Sustainable development may be defined, from an Islamic point of view, as a multi-dimensional process that seeks to strike a
balance between economic and social development on one side, and the environment on the other. It seeks for humans to
use resources in the best possible way.
There are numerous citations from the Qur’an and the hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Mohammad) that mentioned the wise
utilization of natural resources. They all lead to the conviction that all elements, species, habitats, and ecosystems are part of
the perfect universe created by GOD. Hence, respecting the law of nature and all its components is an obligation of every
Muslim, who by definition has “submitted” himself, body and soul, to the Creator.
Depending on the main Islamic concept in the Qur’an “And remember when He made you successors after the 'Aad and
settled you in the land, [and] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes. Then
remember the favors of Allah and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.” ( Al-'A`rāf, 7:74), this paper tried
to discuss the main principles of Islamic roles that deal with nature as the main resource to architecture and built-up areas and
humans as a wise and rational consumer for these resources.
The paper aims to increase awareness of the importance of the theme of sustainability in architecture by expounding the core
of the conceptual basis for the same. It also presents some general principles and ideas around which a comprehensive theory
on sustainability in Islamic architecture, in line with the requirements of the Islamic worldview while fully conforming to the
dictates of different circumstances, environments, and cultures, can be developed today. To deal with such an issue, the paper
will try to project the built environment and architecture of the old residential area of Mosul city within the Islamic principles of
living to investigate how Islam deals with such an environment and its resources sustainably.
تاريخ النشر
04/02/2013
الناشر
(International Middle East Conference on Sustainability and Human Development (iMESH 2013),
ناهض طه القيماقجي | Nahedh Taha Al-Qemaqchi | 9511