Islamic Art & Architecture in Brief – Part III: Architecture


Read Part I: Arabesque

Read Part II: Calligraphy

One could easily say that Architecture is the most recognizable form of art in Islam.

Now, any piece of architecture is a work of both beauty and practicality, but Islamic architecture includes a third dimension: spirituality. This goes back to the idea that for Muslims there is no separation between secular and spiritual; both are one.

Islamic architecture is a combination of all the elements I’ve spoken of earlier, and many more. All of these elements are used in conjunction to draw the viewer’s attention to God and God’s oneness. Verses throughout the Quran speak of this oneness and emphasise its importance. Islamic art and architecture celebrate this using Quranic script throughout architecture. Continue reading

Islamic Art & Architecture in Brief – Part II: Calligraphy


Read Part I: Arabesque

Calligraphy is a unity of the art of the word and the art of form. [It] is especially revered among Islamic arts since it was the primary means for the preservation of the Qur’an

Adapted to every possible surface—from wood to stone to metal—words, both religious and secular, were employed not only to impart information, but also to lend visual beauty to these works.

[Six] common styles of calligraphy have evolved over the centuries, but I’ll touch on the three most common ones: Naskh, Thuluth, and Kufic. Continue reading

Islamic Art & Architecture in Brief – Part I: Arabesque


This is a copy of the speech I made at my University’s Islam Awareness Week Event. The event was titled “One” and focused on “poetry, art, and discussion from the Islamic perspective.” Corrections or changes to the speech are in square brackets.

Art can best be defined as the expression of one’s soul through a medium. That medium can be anything from a paint brush to a keyboard to the individual’s own voice. One’s artistic endeavours are no doubt influenced by their own experiences and beliefs. Continue reading