Islamic architecture

What is Islamic architecture?

Islamic architecture is the set of architectural styles used for buildings linked to Islamic civilization. It includes both secular (non-religious) and religious styles.

These styles have been used since the early history of Islam and are still used today. The Islamic world covers a very large area, from Western Africa and Europe to Eastern Asia.

Special features

Islamic buildings often share some common features. Each region also developed its own style over time. Early buildings were influenced by Roman, Byzantine, Iranian, and Mesopotamian architecture.

Builders decorated walls and surfaces with Islamic calligraphy, arabesques, and geometric motifs. They also invented special parts, such as minarets, muqarnas, and multifoil arches.

The minaret is a tower where the call to prayer, the adhān, is made. The mihrab is a niche that shows the direction of prayer. Mosques are built so that one side faces toward Mecca, the qibla.

Famous buildings

Mosques are the most common type of Islamic building. Others include madrasas, tombs, palaces, and hammams (public baths).

In Spain, the Great Mosque of Córdoba was built in 785–786. In India, the Mughal architecture style produced the Taj Mahal, which was completed in 1648.

Gardens and water have long been important in Islamic culture. They are often compared to the garden of Paradise.