PRINCIPLES OF

ISLAM IN DESIGN
AQS 4142-PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM IN CONSTRUCTION
PROCUREMENT

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Why is a right angle 90 degrees, and NOT 100 degrees?
Which one is better:
Yahaya Yunus

Dept of QS,
KAED, IIUM,

Yahaya Yunus

OR

Malaysia,
Selangor, Jalan Gombak

Jalan Gombak,
Selangor,
Malaysia

IIUM,
KAED,
Dept of QS

Guiding Principles
Privacy.
Cleanliness,
Safety,
Segregation,
Wasteful,
Interior decoration

Guiding Principles
Accurate
Complete
Buildable

SOME REFERENCE ABOUT

DWELLING
The basic right of the son of man is for three things; house to live in, a piece
of cloth to cover his body, a loaf of bread and water. (Narrated Al tirmidhi)
Having a dwelling falls within the necessary minimum that must be sought by
everyone since lack of it causes people to be displeased with God and even
sometimes to deny Him. ( Imam al-Ghazali)
The prophet says that house is the best place on earth. The prophet
considers owning a house is a contribution to happiness.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE
Concerning the architectural design, neither the Quran nor the Sunnah provided
detailed codes of building design and construction.
This is in no way ignorance on the part of Islam about building design.
On the contrary, it is recognition of the fact that cultural customs changes from
time to time and from one place to another.
Islam permits all buildings to relate with own custom and design as long as they
do not conflict with shariah, the main sources of which are the Al Quran and
Sunnah.

1st PRINCIPLE

PRIVACY
Similarly, the prophet Sunnah stress the importance of the privacy of the
home. The prophet said,
Permission for entering the house should be sought three times, and if
permission is granted to you then go in, otherwise
go back ( Sahih
Bukhari)

PRIVACY
The prophet went to extent of instructing his followers that a man should not
enter his own house suddenly or surreptitiously.
He should not somehow indicate to those inside the house that he is
entering, so that he may not see his mother, sister or daughter in a condition
in which they would not like to be seen, nor one in which he himself would
not like to see them.

PRIVACY; FROM THE QURAN

MEANING
O you who have believed, let those whom your right hands possess and those who have not [yet]
reached puberty among you ask permission of you [before entering] at three times: before the
dawn prayer and when you put aside your clothing [for rest] at noon and after the night prayer.
[These are] three times of privacy for you. There is no blame upon you nor upon them beyond
these [periods], for they continually circulate among you - some of you, among others. Thus does
Allah make clear to you the verses; and Allah is Knowing and Wise.(24:58)

PRIVACY
The aspect of privacy should be considered in order to make good social
interaction between occupant and neighbours.
Thus, the public and private area shouldbe clearly divided, and the activities
within these spaces cannot be mixed.

PRIVACY
Privacy can be best achieved through two categories:
1) Visual privacy

2) Acoustical privacy

PRIVACY
1) Visual privacy
a) Entrance or door
b) Opening window
c) Height and high projection
d) Sex segregation-rooms
2) Acoustical privacy
a) Acoustical construction(EG. Partition of western public toilets)
b) Acoustical spatial organisation

PRIVACY
We are not encouraged to design door that are opposite to each other and
the door should be offset in order to prevent a person standing at an
entrance from looking directly into the house opposite or adjacent.
The placement of the entrance door also related to the width and the
function of the street on to which the door was opened.
Building door opposite two houses is not permitted. The privacy of the people
inside the house could be intruded upon when the door is open.

HOUSE DESIGN
Do you know the right of neighbor .. You must not build to exclude the
breeze from him, unless you have his permission.. (Ibn Adi an Al Kharati)
Privacy inside house can be maintained by giving special design treatment
for public and private area.
Privacy of the owner and guest should be considered.
Direct visual access between the guest area and the family area are
prohibited.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
ACOUSTICAL PRIVACY
On the day of resurrection, lead will be poured into the ears of anyone who
eavesdrops on others who dislike him (narrated by Al Bukhari)
Ideally, buildings should have acoustic insulation; from wall, floor and ceiling
(flanking transmission)

DIRECTION OF BUILDING
Do not face the qibla when you defecate or urinate ,but face east or west and
if you want to defecate ,then do not face the qibla or turn your back to it, but
face east or west (Al Bukhari)

AVOID WASTAGE; AIM FOR

SIMPLICITY
The prophet Sunnah stresses that humility should be practiced by Muslims. To
avoid exaggeration, extravagance, and desire for fame or glory. The Quran
also warned against excess and exaggeration.

AVOID EXTRAVAGANCE
The principle of humility was reflected practically in the life style of the
prophet whose bed was a layer of palm fibres covered with a simple fabric.
The prophet house was also very basic and simple without any luxurious item
and huge. Even though he was the leader of the Arab world his house was
small and simple like other normal people.
Jabir reported that the Prophet said;
There should be a bed for a man, a bed for his wife and the third one for
the guest, but the fourth one is Satan

CLEANLINESS
Building design must encourage cleanliness.
Example: the hose in IIUM toilet.
The Prophet said that Cleanliness is a branch of Iman.

SAFETY
Building design must enhance safety of users and visitors.
Balcony of high rise buildings.
Corridor of shopping complex.
Escalator
Clear signages

Question is.
What About Grand Mosque?
What about Green Buildings?