Foreword

The Islamic cultural heritage is a record of the Ummah’s creative ability and one of the symbols of its genius. It is a memory that preserves its values and one of the components of its cultural identity as well as a characteristic that distinguishes it from other cultures and civilizations. The architectural heritage is a shining landmark and enlightening fruit of the creative achievements with which the Islamic culture has contributed to the enriching of human cultures, due to its aesthetic and artistic aspects, and its symbols which are a significant emblem of the development of this civilization and the progress made by its builders, artisans and scientists through different periods. This is a fact illustrated by the great monuments built in different parts of the world, which testify to the genius of its engineers, the perpetuity of its art and the deep-rootedness of its symbols, and by the cultural and religious institutions, such as mosques and garrissons, fortresses and fortifications, and scientific centers such as schools and universities.

Being aware of the cultural mission carried out by these architectural institutions and in an attempt to make known their mission to the public, to document their monuments and to protect their identity and beauty as well as to point out their impact on the progress made by mankind in the domain of architecture, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -ISESCO- and the World Islamic Call Society -WICS- spared no effort, through their successive programmes, to preserve the Islamic architectural heritage, by resorting and making known its various institutions and by showing its radiant cultural role throughout history. The Islamic Organization and the World Islamic Call Society provided financial support for the restoration of monuments and prepared studies not only for the development and teaching of the different models and varieties of the Islamic architecture so as to preserve its uniqueness and enhance the awareness of the Muslims, particularly the young generations, of its characteristics, magnificence and secrets, but also for the modernization of this architecture and keeping it in touch with the progress made in the field without, of course, making it lose its specificities.

For all these considerations, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has prepared in collaboration with the World Islamic Call Society this study by the talented expert and meticulous researcher, Doctor Afif Bahnassi. The study suggests a model view of how to improve the teaching of the arts of the Islamic architecture. It draws on two basic sources -one is traditional and the other is modern- namely the Islamic culture and the developments in the field, respectively. The style of the book is scientific and thrilling and the method is documentary and clear.

We beseech Allah that this book will be a useful contribution from which students, intellectuals and all those interested in this marvelous aspect of the highly creative Islamic civilization will benefit.

Dr. Mohammad Ahmad Acharif
Secretary of the World Islamic Call Society