Ismaili Thought and Islamic Architecture in Yemen During the Sulayhid Period (439-532 AH/1047-1137 AD). The Great Mosque of Jiblah as a Case Study

Autores/as

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62166/area.32.1.3960

Palabras clave:

Yemeni, The Great Mosque of Jiblah, Sulayhids, Ismailis, Islamic Architecture, Yemenita, La Gran Mezquita de Jiblah, Ismaelitas, Arquitectura Islámica

Resumen

The current research deals with an era in the history of Islamic civilization in which the Sulayhid state ruled in Yemen. The problem of the research centers on the lack of architectural studies that addressed architecture from the analytical aspect as well as the artistic and intellectual. It aims to study the possible influence of Ismaili Tayyibi thought on Islamic architecture through studying the symbolic aspects of Ismaili thought in the architectural elements included in Islamic architecture, which were built during the Sulayhid rule. The methodology is based on the symbolic approach, which focuses on studying the culture of society, to know the symbolic systems through which society expresses its culture and beliefs. It is formed through constructing an intellectual model that includes the principles of Ismaili thought and its teachings. Then, it is applied to the architecture, and choosing the Great Mosque in Jiblah as a model. The research concluded by extracting a set of architectural characteristics that distinguished Sulayhid architecture. It also concluded that Ismaili Tayyibi thought relies heavily on symbolic thought in extracting the inner meanings of spiritual truths. Interpretation, guardianship, and the idea of the inner “Al-Batin” and outer “Azzahir”, may be understood as expressions of this symbolic mode of thought. In this light, some features of the Great Mosque in Jiblah may be interpreted as reflecting this thought through architectural signs and symbolic forms. 

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Biografía del autor/a

Ahmed A. Al-Nehmi, Thamar University. College of Engineering

Associate Professor of History and Architectural Design, College of Engineering, Thamar University, Yemen. He joined university in 1997, and graduated from Thamar University in 2002, ranking first in the class. He continued the postgraduate studies, further developing his expertise in engineering, at the College of Environmental Design, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, in 2009. In 2015, he earned the PhD in architecture from the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt.

Akram A. Alabsi, Fujian University of Technology. College of Architecture and Urban Planning

Associate Professor, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou China. Ph.D. in Architectural Design & Theory from Tongji University. Research expertise includes ecological and energy-efficient design, carbon neutrality, climate adaptation, UHI monitoring, building simulation, and sustainable planning in historic cities. Author of over 20 SCI/EI-indexed papers, an academic book (translated into 8 languages), and recipient of multiple international awards and scholarships. Active member of WSSET, Shanghai Architecture Society, and editorial board member of journals including Journal of Sustainable Cities and Built Environment and Urban and Building Science.

Mohammed N. Juaim, Thamar University. College of Engineering

Assistant Professor, College of Engineering, Thamar University, Yemen. He joined university in 1997, and graduated from Thamar University in 2002. He continued the postgraduate studies, further developing his expertise in engineering, at the College of Environmental Design, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, in 2001. In 2015, he earned the PhD in architecture from the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt.

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Publicado

2026-04-29

Cómo citar

Al-Nehmi, A. A., Alabsi, A. A., & Juaim, M. N. (2026). Ismaili Thought and Islamic Architecture in Yemen During the Sulayhid Period (439-532 AH/1047-1137 AD). The Great Mosque of Jiblah as a Case Study. AREA - Agenda De Reflexión En Arquitectura, Diseño Y Urbanismo, 32(1), pp. 1–27. https://doi.org/10.62166/area.32.1.3960

Número

AREA 32(1)

Sección

Artículos de temática general

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Derechos de autor 2026 AREA - Agenda de Reflexión en Arquitectura, Diseño y Urbanismo

© 1992-2026 – Revista AREA, su sitio, contenidos y metadata están bajo licencia de Acceso Abierto CC BY-NC-ND 2.5 AR