Courtyards, or sahn, have been a staple of Islamic architecture since the religion’s early days. The concept of the sahn can be traced back to pre-Islamic times, but it was during the rise of Islam that these courtyards became more sophisticated and symbolically significant.

A sahn (Arabic: صَحْن, ṣaḥn), is a courtyard in Islamic architecture, especially the formal courtyard of a mosque. [1] [2] [3] [4] Most traditional mosques have a large central sahn, which is surrounded by a riwaq or arcade on all sides.

Most mosque courtyards (sahn) contain a public fountain, where believers can perform ablutions, the ritual washing of the hands, feet, and face required before prayer. In the arid lands of Arabia, water is revered as a gift from God, and fountains also have symbolic meaning, alluding to the four rivers of Paradise mentioned in the Qur'an.

Jan 16, 2020 · A mosque sahn—courtyard is within almost every mosque complex of traditional Islamic architecture. The courtyards are open to the sky and enclosed on all sides by structures with halls and rooms, and often encircled by a shaded semi-open riwaq or arcade .

Although the “central courtyard” or “Sahn”—as an important part of Iranian mosques with its formal, conceptual, and functional richness—provides a unique spatial experience for worshipers, little research has been conducted on its qualitative and quantitative characteristics.

The newly constructed Sahn Jumhuri Islami (The Islamic Republic Courtyard) is the second largest courtyard of the holy shrine and was built after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. It is located in the west of the holy shrine and occupies an area of 17500 square meters and resembles the Sahn-i Inqilab.

In many mosques this is adjoined to an open courtyard, called a sahn. Within the courtyard one often finds a fountain, its waters both a welcome respite in hot lands, and important for the ablutions (ritual cleansing) done before prayer.

In many mosques this is adjoined to an open courtyard, called a sahn. Within the courtyard one often finds a fountain, its waters both a welcome respite in hot lands, and important for the ablutions (ritual cleansing) done before prayer.

A sahn, (Arabic: صحن‎, ṣaḥn), is a courtyard in Islamic architecture. Most traditional mosques have a large central sahn, which is surrounded by a riwaq or arcade on all sides. In traditional Islamic design, residences and neighborhoods can have private sahn.

A sahn, (Arabic: صحن‎, ṣaḥn), is a courtyard in Islamic architecture. Most traditional mosques have a large central sahn, which is surrounded by a riwaq or arcade on all sides. In traditional Islamic design, residences and neighborhoods can have private sahn.