Conceptual Features of Gardens

The Holy Qur’an provides extensive descriptions of paradise as created by God for humanity. These descriptions not only emphasize material rewards but also highlight spiritual blessings that fulfill human emotional and psychological needs. This study investigates the realization of Qur’anic conceptual and spatial indicators of gardens in the design of Persian gardens, addressing the following questions: What are the conceptual and spatial indicators of gardens in Qur’anic verses? To what extent have these indicators been realized in Persian gardens? Using a descriptive-analytical methodology with a comparative approach, the Qur’anic verses and their interpretations were analyzed to identify key indicators of paradise gardens. These indicators were categorized into two groups: mental and intrinsic perceptions, such as feelings of security, health, eternity, spiritual tranquility, spiritual wealth, reflection on divine  blessings, and  recreation; and visual and spatial perceptions, including expansiveness, the attractiveness of greenery, scenic beauty, and decorative aspects of the garden. The study assessed these indicators through a survey of 200 visitors to eleven historical Persian gardens, utilizing an 11-item questionnaire. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings reveal a significant alignment between the Qur’anic descriptions of paradise and the perceptions of visitors to Persian gardens. Mental and intrinsic components were found to have a greater impact than visual and spatial components in reflecting the spirituality and Qur’anic teachings embedded in Persian gardens. Among the mental and intrinsic elements, the sense of security emerged as the most influential factor, while scenic beauty ranked as the most impactful visual and spatial feature.