the impact of climate and culture on the formation of yard in mosques

the present study focuses on the formation of various types of yards in mosques and the elements that contribute to the respective process. the significance of the issue lies in that certain scholars have associated the yard in mosques with the concept of garden, and have not taken into account the elements that contribute to the development of mosque yards of various types. the theoretical findings of the research indicate that the conditions and instructions regarding the jemaah [collective] prayerson one hand and the notion of exterior performance of the worshiping rites as a recommended religious precept paired with the cultural, environmental and natural factors on the other hand have had their share of founding the yards. the present study employs the historical analytical approach since the samples are not contemporary. the dependant variables are culture and climate while the form of yard in the jami [congregational] mosque is the dependent variable. the statistical population includes the jami mosques from all over the islamic world, and the samples are picked selectively from among the population. the findings demonstrated that the presence of yard is in part due to the prayers being recommended to be said in the open air, and in part because this is also favored by the weather in most instances and on most days. the area covered by the yard and its features were mainly determined by the climate and culture of the given area, and this is what originates the variety of mosque yards across the islamic territory