The Impact of Islamic Jurisprudence Principles on the Urban Planning of Historic Cities

Islamic jurisprudence principles, particularly Mālikī treatises on construction and easements, functioned as a dynamic urban planning code for medieval Islamic cities, shaping their form through regulations on structural safety, public health, environmental zoning, and privacy. This study reconstructs these rules from foundational juristic texts and demonstrates their materialization in the street dimensions, courtyard proportions, and craft districts of Medina, Fez, and Marrakesh. By correlating textual rulings with archaeological evidence, it reveals how principles like 'no harm and no reciprocal harm' mandated load-bearing limits, minimum road widths, and industrial zoning outside residential areas, while protecting courtyards and gardens. The findings position Islamic jurisprudence as a resource for culturally rooted urban sustainability, offering insights for heritage tourism and context-sensitive planning that complement international charters.

Ourkia, A., & Alsaied, M. A. (2025). The Impact of Islamic Jurisprudence Principles on the Urban Planning of Historic Cities. Journal of Posthumanism, 5(5). https://doi.org/10.63332/joph.v5i5.1304