Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism(JIAU)

Abstract Light plays a profound role in evoking meaning through architectural spaces. This has been strikingly manifested in the architecture of religious monuments particularly in mosques. From long ago, architects and builders have been exploring lighting effects reflected in many mosques and religious monuments, while figuring out the created meaningful visual effects in such architectural spaces. From an insightful perspective influenced by Islamic teachings, Iranian architects consider light a spirit casted on the structure to create a meaningful depiction. This paper attempted to examine how the concept of light in Quran has influenced the Iranian architectural style. It is assumed that implications from Quranic verses portray a transition from darkness to light and the contrast between light and dark, which can be considered a valuable role-model in the Iranian architecture. The research methodology involved an interpretivequalitative approach, and content analysis of Quranic scripture. The results of research indicate that the contrast of light and darkness, as well as involvement of light and shadow (dark) in architecture and the guidance through darkness to the light are amongst valuable concepts manifested in Iranian architecture, the concepts which are repeatedly referred to in Quranic instructions and have been of a great value in creating spiritual space. Light and shadow function as an allegory of the two valuable
concepts of light and darkness in Quran, and guidance from shadows (darkness) to light, besides physical and spiritual aspects, is semantically worthy of consideration.

Abstract Different human –centered architectures are emerged. Mosque is a place for worship, we worship Allah in mosque , the sacred place. Light emersion is a variable discussed in this paper through descriptive analytic as well as quality approach, because light is a necessity in mosque. Light and various aspects of man are analyzed ; three main functions are considered and the most important function is semantic application of light in a worship space like mosque. According to the researcher and after study about sample of mosques in tabriz and getting the comments of architects, every visual concept is realized in mosque , comprehension rate of the concepts has gone under question. Some quality variables such as spirituality and holiness , guidance , emersion of Allah , as well as ascent are concepts of effective light function; also , some quantity factors such as direction of skylight , dimension, quantity , elevation , color of skylight coating are chosen as dependent variables. It seems that specific skeletal features such as higher altitudes from the horizon , southward placement and smaller size louvers and shutters are developed for easy access to light for easy access to light in a gnostic space such as mosque. According to the investigation , the hypothesis is that user of mosque feels and comprehends more better the mentioned concepts through observance of the mentioned patterns.