Mendeley TY _ JOUR ID - 1402122646172 TI - Evaluation of the Spatial Geometry of the Historical Mosques of Qom with an Emphasis on Semantics JO - Iranian Islamic city studies JA - ES LA - fa SN - 2228-639X AU - AU - moradi marzieh AD - دانشجو دانشگاه قم AD - عضو هیئت علمی Y1 - 2025 PY - 2025 VL - 55 IS - SP - 17 EP - 37 KW - Hierarchy KW - Mosque KW - Organization KW - Qibla Axis KW - Qom Mosques KW - Spatial Geometry. DO - N2 -

The adherence to the qibla axis, regarded as a spiritual focal point and a sequence-determining element in mosque hierarchy, has consistently been a core principle in mosque design. This research aims to examine the influence of the qibla axis on the spatial and structural configuration of mosques, focusing particularly on historical mosques in the city of Qom. It analyzes the movement hierarchy and spatial axis from the entrance to the alignment with the qibla direction. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method, gathering data through library resources, cartographic analysis, and document review. The findings reveal that the design, geometry, spatial organization, and entrance orientation in most mosques in Qom reflect a strict adherence to hierarchical principles and the prominent influence of the qibla axis. The mosques are categorized into two types: uniaxial and biaxial.

 

Keywords: Hierarchy, Mosque, Organization, Qibla Axis, Qom Mosques, Spatial Geometry.

 

Introduction

The mosque is undeniably one of the primary religious structures in Islam, with its foremost function being collective worship (Hillbrand, 2019: 31). As a place of worship, the mosque reflects the beliefs and values prevailing in Islamic cities, and this status is accentuated by the diversity of its functions, leading to spatial variety within the mosque (Noghrehkar, 2014: 126). The architecture of any building is formed around a functional, spatial, visual, and formal hierarchical system, which, in the particular case of mosques, revolves around the spiritual significance of the qibla axis as an orientational guide (Fattahi & Omranipour, 2014: 96). The qibla axis, a spiritual direction, influences the architecture and geometric arrangement of forms, prompting the spatial geometry to adopt a unified orientation, aligning all internal elements and spaces around this sacred axis—the qibla itself (Ziabakhsh et al., 2012: 89). Over centuries, the diverse geometry, form, and spatial structure of mosques have adapted, partly in response to the qibla axis. The varying configurations of courtyards and prayer halls can strengthen or weaken the ritualistic function of mosques (Vasigh et al., 2021). Consequently, the main question posed by this study is: How has the qibla direction as an axis influenced the architecture, geometric arrangement of forms, spatial configuration, and structure of historical mosques in Qom? The study hypothesizes that the qibla axis has a significant effect on the orientation, movement hierarchy, spatial axis, and structure of Qom’s historical mosques. Using an analytical-logical approach, this research evaluates the manifestation of the qibla orientation in the architecture of mosques across historical periods. It investigates the role of the qibla axis in the architectural design, spatial layout, and structure of historical mosques in Qom, including Alborz, Panj Ali, Chehel Akhtar, Seyyed Sadegh Rouhani, Meydan Kohneh, Jameh, Azam, the sacred Jamkaran Mosque, Jameh Kahak, Imam Hasan Askari (AS), and Sarm mosques. Necessary information was obtained from library resources and article reviews. Initially, the mosque plans are categorized based on form and axis, followed by an examination of the influence of the qibla axis on the layout, spatial structure, and composition.

 

Research Method

This study is based on a constructivist (structuralist) epistemology within the interpretative paradigm. The theoretical orientation of the research is comparative, combining qualitative and quantitative (mixed) data. The results are descriptive-analytical, following a historical-interpretive approach. The research uses typological analysis, employing data collection methods such as library (documentary) research, cartographic analysis, and note-taking. Initially, examples from each historical period are described, analyzed, and examined. The characteristics of each period are then identified and the relevant patterns or models for each period are introduced. This structural assessment considers the influence of the qibla axis on the mosque plans and spatial organization in historical mosques across Qom, including Panj Ali, Alborz, Chehel Akhtar, Seyyed Sadegh Rouhani, Meydan Kohneh, Jameh, Azam, Jameh Kahak, Imam Hasan Askari (AS), Sarm, and the sacred Jamkaran Mosque.

 

Table: Analysis of the Spatial Structure of Traditional Mosques in Qom

Mosque Name

Representation in Contemporary Context

Qibla Orientation Analysis

Spatial Diagram

Jameh Mosque

.

    

Imam Hasan Askari (AS)

      

Alborz Mosque

      

Jameh Kahak

      

Panj Ali Mosque
 
   

 

    

Chehel Akhtar

Mosque

 

      

Seyyed Sadegh Rouhani Mosque

 

  

.

Meydan Kohneh Mosque

      

Azam Mosque

      

Sarm Mosque

      

 

Discussion

 The historical evolution of mosque architecture demonstrates that architects and mosque patrons consistently valued the alignment with the qibla axis as a core design principle. The qibla direction has had a unique and powerful influence on the spatial organization of mosques. Adherence to hierarchical principles in mosques reinforces the qibla orientation, adding depth to the structure, prompting individuals to pause and reflect on the mysteries embedded within the transition from stillness to movement in this sacred path. This alignment serves to guide worshippers from internal to external spaces, creating balance, symmetry, order, and unity within the building. In the studied mosques, spatial organization in some cases is structured based on the shabestan’s layout. The geometry of the shabestan, usually a square or rectangle, aligns with the qibla. If the site geometry is irregular, the shabestan may be divided into sections. With the sides of the shabestan’s geometry aligned with the qibla axis, the prayer hall’s design sometimes extends towards the qibla, while other times, the hall is shallower compared to the courtyard, allowing a view of the qibla side and the mihrab axis. Additional spaces, such as ablution rooms, chambers, and courtyards, are positioned adjacent to the shabestan, organized along a movement axis. Considering the impact of the qibla axis on the architecture of Qom’s mosques, the number of axes incorporated into the mosque layouts, and the geometric shapes used in the sub-spaces, Qom’s mosques can be categorized into two types: uniaxial and biaxial. The uniaxial type includes Alborz, Panj Ali, Chehel Akhtar, Seyyed Sadegh Rouhani, Meydan Kohneh, Jameh, Azam, and the Jamkaran mosques, where movement from the entrance to the shabestan aligns directly or pivots towards the qibla axis. Generally, these mosques share a characteristic emphasis on an extended prayer hall oriented along the qibla axis. In contrast, the biaxial type, represented by Jameh Kahak, Imam Hasan Askari (AS), and Sarm mosques, features a qibla axis that is distinct from the movement axis. This design often manifests as either parallel or perpendicular orientations between the two axes, creating a unique architectural interaction.

 

Conclusion

 The qibla axis, as a spiritual orientation, has a profound impact on the architecture and geometric arrangement of mosque forms. This guiding principle ensures that the spatial geometry aligns in a unified direction, with all internal elements and spaces organized around the sacred qibla axis. Mosque architects have strived to reinforce unity within the mosque’s overall design, ensuring that the space naturally guides worshippers with cleanliness and purity from the entrance to the prayer hall, ultimately directing them towards the qibla without need for verbal instruction. The qibla axis and spatial geometry collectively orient individuals, allowing them to face the qibla from within a structured environment. This research, through examining the principles, architectural values, and the role of the qibla axis in shaping the spatial layout of Iranian and Islamic mosques, has shown that in various historical periods, maintaining a hierarchical structure with a clear qibla orientation was considered an essential design principle. Mosque designers aimed to implement this concept across all aspects of the mosque’s plan, enabling worshippers to follow a sequential pathway towards the qibla and ultimately toward communion with the Divine. The geometric approaches in the mosque plans of Qom’s historical mosques can be divided into two types: regular and composite geometries. In the regular type, the axes are either aligned or distinctly separable from each other, usually leading to a clearer emphasis on the qibla axis. Conversely, in composite geometry, the architectural approach sometimes leads to weakened or less distinct axis differentiation within the design. Among uniaxial mosques—such as Alborz, Panj Ali, Chehel Akhtar, Seyyed Sadegh Rouhani, Meydan Kohneh, Jameh, Azam, and Jamkaran—the movement path from the entrance to the shabestan either follows a direct alignment with the qibla or incorporates slight rotations towards it. In general, the architectural similarity in these mosques is the elongated prayer hall that emphasizes the qibla direction. In biaxial mosques—such as Jameh Kahak, Imam Hasan Askari (AS), and Sarm—the qibla axis can be differentiated from the movement axis. This arrangement sometimes involves parallel alignment, while at other times, the axes intersect perpendicularly, creating an architectural dynamic that supports the spiritual focus on the qibla.

 

References

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Hojat, Eesa, Mahdi Maleki (2012) "Convergence of Three Fundamental Geometric Types and the Emergence of the Iranian Mosque Geometry. "Fine Arts Journal: Architecture and Urban Planning, 17 (4).

Manan Raisi, Mohammad, AbdulHamid Noghrehkar (2014) "Evaluation of Spatial Geometry in Contemporary Tehran Mosques Using Thematic Analysis of Religious Texts." Islamic Architecture Research Journal, Vol. 2, Issue 3.

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Sarami, HamidReza, Sahar Khodabakhshi, and Matin Khalaghdoost (2016) "Comparative Analysis of Shabestan Orientation in Traditional and Contemporary Mosques." Iranian-Islamic Urban Studies Quarterly, Vol. 7, Issue 24.

Vasigh, Behzad, Hosein Naseri, and Sadegh Bakhtiari (2021) "Exploration of Axis Concepts in Yazd Mosques." City Identity Journal,45(16): 5-16.

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