دراسة أساليب إنارة المسجد الأقصى المبارك قبل الكهرباء
Date
2024-06-02
Authors
عدلي "محمد إبراهيم" عادل ناصر الدين
Adli M. Ibrahim Adel Naser Aldeen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Al-Quds University
Abstract
The blessed Aqsa Mosque has profound sanctity, religious and spiritual significance for Muslims. It is considered a prominent architectural landmark, dominating the urban landscape of the Old City of Jerusalem. Over time, Muslims have demonstrated a deep commitment to its architecture, maintenance, and especially its illumination. Contributions to its lighting have been made through endowments and gifts of oil and lanterns, inspired by the Prophet's hadith on the virtue of illuminating al- Aqsa Mosque. Despite its importance and profound significance, there is a remarkable gap in research dedicated to studying the methods and stages of its illumination.
This study aims to investigate and document the various lighting tools and techniques used over different periods to illuminate the al-Aqsa Mosque, tracing the evolution in concepts, forms, and technologies. By focusing on the lighting of the Mosque through its various architectural phases, the study hopes to provide a comprehensive overview of its lighting history.
The research utilizes a multidisciplinary methodology, trying to integrate historical, analytical, inductive, descriptive, and critical approaches. The study is based upon a diverse range of sources and references, including accounts from earlier travelers who documented their observations, existing lanterns, and chandeliers in the al-Aqsa Mosque(al-jam’) and the Dome of the Rock, and lighting artifacts in the Islamic Museum at al-Aqsa Mosque. Additionally, the study examined a specimen of the endowment records from the Jerusalem Sharia Court, and technical reports from the Supreme legislative Islamic Council and the al-Aqsa Mosque restoration Committee. This data is supported by old photographs and architectural plans, in
addition to references which include academic accounts, such as peer-reviewed journals, and historical photographs, notably from the US Library of Congress.
The study reveals that the changes aimed at making the most of natural lighting inside al-Aqsa Mosque (Jam’) coincided with architectural modifications throughout different periods, starting from the Umayyad time to the days of the Supreme legislative Islamic Council, particularly in regards of the number of arcades and windows. The al-Aqsa Mosque’s (jam’) plan aligns with solar movement through the successive seasons, enhancing natural lighting while maintaining thermal comfort for worshippers. The installation of stained-glass windows in the Dome of the Rock ensured the regulating entry of the light, preserving the colors of decorations and mosaics, and maintaining a spiritual ambiance. The study quantifies window-to-facade ratios and light intensity in both the al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, noting a discrepancy between historical accounts of lantern numbers and the study’s findings. The lighting of the al-Aqsa Mosque was influenced by the region's security and economic stability, with a significant decline in endowment activities. While oil lamps primarily lit the al-Aqsa Mosque, wax lamps were used for the Dome of the Rock. Lighting operations followed a meticulously planned schedule, and precious metals like gold and silver were used in the design of chandeliers and candlesticks, valued for their aesthetic and durable qualities, and sometimes used as financial resources during crises.
For a comprehensive overview of the research divisions, including primary and secondary headings as well as the list of figures and images, please refer to the research index. The researcher aspires for this study to significantly deepen the understanding of the historical and functional aspects of lighting in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This study aims to illustrate the harmony between natural and artificial lighting methods and to emphasize how the architectural evolution of the building over various historical periods has impacted the quality of illumination. Additionally, it seeks to explore how these changes affect the psychological and spiritual well-being of the space’s users.
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Citation
ناصر الدين، عدلي "محمد إبراهيم". (2024). دراسة أساليب إنارة المسجد الأقصى المبارك قبل الكهرباء [رسالة ماجستير منشورة، جامعة القدس، فلسطين]. المستودع الرقمي لجامعة القدس.
ناصر الدين، عدلي "محمد إبراهيم". (2024). دراسة أساليب إنارة المسجد الأقصى المبارك قبل الكهرباء [رسالة ماجستير منشورة، جامعة القدس، فلسطين]. المستودع الرقمي لجامعة القدس. https://arab- scholars.com/5bcdcd
ناصر الدين، عدلي "محمد إبراهيم". (2024). دراسة أساليب إنارة المسجد الأقصى المبارك قبل الكهرباء [رسالة ماجستير منشورة، جامعة القدس، فلسطين]. المستودع الرقمي لجامعة القدس. https://arab- scholars.com/5bcdcd