Islamic Architecture

How Islam shaped British architecture

Quintessential landmarks from Big Ben to the Durham Cathedral owe their inspiration to Muslim-designed buildings centuries ago.

Sisi's era seen as 'one of the worst ages' for famed Al Azhar

Egypt’s Al Azhar, central to Islamic education and religious life for centuries, has lost a lot of its shine under Sisi’s regime.

Ever notice birdhouses on Istanbul’s buildings? They carry a lot of history

In Istanbul, high up on the sunny facades of mosques and other historical buildings, you may see elaborate houses built for birds if you look carefully enough.

Al Aqsa mosque compound reopens after more than two months

Resumption of prayers at Islam's third-holiest site caps a sombre period for Jerusalem's Muslims, who this year marked the holy fasting month of Ramadan and Eid al Fitr holiday without the usual daily visits to Al Aqsa due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Why Pakistan isn't closing mosques despite the coronavirus threat

The government's reluctance to ban congregational prayers carries within it the fraught tensions of Pakistan's identity.

The pandemic has altered worship and given us more time to introspect

The coronavirus has given us a chance to re-examine our excesses, and how we approach faith.

In pictures: India's damaged mosques amid rising Islamophobia

Indian Muslims have been subjected to numerous hate-driven attacks and in most cases, the aggressors are from the country's Hindu majority.

Man arrested after non-fatal stabbing inside London mosque

An eyewitness said around 100 worshippers were in the mosque hall at the time of the attack and roughly 20 people jumped on the assailant. "The incident is not being treated as terror related at this time," police said.

One of Istanbul’s last illumination artists and his Ramadan messages

The journey of a 60-year-old Turk who mastered the art of adorning mosques with glittering messages in the holy month of Ramadan.

Pakistani madrassas: an indispensable institution, a worry for the state

The religious seminaries educating more than four million students, often from poor backgrounds, have long been accused of links to extremism. But there is more to meet the eye.

Annual restoration of Mali’s Great Mosque of Djenne ends on festive note

By shoring up its walls, residents of the city of Djenne participate in yearly rendering of the ancient Great Mosque, the centuries-old epicentre of religious and cultural life in Mali.

Stories of New Zealand terror attack victims

A terrorist attack on two New Zealand mosques took the lives of 50 worshippers on Friday and left dozens more wounded when a white supremacist opened fire and live-streamed the shootings.