Abstract of a paper titled "Islamic Architecture: An Architecture of the Ephemeral":

"Written as an introduction to the Architecture of the Muslim world, this paper discusses the underlying similarities of different regional architectural styles developed by Muslims over a vast geographical area during a period between the late seventh century and the early twentieth century. After briefly describing regional variations, the paper describes the basic building types, both religious and non-religious, that Muslims built in different regions. Among the important building types briefly described are mosques, tombs, caravansary, and urban dwellings. Following this, the paper describes gardens built by Muslims and their design principles and symbolism. An important feature of architecture and landscape architecture of the Muslim World, gardens represented the Qur’ānic promise of a heavenly garden in paradise as a reward for faith and purity. With water and trees, these gardens created places of respite and calmness in mostly hot arid zones of the Muslim world. After gardens, the paper describes the guiding principles of decorations in the architecture of the Muslim world. Rich in their symbolism, decorations were among the most important unifying aspects of architecture and fine arts in the Muslim world. They were often used for imparting a sense of impermanence to the material world, and for providing a visual demonstration of the infinite extensiveness of Allah. The paper also describes the basic elements of decorations in art and architecture, which include calligraphy, architectonic elements, vegetal elements and arabesque, human and animal figures, color, light and geometry. After decorations, the paper describes the underlying principles of the architecture of the Muslim world. Often used unconsciously, these principles helped establish a connection between the symbolic aspects and the formal aspects of the architecture of the Muslim world. They include a perpetual relationship between the sacred and the secular, a search for harmony between verticality and horizontality, a search for unity in the interior, and a search for expressiveness on the exterior. Finally, the paper describes many unifying forces, such as religion, language, and migration, which might have helped produce the hidden similarities underneath the apparent differences seen in the architecture of the Muslim world."

Islamic Architecture: An Architecture of the Ephemeral (Rashid)

Abstract of a paper titled "Islamic Architecture Evolution: Perception and Behaviour":

"The building of a mosque in this day and age is a great achievement of the Muslim community, particularly if the community is living in a non Muslim country. Technology has been the drive to improve construction method of early Muslim community that influence of values and perception towards Islam in the whole world until today. While appreciating the quantitative increase and aesthetic embellishments of many new urban mosques, several Muslim scholars, intellectuals and activists have expressed their concern and reservation regarding the function of these mosques in light of pristine world-view of Islam."

Islamic Architecture Evolution: Perception and Behaviour (Taib, et al.)

Abstract of a paper titled "Islamic Architecture and Arch":

"The arch, an essential architectural element since the early civilizations, permitted the construction of lighter walls and vaults, often covering a large span. Visually it was an important decorative feature that was trans-mitted from architectural decoration to other forms of art worldwide. In early Islamic period, Muslims were receiving from many civilizations, which they improved and re-introduced to bring about the Renaissance. Arches appeared in Mesopotamia, Indus, Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek and Assyrian civilizations; but the Romans applied the technique to a wide range of structures. The Muslims mastered the use and design of the arch, employed for structural and functional purposes, progressively meeting decorative and symbolic pur-poses. Islamic architecture is characterized by arches employed in all types of buildings; most common uses being in arcades. This paper discusses the process of assimilation and charts how they contributed to other civilizations."

Islamic Architecture and Arch (Rahman)