Investigating the Interactions between Conceptual Dimensions of Religious Identity and Physical Characteristics of Water in Contemporary Dwellings

All parts of existence should be divine within the framework of Islam, so Islamic art also must obey this general rule. Any part of the house should apparently and inherently draw the attention of believers towards the God providing a peaceful place where Muslims can evolve their inner behaviors and conducts towards God. Water is a precious element that has been at the center of attention of Iranian people from ancient times before the advent of Islam. Water has become more important in the Islamic culture and wisdom after the advent of Islam, especially in the Shia religion. According to the interpretive-historical assessment of Islamic wisdom, five factors were classified under the physical characteristics category.
Moreover, 11 characteristics were identified through analysis and review of verses and narratives about the religious identity of residents in Islam. The mentioned characteristics were divided into two physical and semantic categories. These characteristics amplify each other in pairs so that the physical characteristics of water improve the semantic dimensions of religious identity. This association was examined and tested using the case study of historic and contemporary houses in Yazd City, Iran. Finally, this study provided some recommendations to strengthen and revive the jurisprudential system of using water in contemporary dwellings to promote the religious identity of contemporary houses in Yazd.