Mosques represent some of the most stunning feats of architectural invention and design produced by mankind. The spiritual component adds to their mystery and luster. With stunning original and archival photographs, Mosques: Splendours of Islam, features over fifty historic and contemporary mosques- including the most venerated such as the Great Mosque of Córdoba, the Imam Mosque of Isfahan, and Istanbul’s Süleymaniye Mosque.

Mosques: Splendours of Islam

Organized geographically, and focusing on their architectural and decorative features, the selected Mosques reflect different styles and historical periods from their origins in Mecca and Medina through various transformations notably under the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires. Essays by prominent architecture and design authorities cover topics such as the architectural components of the mosque; the iconographic and decorative elements, including tile work and geometric patterns; and the meanings of the calligraphic inscriptions that adorn these important buildings.

Raised among the Islamic treasures of Baku, Azerbaijan, Leyla Uluhanli is a prominent interior designer and furniture designer based in Moscow, Russia. Prince Amyn Aga Khan is a member of the board of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which is active in architectural conservation.

Bibi-Heybat Mosque (Baku, Azerbaijan)

Mosques: Splendors of Islam, Rizzoli New York, 2017

By Leyla Uluhani

Foreword by Prince Amyn Aga Khan

Leyla Uluhani