E-JOURNAL OF THE 6TH ARABIC STUDIES & ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION 2019
THE CHRONOLOGY OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE IN PAKISTAN
Dr Muhammad Fakhar Moeen Lecturer, Department of Arabic Language National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad Email: [email protected] Cell Phone: 0092 300 377 9797
Abstract
Islamic Republic of Pakistan is rich in different civilizations that were formed throughout various eras in today’s Pakistan region. These civilizations begin from the Indus valley civilization almost 2500 BC old which is considered an exceptional civic civilization established with broad architectural facilities, some of which still exists today. It was overcome by the Gandhara pattern of art which deduced its influence from primitive Greek; Its proof is provided in Taxila, the main city of this civilization. Islamic civilization in Pakistan encompasses a wide range of Islamic and religious styles of architecture and it has unique characteristics like its geometric and interlace pattern that is derived from different cultures from Roman, Persian, to Indian and Byzantine Chinese architectures. The main Islamic civilization in Pakistan contains different architectural sorts of buildings which are the Tomb, the Palace, the Fort and the Mosque. The terminology of Islamic architecture is extracted from these different architectural style of constructions in addition to some other architectures like fountains, public bathrooms and domestic architectural constructions. The advent of religion Islam in Pakistan’s region was initially in province Sindh in the eighth century which resulted an eradication of Buddha’s pattern of construction. Then it was a gentle changeover different architecture type called Islamic architecture. The focal point of this study is to highlight major Islamic civilization symbols in Pakistan. The First section of this study discusses remnants in the country in general whereas the remnants related purely to Islamic architecture will be discussed in the second section of the study.
Field of Research: Islamic Architecture, Islamic Chronology, Pakistan ------
Introduction
Pakistan is a country, which is blessed with in physical/natural beauty. It has many from rivers, lakes, hills, plains, mountains in addition to variety of climate seasons all through year. These resources are holding a broad impact on the living of the Pakistani people.
Pakistan is a prehistoric land, the cradle of one of the four ancient civilizations. Many historical processes have left their indelible marks on the land and its people. From the prehistoric habitations of Mehrgarh to ancient civilizations in the fertile plains of the Indus Valley and the verdant hills of Gandhara, the people of Pakistan have inherited a genius that informs their heritage.
This region of today’s Pakistan has witnessed many ups and downs for different ages, that formulated the architectural pattern for the region. an ancient blooming dynasty is around 2500 BC which is famous as “Indus Valley Civilization”. After the decline of “Indus Civilization” the popular cultural atmosphere in the area went through switch accompanied by the incursion by Aryan people, later invasion by “Gandhara; Indo Greek civilization”.
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This region which is now Pakistan has been a target of various invasions from its every routes such as mountains and sea, which imported new class of people and ideas changing the culture of its people. These invasions were from different type of nations like Dravidians, Aryans, Parthians, Sakas, Greeks, Hun, Kushans, Afghans, Mongols and Turks, who all introduced their different and unique cultures and this blend of different cultures gave Indian Civilization a new height.
On the other hand, Islam entered this region and influenced everything from domes, minarets, Urdu alphabets, culture of famous melodies of Sassi Punni Hir Ranjah in addition to its Persian and Arabic heritage of popular Shireen Farhad and Lalia Majnu, then comes Shah Nama and Arabian Nights. This influence is obvious in everywhere such as Qaseeda, Nazam, Ghazal and Qawwali trend of Amir Khusru and the Sittar, in addition to many of saints and Mughal mini paintings, handicrafts carried out in Multan and Bahawalpur, wood work with Kashmiri carpets.
The next part of this essay discusses how the architectural landscape that Pakistan is and how its beauty and natural environment has stood consistent despite being in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Pakistan; A Poor man’s Europe
Pakistan has distinctive cultural identity from Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges to Thar and Cholistan deserts, rugged hills and valleys of Balochistan and sparkling Arabian Sea, the land of Pakistan has cradled human habitations.
The architectural heritage, which we find today from old civilizations of Pakistan especially civilizations of Gandhara and Indus valley, is not found in complete structure. The effect of different invaders such as Buddhists, Persians, Aryans, Greeks and Arab can be seen too in the shape of dewasted places. The architectural abundance especially for Punjab province, is immensely effected through many notable durations as were Hindu (before 1000 AD), Mughal (1526 – 1759), Pathan (1000-1526 AD), Sikh (1759 – 1849 AD) and British (1849 – 1947 AD). In different historical eras, a number of constructions was built by extinguished ingredients.
Indus Valley Civilization:
Indus Valley (3000-1300 BCE) is one of the four mature civilizations of the world. Across 250 acres on a series of mounds, Moenjodaro, its prime city was the most advanced in contemporary South Asia. The city was governed as city-state as no evidence of kings and queens has been discovered either in Moenjodaro in Sindh. Harappa another city of the civilization in Punjab.
There were two main portions of the Indus valley starting from Harappa based around western Punjab and indus valley in Sindh majorly around Mohanjedaro. Coincidentally Aryans were the ones running these areas and were known for urban grain growing.i
Evidence suggests that these two cities Moenjodaro and Harappa had profound knowledge of city planning. Both had evolved a uniform system of weights and measures and made bricks whose dimensions were in Proportion of 4:2:1 considered in line with the ideal strength of the brick structure. Buttons made from sea shells and ivory combs were in use
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E-JOURNAL OF THE 6TH ARABIC STUDIES & ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION 2019 besides bangles worn by females. The practice of dyeing also relates to Moenjodaro. Archaeologists have found private bathrooms at the ground floor of most houses highlighting the use of flush toilets.ii
It is worth mentioning that residents of both Harappa and Moenjodaro are believed to have good architectural sense in the shape of developed drainage systems, double storied bricked houses and a communal bath central to religious activities. The houses had a luxurouys feel to them with personal wash rooms, wells and guest rooms. Items such as stone jewellery were also identified. There is also a dancing girl statue there today that indicates that Mohanjedaro might have also been the birthplace of modern day modelling.iii
Indus Valley Civilization is also the first literate civilization of South Asia. Goods produced by it were exported to Egypt, Sumer, and Ur, a fact that informs its international connections and knowledge of the world outside its boundaries. Indus Valley inhabitants were given the name ‘Meluhha’ by the Babylonians because of their fondness for sea voyages. The diks built by the Indus Valley people are believed to be the first in the world. The Rigveda, one of the four canonical texts of Hinduism composed approximately between 1500 and 1000 BCE, describes Sindhu (Indus) as the cradle of civilization. The Ramayana mentions Sindh as part of the empire of Dasaratha.
Scholars from different universities of the world like Harward University, University of Wisconsin and New York University working on the ancient civilizations in collaboration with the Archaeology Department and Museums of the Government of Pakistan said that a new study of artifacts revealed presence of silk at the site of Harappa which indicates the use of silk by the Indus Valley Civilization.
Ganghara: Gandhara is another landmark on Pakistan’s archaeological landscape. It is situated in the northwest of Pakistan, its boundaries extended to Lahore in the east of Pakistan and to the
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E-JOURNAL OF THE 6TH ARABIC STUDIES & ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION 2019 west into Afghanistan. Occupying a prominent position at a crossroads, Gandhara facilitated ancient Pakistan’s international relations.iv
It is undoubtedly cleared that there were signs identified in other ancient sites such as hadda, Peshawar and Taxila that referred towards Gandhara which effectively means that its history also carries Greek, Persian and related influence directly or indirectly.v
Rigveda mentioned Gandhara as a tribe. In historical literature, it was first mentioned as “part of the Achaemenian Empire” during the time of Cyrus the Great. Over the centuries, it developed into a place where contemporary scientific, political, social and religious ideas, as well as art and crafts of diverse lands met and influenced each other.vi
Taxila, the ancient city of Gandhara has been described as the wealthiest in contemporary South Asia. Its prosperity was result of its location “Gandhara was located at the nucleus point of trade from Eastern India, Kashmir leading to central Asia and gateway from Western Asia from the other side.” It attracted distinguished preachers including Apostle Thomas and Apollonius of Tyna that was described by biographer “Philostratus” Taxila as strong city which was built by planning arrival to Nineveh in size.
King Ambhi in Taxila received Alexander Great around 320 BCE. In the following seven centuries Greek influence introduced classical traditions that became an important part of the Gandhara heritage. It is said that Mahabharata was recited for the first time at Taxila by Vaismpayana, a disciple of Veda Vyasa. Buddhist literature including Jataka mentions Taxila as a great center of learning. Taxila was also visited by the famous Chinese monk Fa Hien in 405 CE. The city is mentioned in his travelogue titles A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms. Another well-known Chinese called “Hieun Tsang” also called “Xuanzang”, came to Taxila in six hundred and thirty CE.vii
Analysts have expressed the view that the world’s first university was established at Taxila called Takshashila University, it existed in the eighth century BCE. Analyst janaka Perera opines that the institution effectively is the ancient most educational authority for knowledge was found earlier tha Buddha civilization “this came in history even before Achaeminid influence starting in Taxila.” Scholars opine that Buddha had undertaken a visit to Sindh. It is said that given the extreme dry conditions, special permission was given by Buddha to his followers to wear shoes when they traveled in Sindh.
Chandragupta Maurya, who later founded the Maurya dynasty, studied at Takshashila University. Chanakya (Kautilya) taught politics and diplomacy in the University where he wrote his masterpiece Arthashastra. It is said that Charaka, the famous ayurvedic physician who wrote Charaka Samhita was a product Takshashila University. Atreya taught medicine and surgery at Taxila.viii
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What experts say about Pakistan’s rich old civilizations
Professor Tang Mengsheng, director of Center for Pakistan Studies in Peking University, China: What we can identify as elements of culture in Pakistan are in fact a briedge between the modern Pakistani society and the ancient ways of working that happened in this region back in history. That is why we find unique charateristics and attributes today in various parts of the country to understand which we first need to open the books of history.ix
Professor Dr. Michael Jansen RWTH Aachen Univeristy Germany: Pakistan contains lots of historical artifacts that bridge modern society back to the sequence of history.x
Mr. Atsushi Noguchi Secretary General NPO Japan Centre for South Asian Cultural Heritage: Gandhara is also the birthplace of Buddha; this then means that this civilization connects different societies prevailing acorss the world.xi
Professor Koji Nishikawa Kyoto University Japan: the Gandhara civilization today stands as a wise historian for us who is willing to teach us lessons from the past and advice for the future to avoid potential rifts and clashes that have already happened in the past and its just that we are not aware of them.xii
Professor Massimo Vidale University Degli Studi Di Padova Itlay: Residents of Pakistan were well equipped in different types of architectural crafts from painted ceramics to geometric patterns and scribbling on pottery that has come to this region as a gift since Meghargarh and has continued in bloodlines ever since.xiii
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Pakistan; the Islamic identity lives
It is undoubtedly evident that when Muhammad Bin Qasim was sent to this region to battle against Raja Dahir and when Daybal fell at the very start of the 8th century, the Islamic empire had established its foot marks in all regions up till Sindh.xiv
It is very important to say that control on Sindh as a province became much less focused post the oust of Umayyad’s from the throne. Yet Abbasids looked after the region under Baghdad’s flag until the 9th century.xv
Naturally wherever Muslims went, they needed places for Salat and hence we see beautiful mosques spread across the region.xvi In the Muslims states Islamic civilization dominated the rest for its beauty and art. The mosque, tomb, palace and the fort were the key important buildings of that time. Sher Shah Suri constructed the Rohtas fort in (1541-45) in the Jehlum region, Jahangir’s tomb near Lahore, Badshahi Mosque made by Aurengzaib in Lahore are the finest examples of Islamic civilization.xvii
This civilization shows Muslim architectural inventiveness, symbolism, originality and materials through use of sandstone and marble. We are going to discuss few of the finest Islamic symbols of Islamic civilization in Pakistan.
Rohtas Fort
Rostas Fort near Jhelum in the province of Punjab Pakistan is a architectural heritage of Pakistan constructed by Sultan Sher Shah Suri (1541) with greyish green ashlar masonry of sand stone known as Taraki stone.xviii
Additional examples of novel Muslim building styles can be seen embedded in the Rohtas fort; a landmark that also influenced Mughals in some of their works across the region. It is nothing less than architectural art.xix
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The Mosque of Wazir Khan This monument took seven years to complete under the supervision of the administrator of Lahore commonly known as Wazir Khan. The long building time is justified once we see the effort on tile work around this building; a start to Mughal influence.xx
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Notably the building includes a massive courtyard that carries a marble fountain, there are 32 meditiation rooms around all sides and minarets that sky up to 100 feet. xxi
Badshahi Mosque Lahore
Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb constructed one of the most spacious mosques of his time situated to the West of Lahore Fort. Badshahi Mosque, a monumental mosque constructed with red sandstone is a blend of strength, harmony and grace. It is approached by a flight of 22 steps as it is situated on a raised platform. The double-storey entrance covered with a central vault opens into mosque courtyard. The main prayer hall is located on the west side of the courtyard while the rooms or hujras surround the remaining three sides. The courtyard is dates of the water tank on the eastern side. The main prayer hall is located on the West side. The roof of the prayer hall has three white marble domes that are ornamented with pinnacles of brass. It has numerous arched entrances; the central arch of the gateway is wide in comparison with other arches and is ornamented with red sandstone inlaid with white marble.xxii
Shrine of Shah Rukn-i-Alam
A building constructed in blood red brick, the monument was offered to the sufi family after Shah Rukn e Alam’s death.The architectural elements used in the making of this monument include shisham woor, carved brick, calligraphy and arabesque designs. 72 of the sufi’s descendants surround his sarcophasgus. The wooden mehrab is thought to be the first of its kind.xxiii
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Grand Monuments
The most eminent Islamic buildings in the Indian subcontinent were constructed by the Mughal emperors. The Mughal builders followed Hindu and Persian architectural style. One of the most important architectural traits of the Mughal regime characterized by patterns of mosaic which were constructed with different colored stones and shinning tiles. The features of Mughal architecture that inspired the world comprised of generously used overlapping arches, lofty minarets, Persian style domes and large vaulted roofs. The example of great mosques and other buildings constructed in this period include Moti/Pearl Mosque, Maryam Zamani Mosque, Golden Mosque, Lahore Fort, Shalimar Gardens and Jahangir’s Tomb.xxiv “All of these buildings are jewels in Pakistan’s tiara with marble and red sandstones used in ample quantity in all.xxv
Summary
Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a very rich in beauties of nature and plateaus, which keeps many God gifted things from sky high mountains, wildly spread deserts, lash green plains, forests, deserts, undulating lakes, hill to rivers, four seasons and moderate climate round the year. These resources leave a great impact on the lives of the Pakistani citizens. It is rich in different civilizations as well that were built during different times in today Pakistan. Among these civilizations; in the middle of the third century the “Indus civilization” which was a well furnished society promoted with the construction of huge buildings with all facilities, a few of them are still found today. The style of Gandhara practiced in architure of Buddha’s civilization which derived influences from old Greek; its evidences are found in “Taxila capital of Gandhara”. Islam entered this region now called Pakistan and influenced everything from domes, minarets, Arabic pattern of writing and its alphabets used in Urdu language, culture of
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E-JOURNAL OF THE 6TH ARABIC STUDIES & ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION 2019 old folk lorgs namely Heer Ranja and others. Arabian Nights and the Shah Nama, and later tradition of Ghazal, Nazam and Qaseeda and Qawwalis of Ameer Khosro with the invention of Sattar, moreover array of saints with Mughal architecture and handicrafts of Multan and Bahawalpur, wood work Kashmiri carpets. While reviewing Islamic architectural civilization in Pakistan, we realize that Pakistan encompasses a wide range of Islamic and religious styles of architecture and it has unique characteristics like its geometric and interlace pattern that is derived from Persian Roman Byzantine Chinese and Indian architectures. Pakistan is trying to capture on western trends, ideas and models but also sticking on to every bit of Islam that can be held on to.
From the Indus Valley Civilization to Gandhara, from the several Islamic monuments in Pakistan and the ones that could not be discussed in this essay due to space and logistical issues like Minar e Pakistan and Faisal mosque, from Sindhi folk music that provides medicine to thousands of soul each day at Lal Shehbaz Qalandar’s shrine to tales of Heer and Ranjha embedded across Punjab and from desi sports as manly as Kabbadi to as elegant as Polo with angelic white horses, Pakistan is a gold mine for the broader world audience to study Islamic perspectives and models that historically have driven everything we have discussed before while the country tries to absorb western trends as well. In short Pakistan is the land of the pure and will continue to be as long as Pakistanis remember everything we have discussed above.
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References i Understanding Ancient Civilization: The Ancient Indus Valley, New Perspectives by Mcintosh, J. 2008, USA: ABC – CLIO, Inc. ii Ancient Pakistan P. 13 iii Understanding Ancient Civilization by Mcintosh, J. 2008 iv Ancient Pakistan p. 13 v Ghandhara Buddhism by Brancacciou, P. & Behrendt, K. 2006, University of British Columbia Canada. vi Ancient Pakistan p. 14 vii Ancient Pakistan p. 14 viii Ancient Pakistan p. 14 ix Ancient Pakistan P.10 x Ancient Pakistan P. 10 xi Ancient Pakistan P. 10 xii Ancient Pakistan P. 11 xiii Ancient Pakistan P.11 xiv A Short Account of Early Muslim Architecture by K.A.C Cresswell, 1958 p.9 xv The Cambridge History of India: Turks and Afghans by W. Haig, S. Chand and Company (Pvt.) Ltd., New Delhi xvi Early Mosques of South Asia and Impact of native Architecture: A Case Study of Banbhore, Mansura, Udigram and Quwwat ul Islam Mosques by Tauqeer Ahmad Warraich xvii Mughal Empire in India by S. R. Sharma 1999, Atlantic Publishers New Delhi India xviii Building Stone and State of Conservation of the Built Heritage of Pakistan by M.Y. Awan, Department of Architecture, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore Pakistan p. 13 xix World Heritage Centre UNESCO http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/586/ xx Wazir Khan Mosque by Maira, Pakistan 360 degrees website dated 18 Dec 2010 xxi Wazir Khan Mosque by Maira, Pakistan 360 degrees website dated 18 Dec 2010 xxii History of Mosque Architecture in Lahore by Mahwish Zafar Research Scholar Department of Architecture University of Engineering and Technology Lahore Pakistan, Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, Vol 4 Issue II Fall 2014 p. 31 xxiii UNESCO World Heritage Center http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1884/ xxiv History of Mosque Architecture in Lahore by Mahwish Zafar Research Scholar Department of Architecture University of Engineering and Technology Lahore Pakistan, Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, Vol 4 Issue II Fall 2014 p. 27 xxv UET Research Journal Y. M. Awan, 8(Jan-Jun 1994)
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