Beauty and Mind of Islam in Qur'anic and Poetic Inscriptions on the Alhambra Palace(<Special Issue>Islam and Religious Studies)

Abstract

The Alhambra, built by the Nasrid dynasty in Granada, south Spain, is known as one of the most beautiful and most fully preserved models of medieval Islamic architecture. This essay deals with highly stylized calligraphic inscriptions of the Qur'an, of poetic verses by official court poets, and of pious invocations carved on the walls and building parts of the Alhambra palace. The purpose of this study is to reveal the beauty and mind of Islam, exploring the iconographic functions of particular inscriptions. The Hall of the Ambassadors signifies the seven heavens of the Qur'anic quotation which are represented in the decoration of the ceiling, while the Court of the Lions constitutes a representational symbol of the Islamic Paradise mentioned in the Qur'an. This implies that the Alhambra palace is a permanent abode, which signifies the perfect political realm of the Islamic kingdom. Thus, the inscribed verses may function as a commentary to the architecture. Moreover, the inscriptions under investigation show the Nasrid's firm faith in Islam and their sincere attitude to the religion through the beautiful architectural art.