ziyādah

The term "ziyādah" refers to an additional courtyard or area surrounding a mosque, often found in Islamic architecture. These courtyards serve as extensions of the prayer space and can be lined with arcades. The Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun in Cairo, built in 876, is a notable example that includes three ziyādahs around its main mosque structure.1

Islamic architecture, which developed from the 7th century onwards, is renowned for its religious buildings like mosques and madrasahs. Early examples, such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and the Great Mosque in Damascus, incorporated features from Christian architecture like domes and arches, but also introduced large courts for prayer and mihrabs. Distinctive elements include the horseshoe arch and intricate, non-representational surface decoration. Different regions developed unique mosque plans, such as the four-iwan design in Iran, which later influenced architecture in India, seen in the Taj Mahal.2