The Representation of Quranic Concepts and Literary Structure in Islamic Architecture

After the rise of Islam, the architectural styles of lands which joined the Muslim territory changed so that masterpieces such as great Mosques appeared as its result. The influence of Islam on both content and form of this architecture cannot be denied. The source of this influence is the knowledge mentioned in the generalities of the Holy Quran. The quality of such influence and the message of architectural work have been studied through tradition, mysticism and illumination. But the question is: Is it possible to look through the lens of the Quran and find a way to represent the truth embedded in the Quran in Islamic architecture?Using asymmetrical comparative method, this research aims to show how the Quran influences Islamic architecture via its literary elements. By explaining the status of the Quran and Islamic architecture as an art in the world, it is characterized that architecture is a place for representing the truth, like created beings, stated by human being in sensible world from supersensible world. Thus, it is the representation of very one reality, which is expressed by God in the form of words in the Quran. Since language in the Quran and architecture is embellished, a literary system can be considered for both of them. The language of the Quran is simple and clear, so the aspects and elements of literary system in the Quran can be identified. Through corresponding key common concepts in the literature of architecture and the Quran, the properties of those elements can be used for enhancing the “verisimilitude” of architecture. Correspondence between “theme” in the Quran and “concept” in architecture, “structure” in the Quran and “the organizing system” in the architecture, “form” in the Quran and “form” in the architecture and their applications are examples that show the representation of the Quran’s literary structure in Islamic architecture and the influence of Quran on it.