Alright, so we all know the Taj Mahal was built by Muslims. It looks like a mosque, has a minaret, has the word 'Allah' at the top of it, has Quranic verses in literally every room inside. Not to mention there are mosques near it indicating a religious importance.

Of course, nowadays it's treated as a historical monument rather than a religious one. People have tried to take credit away from the Muslims by saying Hindus were the one who made it and also claiming it's a Hindu temple. These have been proven to be a hoax, thankfully.

In my opinion, it should be known as an Islamic architecture. Even Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom agree to that in their book 'The Art and Architecture of Islam (1994)'. There are more authors who agree to the fact that it should be known as an Islamic architecture.

So my question is, should celebrities/visitors be told that it's a religious palace rather than a historical palace? There is much more to the Taj Mahal than a man building it for his wife. It's a religious palace (infleunced by Islam) IMO.

Who cares?

Why do you place such high importance on whether or not Islam has anything to do with a fucking building?

(September 8, 2012 at 10:07 am)Napoléon Wrote: Who cares?

Why do you place such high importance on whether or not Islam has anything to do with a fucking building?

Because his religious view is islam and like most religious people, they honor religious idols.

Albeit I abhor religion, an analogy would be the islamic claiming credit for the Washington monument, which we all know is Egyption. hock:

It is known as Islamic architecture, for anyone who has a mild interest in it.

Visitors should be told the fact that it is a mausoleum. That's why it was built, why should they be told any different?

Yes the Mughals were Muslim, but it's not Islamic architecture, it is Mughal architecture. The Mughal empire ruled India until the British removed their authority in 1857 folllowing the Sepoy rebellion.(not that they had much power left).

Quote:Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian architectural styles.

Not everything is to do with religion.

It's like saying all of the buildings in Britain are Christian architecture, but we don't, because they're not.

So the credit goes to Shah Jahan, not Islam.

The Taj Mahal was built for the sole purpose of making Princess Diana look wistful in that of so sad photo.

(September 8, 2012 at 9:58 am)Sami_23 Wrote: Alright, so we all know the Taj Mahal was built by Muslims. It looks like a mosque, has a minaret, has the word 'Allah' at the top of it, has Quranic verses in literally every room inside. Not to mention there are mosques near it indicating a religious importance.

Of course, nowadays it's treated as a historical monument rather than a religious one. People have tried to take credit away from the Muslims by saying Hindus were the one who made it and also claiming it's a Hindu temple. These have been proven to be a hoax, thankfully.

In my opinion, it should be known as an Islamic architecture. Even Sheila S. Blair and Jonathan M. Bloom agree to that in their book 'The Art and Architecture of Islam (1994)'. There are more authors who agree to the fact that it should be known as an Islamic architecture.

So my question is, should celebrities/visitors be told that it's a religious palace rather than a historical palace? There is much more to the Taj Mahal than a man building it for his wife. It's a religious palace (infleunced by Islam) IMO.

But it is not a religious palace. It's a mausoleum - albeit an extravagant one. Its a great piece of Mughal architecture with no specific religious connotations. The credit doesn't go to muslims, it goes to Shah Jahan and other architects.

And that is exactly what anyone visiting it is told. That it's the crown jewel of Mughal architecture and monument to the emperor's love for his wife and what cultural influences can be seen in various parts.

(September 8, 2012 at 10:26 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: The Taj Mahal was built for the sole purpose of making Princess Diana look wistful in that of so sad photo.

Professor Pangloss would be proud.

I went there back in 1993 ( i was 11) .
I remember standing outside the building and looking over the balcony to the back of it . There i saw 3 dogs running along the bank towards a human corpse . There i watched for a few minutes as the dogs were ripping the flesh off the bones ( the body must have been fairly fresh as it wasn't that decomposed) then my mum noticed and in horror took me away from its view .
Quite a sight and one that has stayed with me. Oh and nice architecture by the way.

If you really want to give credit, it should be directed at the Byzantines who were the originators of Islamic architecture.