Traditional Islamic Principles of Built Environment

Written with the non-Muslim reader in mind, this book analyses the principles and values established by Islamic tradition to govern the social and physical environments of Muslims. The author develops an understanding of Islam as a tradition of values rather than rules, clarifying the social dimension of Islamic tradition and dispelling the myth of Islam as simply dictatorial. The picture of Islam that emerges from this work is of a way of life with social ideals. The pursuit of these ideals in early Muslim societies was reflected in the formation of the built environment. Recent Muslim architecture and urban planning have tended to discard these original ideals. It is argued here that a movement back to these ideals can contribute to harmonious social and physical environments. Relying on the Qur'an and Sunna , the basic sources of Islamic law, and using examples of the built environment of early Muslims in North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia, the author explains how following these ideals can create an urban environment that responds to social and environmental variables. Islamic views on the controversial issue of modernisation are also examined. This book will be of interest to people in the fields of urban planning, architecture, sociology, anthropology, housing and built environment, as well as Islamic studies.

Table of Contents:
Introduction  1. The Tradition of Islam and Its Law  2. The Traditional Islamic Framework: Its Principles and Dimensions  3. The Traditional Islamic Physical Framework: Its Principles and Dimensions  4. Islam and Modernisation: Principles vs. Materials  Notes and References  Bibliography

About the Author :
Hisham Mortada is an educator and a critic in the field of urban planning and architecture, with interest in traditional Muslim cities, socio-cultural changes and currently sustainable living. He received a Masters degree in Architecture from Pennsylvania State University, USA in 1988 and a Ph.D. in Architecture from Edinburgh University, UK in 1992. He currently teaches architecture and urban planning at King Abdul Asiz University, Saudi Arabia.

Review :
"[T]he book is a valuable resource for those interested in Islamic Urbanism of the past and its future potential for achieving sustainable cities in the Islamic world and beyond.."
-"Book Reviews, Guangjin Tian
"The book is clearly organized in four main chapters, which deal with very different aspects of the relationship between city and Islam.."
-Urban Morphology