The Emergence of Sophisticated Mosque Architecture in Early Islam by Omer Spahic

This paper discusses the evolution of the identity of Muslim architecture and the emergence of the first Muslim architectural deviations. In particular, it focuses on the role of the 8th Umayyad Caliph, ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz (‘Umar II) and his views on mosque decoration. The paper resolves an ostensible inconsistency between what ‘Umar II as the governor did to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and what he intended to do to the great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus after becoming Caliph. After a thorough exploration we conclude that ‘Umar II only acted along the lines of the general laws that governed the birth and evolution of the identity of Muslim architecture, at the center of which stood mosque decoration. The discussion is tripartite, focusing on the consistency of ‘Umar II’ overall personality and character, the evolution of the identity of Muslim architecture, and the emergence of the first Muslim architectural deviations. https://muslimheritage.com/emergence-of-sophisticated-mosque/