Monuments of the Islamic World

Minarets are a common sight in the Islamic world.

From the early eighth century through at least the end of the 15th century, Muslim rulers controlled territory stretching from present-day Spain in the west to India in the east, and from present-day Turkey in the north to sub-Saharan Africa in the south. Throughout this vast area, Muslims built many imposing monuments, buildings that commemorate a person or event or are significant to a group as a way to remember their shared history.

Ka'aba

Mecca draws millions of Muslim pilgrims annually.

The most religiously significant Islamic monument is the Ka'aba in Mecca, to which Muslims must make a pilgrimage if they are able. According to tradition, Abraham built the current shrine, which remains a restricted area that only Muslims may enter. Today Saudi Arabia administers the Ka'aba and its surrounding buildings.

Dome of the Rock

The golden Dome of the Rock stands out on Jerusalem's skyline.

One of the most recognizable features of Jerusalem's skyline, the Dome of the Rock commemorates a night journey the prophet Muhammad took to heaven, according to tradition. Calligraphic inscriptions surround the golden dome, which was completed shortly after the Islamic conquest of Jerusalem. Because it sits on the site of the Second Jewish Temple (Temple Mount), the Dome of the Rock remains a flash point for the religious groups that hold Jerusalem sacred.

Sultan Hasan Mosque

The Sultan Hasan mosque dominates its area of Cairo.

Cairo served as the capital of multiple Islamic empires, and its numerous mosques and tombs are still celebrated today. One of Cairo's Islamic monuments is the tomb and madrassa (school) of Sultan Hasan, a building that dates from the mid-14th century. Even contemporary visitors felt moved to mention it as "an extraordinary monument," according to "Islamic Monuments of Cairo."

The sultan's tomb is the most prominent part of the complex and is visible from the area where parades were held during the medieval period. It is also adjacent to a mosque and is located directly behind the wall toward which the worshipers pray. Ironically, Sultan Hasan was assassinated during the tomb's construction and his body was never recovered. Thus it is his two young sons, not Sultan Hasan, who are buried in Sultan Hasan's tomb.

Great Mosque

The interior of the Great Mosque features distinctive arches.

Spain's first Islamic ruler, Abd al-Rahman I, completed the Great Mosque in Cordoba in 786. It remained a potent reminder of his dynasty's political and engineering prowess for nearly 500 years. Today, the mosque is a church, with a Gothic cathedral integrated (somewhat awkwardly) into the original structure. The mosque's design shares features of the prestigious Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, suggesting that Abd al-Rahman (who fled to Spain after his family's massacre) wanted to demonstrate his dynasty's religious authority as well.

Taj Mahal

People all over the world know and love the Taj Mahal.

Perhaps the most famous Islamic monument of all is the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Shah Jahan built this magnificent structure in memory of his wife, Mumtaz, who died in childbirth. He employed architects and craftsmen from all over the Muslim world in its construction, a process that took 22 years. The Taj Mahal's white marble domes and spires are distinctive and beautiful, making it one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.

References

• Submission.org: The History of the Kaaba
• Sacred Sites: The Dome of the Rock
• Islamic Monuments of Cairo: A Practical Guide; Caroline Williams; 2008
• ArchNet: The Great Mosque of Cordoba
• GreatBuildings: The Taj Mahal

Resources

• Thais: Photographs of Islamic Architecture
• GreatBuildings: Islamic Architecture