Have Our Buildings Lost Their Souls?

<p>After more than thirty years in construction Dr. Ihab Qaradaya noticed a disturbing gap: We build with engineering skill but we often import building cultures that do not suit our communities. But where is the reference that combines the precision of engineering with the principles of the Qur'an and Sunnah?</p><p>This book is the answer. As a summary of a 4-year PhD thesis this is not just theory-it is a practical guide to fill this gap in both Islamic and engineering libraries.</p><p>This guide walks you step-by-step through the actual construction process:</p><p>Chapter 1 (The Why): Understand the core concepts that must govern our work from the true meaning of building in the Qur'an to the five ultimate goals of Islamic engineering and the ethical charter of the Strong and Trustworthy engineer.</p><p>Chapter 2 (The How-Design): Learn how to translate values like Sakina (tranquility) Sitr (privacy) and No Harm (the 1st law of engineering) into real blueprints from the interior floor plan to the external facade.</p><p>Chapter 3 (The Execution): How to manage the construction site with integrity. This covers contracts (like FIDIC) in the light of Sharia the ethics of selecting materials and the critical importance of worker and public safety (HSE).</p><p>Chapter 4 (The Lifecycle): Your responsibility doesn't end at handover. This chapter covers legal warranties (like the 10-year warranty) the owner's duty of maintenance neighbor's rights and the original Islamic Green Building code based on sustainability water conservation and recycling.</p><p>This book is an essential guide for every engineer who wants to add soul to their designs and every owner who wants to build a true home not just a structure.</p>