are concerned. The main monuments of Samarra are the great Samarra Mosque and Abu Dalaf Mosque, that is set 50 km to the north of the city.

The Caliph al Moutawakkel ala Allah ordered the construction of the Samraa Mosque, from 234- 237 in Hegira year, 849- 852 A.D. It has a rectangular shape (240 meters by 158 meters) and it can gather up to 80,000 faithful. The plan of the Moutawakkel Mosque is the same as that of Bassrah, Koufa, and Wasset Mosques, composed of a prayer room, two side aisles and a rear part surrounding a rectangular nave, where there was a fountain with a round shape, composed of a single peace of granite stone that is said was brought from Egypt then transferred to the Sharabiya school in Baghdad.

The Moutawakkel mosque is characterized with its winding minaret that is one of the oldest monumental minarets of Iraq, and is unique among the minarets of the Islamic world with its design. Erected 27 miles up from the northern wall of the mosque, it is located on the central axis of its mihrab. As for the body of the minaret, it has a spiral shape, and stands on a double-decked square basis. The lower one is 31.80 m and the upper 30.50 m. This base is 4.20 m above earth level. It is decorated with pointed-knot curbs, nine in each side except in the southern side where there are only seven as the remaining two are covered by the sloping stairs leading to the base. The most wonderful thing in the upper part of this minaret is a row of 8 mihrab pendant lamps which crown the Mosque's body. Their knots are propped up by compact semi-cylindrical brick pillars. The minaret is about 50 m high except the base, which distinguishes it as a unique model among the old and new mosque minarets of the Islamic world.

The Mosque of Abu Dalaf in Iraq

................................................................................................................................

The caliph Al Mutawakkil Ala Allah wanted Al Mutawakkiliya Mosque (Al Jaafariya) to be like his Mosque in Samarra in terms of design and minaret. It was named the Mosque of Abu Dalaf in reference to the Abbasid commander who was well-known in the time of the Caliph Harun ar-Rasheed (died in Baghdad in 266 A.H./ 841 A.D.).

The mosque is located in the north-eastern part of Al Jaafariya. It is rectangular, smaller than the mosque of Samarra, and its external walls were built from adobe and clay, like most of Al Mutawakkil's buildings. Its pillars, arches and minaret were built from large bricks and plaster. The external walls fell down while most parts built from large bricks and plaster have remained intact.

Among the new architectural elements in the Mosque of Abu Dalaf is the pointed and inflated arch, which was made so in order to handle the holding capacity of vessels and porticos. The mosque's mihrab (prayer niche) stands out from the wall side facing toward Mecca, which is considered a novelty in Islamic architecture

The following are famous monuments of the Islamic civilization in Iraq :

The Abbassid Fortress of al-Ukhaidar

................................................................................................................................

Al-Ukhaidar is one of the world's most distinguished defensive fortresses for its military features unique not only in Arab Islamic architecture, but also in the Oriental architecture during the Middle Ages. Most scientific studies indicate that it was built in the early period of the Abbassid dynasty, in the reign of the caliph al-Mansur Billah.

Al-Ukhaidar is located in a historically important area where many routes of ancient trade caravans converge, including the route that connected Kufa with Syria.  

................................................................................................................................

This fortress constitutes through its design the connecting link between the style of al-Mashta Palace (Winter Palace), built by the Umayyads, and Samarra's palaces and bastions, built by the Abbassids. This monument is traced to the Emir Issa Bnu Mussa al-Abbasi. It is square like al-Mashta Palace, and the length of its side is around 170 metres. The fortress is bounded by a wall supported by semicircular towers, and includes a central set of very similar houses, lateral buildings and spacious courtyards. In the middle of the northern side of the wall there is a door that opens out facing a long corridor, at both ends of which are two sets of houses.

Despite the construction simplicity, this large building contains an important and diversified collection of knots, including semi-cylindrical knots and others propped by two-fold arches, vaults ornamented with slopes, successive domes and crossed vaults.

Najaf

Najaf is 180 km south west of Baghdad. It is considered one of the most famous cities in the Arab Islamic world as it contains the tomb of Imam Ali Bnu Abi Talib, God bless him.

Najaf was not only a trade centre for the Middle Euphrates region, but also an important point (Zubaida road) in the pilgrimage roads connecting Syria with Mecca passing through Najaf, Hail and Medina.

The following are famous monuments of the Islamic civilization in Iraq:

The tomb of Imam Ali Bnu Abi Talib in Najaf

................................................................................................................................

Karbala

Karbala is 105 km south west of Baghdad. It is considered one of the most important Islamic places in the Arab Islamic world because it contains the tombs of some relatives of the prophet, such as the tombs of Imam Hussein Bnu Ali and Imam al-Abbas Bnu Ali, God bless them.

The following is a famous monument of the Islamic civilization in Karbala:

The tomb of Imam al-Hussein Bnu Ali Bnu Abi Talib in Karbala

The tomb of Imam Abbas Bnu Ali Bnu Abi Talib in Karbala

................................................................................................................................

Kadimiya

Kadimiya is some 5 km west of Baghdad. It is one of the important Islamic and cultural cities in the Arab Islamic world, as the mausoleums of Imam Mussa al-Kadim and of Imam Mohammed Jawad are located there.

The caliph al-Mansur took Kadimiya as a burying place for his family and relatives, and was called then Quraish cemetery. Were buried there: Abu Ja'afar Bnu al-Mansur, the caliph al-Amin, Zubayda -Harun ar-Rasheed's wife-, Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Ahmed Bnu Hanbal. The city was named Kadimiya in reference to Imam Mussa al-Kadhim, whose mausoleum has two domes covered with pure gold and four golden minarets. The mausoleum was decorated with precious works of arts and its sides and entrance were decorated with mosaïcs and Koran scriptures. Next to the mausoleum of Imam Mussa al-Kadhim there is that of Imam Mohammed al-Jawad.

The following is a famous monument of the Islamic civilization in Kadimiya:

The Mausoleum of the two Imams Mussa al-Kazim
and Muhammad al-Jawad in Kadimiya

................................................................................................................................

Mosul

Mosul is situated on the west bank of the Tigris. It had many names, such as: Um al-Arba'in, al-Hadba', al-Fayha' and al-Khadra'. It was surrounded by a high stone wall that had many gates, the most famous of which are: Sinjar Gate, Luksh Gate and al-Bayd Gate. There are also other monuments from which the only remaining vestige is the tower "Bash Tabiya".

Mosul was conquered during the reign of the caliph Umar Bnu al-Khattab, God bless him, in 20 A.H. and had played a distinguished role since the Arab Islamic conquest.

It contains vestiges of important monuments like mosques, especially the Ummawiys Mosque which is considered the oldest mosque of the city. This mosque was built by Ataba Bnu Farqad as-Selmi in 20 A.H. It was named the Umayyad because it was renovated and widened in the reign of Marwan Bnu Mohammed, the last Umayyad caliph. It was renovated many times afterwards, but nothing of it has remained except the minaret which is called "the cut off minaret" or "the minaret of al-Kawazin Mosque".

There are other mosques, such as "al-Hadba" or "Al-Nouri" Mosque, located in the city centre and known for its humped minaret. There are also many mausoleums, like that of Imam Yahya Bnu al-Qassim, near Bash Tabiya. 

Mosul has also some old monasteries and churches, such as the Shimon as-Safa church, one of the oldest Chaldean churches, the Al-Tahira, Marithion, al-Bai'a and al-'Atiqa churches. Some of the convents and monasteries are Marmata and Makorkis.

There is also a monuments museum, the most important one after the Iraqi museum in Baghdad. It includes in addition to precious treasures of monuments that date back to the Assyrian civilization and to other ancient Iraqi civilizations, samples of Arab Islamic monuments.

Bibligraphic references :

Atasoy, N., A. Bahnassi, M. Rogers : L'art de l'islam, Paris, 1990.

Bammate, H. : Apports des Musulmans à la Civilisation, Genéve, 1962.

Creswell, K. A. C., Early Muslim Architecture, Oxford,1940.

Creswell, K. A. C., A Short Account of Early Muslim Architecture, Londres, 1958.

Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations In The Holy Land. Oxford 1978.

Ettinghausen,R.et O . Grabar : The Art and Architecture of Islam 650- 1250 , Harmondsworth,1987.

Grabar,O. Et D. Hill : Islamic Architecture and Decoration A.D. 800- 1500, Londres , 1964.

Marçais, G. : L' Architecture musulman d' Occident, Paris , 1954

Michael Rogers, The Spread of Islam, Elsevier Phaidon, 1976

Papadopoule, A.: L' Islam et l'art musulman, Paris, 1076.

Petersen, A. Dictionary of Islamic Architecture. London, 1999.

Sourdel, D. er j. Sourdel-Thomine : La civilisation de l'Islam classique, Paris, 1968 .

Stierlin Henri , Islam de Badgad à Cordove,Taschen,2002.