Page 1077 - Proceedings Collega2023

Introduction

The Islamic garden is often referred to as a terrestrial representation of paradise, drawing
inspiration from the Quranic description of the earthly garden of paradise (Brookes, 1987; Ahmadi, 2014).
The Quran's portrayal of this garden is profoundly beautiful, inspiring designers to create gardens that
mirror this depiction. In the Quran, the garden is described in a manner that highlights the significance of
water and plants in shaping its essence (Ahmadi, 2014).

In the early 5th century, during the pre-Islamic era, Persia was situated in a desert-like and hostile
environment with limited water resources (Tajaddini, 2008; Ruggles, 2012). The advent of Islam in the 6th
century introduced a new perspective on the description of paradise as outlined in the Quran. The Persian
garden is seen as a manifestation of the influence of Islam in the region (Sanchez, 2008) and is regarded
as the first manifestation of the Islamic garden in the history of Muslim civilization (Hussain, 2003). It also
serves as the foundation for subsequent Islamic gardens, such as the Andalusian and Mughal gardens that
emerged after the 7th century (Wescoat, 2011).

However, the adoption of the Islamic garden concept has been on the decline in the early 21st
century. Various factors contribute to this decline, including the influence of modern design trends, a
shortage of key physical elements in Islamic garden design, and a diminishing appreciation for traditional
garden styles (Brookes, 1987; Haenraets et al., 2011). Consequently, this study aims to identify the physical
characteristics of Islamic gardens, focusing on three notable types: the Persian, Andalusian, and Mughal
gardens. The study has two primary objectives: first, to determine the chronology of the Islamic garden
design, and second, to categorize the physical characteristics of the garden according to the level of its
importance. This initiative seeks to document and preserve the physical attributes of Islamic gardens as a
means of safeguarding the rich heritage from fading into obscurity and being forgotten.

Literature Review
Faghih and Sadegby (2012) conducted studies that underscore the Islamic garden's significance as

a valuable historical and cultural backdrop closely tied to Muslim civilization. These influences extended
worldwide after the 19th century, with notable examples found, for instance, in the Royal Pavilion in
Brighton, England (Petruccioli, 1998; Petersen, 2008; Gilliat-Ray, 2010). The wider society has widely
recognized and embraced the concept. Due to its substantial cultural impact, surviving Islamic gardens are
being preserved and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This organization's role is to safeguard the
original condition and physical characteristics that define Islamic gardens from falling into decline. The
Alcazar palaces and the Alhambra in Spain are among the Islamic gardens listed as World Heritage Sites
(Rostami, R. et al., 2014).

The early development of the Islamic garden unfolded following the emergence of Islam and the
establishment of the first Islamic city-state, Medina, in the 6th century. According to Wescoat (2011), the
Persian garden is perceived as the initial embodiment of the Islamic garden and is often described as an
earthly paradise. Brookes (1987) supports this idea, linking the Persian garden's conception to the
interpretation of a garden in paradise as described in the Al-Quran. In the Al-Quran, true believers are
promised the highest reward and eternal happiness in paradise (MacDougall & Ettinghausen, 1976). The
imagined depiction of paradise features a beautiful garden adorned with numerous types of edible trees

International Conference on Local Wisdom of the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023) Page 1064