Rhythmic Structure in Islamic Architecture

Abstract

AbstractThe study defines the research problem as a reconsideration orreformulation of a scientific approach to study of the dimensions of rhythmin Islamic Architecture, depending on rhythmic polyphonic and harmonicrelations in Islamic architecture, as well as on rhythmic in Arabic poetryand music. To fulfill such as objective a scale for rhythmic dimension is beinglaid down. The hypothesis postulates that the aesthetic taste constituting thedimensions of rhythm in Islamic architecture is itself the force behind Arabicpoetry and music.So that the characteristics of rhythm in Arabic poetry and music aredefined and clarified going back to their roots as they were founded by Al-Khalil Bin Ahmad, Al-Farabi, Ekhwan Al-Safa and Al-Armani. A graphicmodel for musical and poetic rhythm is devised so as to project the distinctivefeatures descriptive of the Islamic character and how they may apply toIslamic architecture in eclectic samples. Periods, beats and paces betweenmusic and poetry on the hand and their architectural counterparts on theothers are being rigorously compared. The results project similarity andcontinuity of the expressive aspects in Islamic architecture and Arabic musicand poetry for both reflect the slow, monotonous and infinite nature of theMuslim mind. The groupings, spaces and modulation in both arts are almostidentical. In both arts the shape and the rhythm are but reflections and anembodiment of the same cultural tempo and spirit… infinite, colorless andmonotonous.