This document provides an overview of basic features of Islamic architecture, including: - Plain exteriors with minimal decoration on the outside but rich interior details and designs. - Frequent use of arches in various shapes like pointed, ogee and horseshoe. - Domes which originated from Arabs and Romans, built from various materials and with symbolic meanings. - Minarets as distinctive towers used to call people to prayer and as an identifying feature of mosques. - Ornate decorative details using tiles, mosaics, brickwork patterns and calligraphy for beautification. - Muqarnas vaulting as a honeycomb-like structure between walls and ceilings developed in

1. Photo: Athikhom Saengchai via Shuttersto 1
BASIC FEATURES
OF ISLAMIC
ARCHITECTURE
PREPARED UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF:
DR. BILAL AHMAD KUTTY
Maria Zehra
Prepared by
Aligarh Muslim University
DEPARTMENT OF ISLAMIC STUDIES
19ISM-01

2. 1
INTRODUCTION
Islamic architecture is one of the most classic
style of art which comprises of styles associated
with Islam and includes both- Secular as well as
Religious style from ancient period till now.
Through the ages Islamic architecture has
developed a lot and one may see that it has
vibrant and classic styles in its library.
And
different countries, continents have various
types of styles, still there are some universal
styles which haven’t changed and are alive from
the ancient era.
And such universally prevalent
styles have significant history and hence are to
be studied, to know their geographical
prevalence.

3. 2
BASIC FEATURES OF ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
Plain Exteriors
Islam prefers simplicity, even in architecture.
In Islamic architecture you will not find much
decoration on the
exterior. Though there
may be decoration
near the gate/entrance.
The usage of colour is
simple too. Islamic
architecture will resemble sense of peace,
serenity, purity from its colour, design and
writings. The interior of Islamic architecture is
much comprehensive and has detailing, design,
colour techniques.
comelite-arch.com 1

4. 3
Arch
One of the crucial elements of
Islamic architecture is arch
and they may be found in
almost every building. Arch
leads us into inner space.
Islamic architects propounded
the idea of Arch and came up
with a series of arch shapes
having Islamic distinction.
There are four types of arch styles- pointed,
ogee, horseshoe, and multifoil.
Some examples of arch shapes-
• Great mosque in Cordoba, Spain.
photography by-Gaston Batistini 1

5. 4
DOMES
Dome came from Latin
word domus. It is one
of the crucial features
of Islamic
architecture. It is
hollow upper half of a sphere. They have rich
lineage and have being originally from the
Arabs and romans though widely built all over
the world. Domes have been built from different
types of material such as- mud, plastic, wood,
brick, stone, snow, metal, concrete, and glass.
Domes also have different meanings based on
what is used as decoration and what type of
style is used.
Some early religious domes- Jerusalem’s dome
of rock (ad 691)
The great mosque in Damascus.
insideislam.wisc.edu/2012/02/important-s 1

6. 5
THE MINARETS
Minarets are tower -like shape
having small windows and a
staircase within, which is hidden
most of the times if we look it
from outside. Minarets are crucial
feature for mosques as they have
been used as an essential part of mosque which
represents its identity.
Core function of minaret is to call people for
salah(prayer) from an elevated point. Which is
done by a Mu’azzin five times a day.
Since the 11 century, some mosques started
having more than one minaret. Such as- court
of the blue mosque Istanbul, Turkey.
www.panorameo.com 1

7. 6
DECORATIVE DETAILS
One of the beautiful and vibrant features of
Islamic architecture is –
ornamental detailing.
A lavish decoration is
done using jewel-like
tiles, geometric
mosaics, patterned brickwork, kaleidoscope
stones and calligraphy.
This is final polishing which gives the Islamic
architecture a glooming yet classy look with a
sense of peace.
(Photo: dade72 via Shutterstock) 1

8. 7
MUQARNAS VAULTING
It was developed in mid-tenth century.
In shape it is like
honey comb with
three dimensions
usually used to make
smooth base between
the walls and vaulted
ceiling.
• There are various types of muqarnas.
• Muqarnas has layers and layers have
elements.
• Earliest approach to muqarnas was given
by Al-Kashi, a mathematician and
astronomer born 1380.
• They have cell and intermediate element.
• Cell has two parts- a facet and a roof.
Islamic architecture has wide variety of features, styles,
characters and each of them is unique in its own sense.
(By Ben P Jones) 1