By Dr. Spahic Omer

• Introduction

In this paper, I will discuss the meaning of Islamic architecture, its functions and main characteristics. The discussion will be divided into the following sections: (1) The meaning of Islamic architecture (2) Islamic architecture as a means, not an end (3) Two examples: the Islamic house and the mosque (4) Practicing and teaching Islamic architecture today (5) Islamic versus Muslim architecture (6) The Qusayr al-Amra as an example.

Presenting some broad suggestions aimed at spurring the revival of the phenomenon of a genuine Islamic architecture today and at all the tiers of the Islamic presence will conclude the paper. The nature of the paper: its content, methodology and conclusions, is a conceptual and philosophical, rather than an empirical one.

• The meaning of Islamic architecture

Much has been written and said about the meaning of Islamic architecture. Nonetheless, scholars considerably differed – and they still do - in their verdicts as to whether there is an architecture that can be called “Islamic”, and if there is, what is the meaning, as well as main characteristics, of such an architectural practice. To many of such people, Islam as a religion is seen irrelevant to architecture, and the latter as one of life’s biggest necessities is seen too sophisticated and actual to need a religion as a point of reference.

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