This book aims to cast some light on the theme of Muslim funerary architecture, thus attempting to render the answers on some crucial questions often asked about it. The book focuses on the origins, roles and significance of funerary architecture in Islamic civilisation. It follows that discussing the plans and structural designs of funerary structures is not a focus in the book. The topics discussed are divided into five chapters entitled: Death in Islam, Visiting Graves; The Prophet Muhammad’s Grave; The Birth of Funerary Architecture in Islamic Civilisation; The Reasons for the Institution and Proliferation of Funerary Architecture in Islamic Civilisations.
Out of so many objectives that could be achieved by undertaking this kind of study’ the following list presents the main objectives of this book:
– To put the concept of Muslim funerary architecture in its proper religious and cultural context
– To help the readers recognise and understand the origins and significance of Muslim funerary architecture
– To show that funerary architecture, although having played an extremely prominent role in the history of Islamic civilisation, has become neither a permanent nor ubiquitous feature of the Muslim reality
– To clarify and remove some pervasive misconceptions/misunderstandings about Islam in general and Muslim funerary architecture in particular.