hajj: Hajj means pilgrimage
hypostyle: Hypostyle means having multiple vertical supports.
masjid: Masjid means a place for prostration and prayer.
mihrab: A mihrab is a marker—usually an arched niche—that identifies the qibla wall as the wall closest to Mecca.
minbar: A minbar is a stepped pulpit used for delivering the weekly sermon.
qibla: Qibla means the direction of prayer, oriented toward Mecca
trabeated: Trabeated means constructed with straight vertical and horizontal beams
ambulatory: An ambulatory is a semi-circular aisle that wraps itself around a central space, here the dome’s void
aniconism: Aniconism is the principle that an image must be avoided if it can possibly be mistaken for an icon, thus leading to idolatry
caliph: Caliph means the leader of the faithful
dhimmi: Dhimmi is the term for the Jews and Christians under Muslim protection as fellow monotheists.
kufic: Kufic refers to the early script style of Arabic. The letters are blocky and usually lack the vowels.
martyrium: A martyrium is a building that marks and commemorates the place of a saint’s death or a significant event in the life of Christ
spolia: Spolia refers to parts of older buildings that have been reused in later ones, such as columns, capitals, stone blocks, glazed tile, etc.
zakat: Zakat is the Pillar of Islam that requires payment of a fixed tithe for charity.
basilica: A basilica is a rectangular hall, usually with parallel aisles along the building’s length
bay: A bay is a unit of space formed between vertical elements such as columns, piers, or pilasters.
caravanserais: Caravanserais and khans are inns for traveling merchants
chahar bagh: Chahar bagh means “four gardens,” meaning a garden that is divided into quadrants.
iwan: An iwan is a vaulted hall, closed at one end and open at the other
machicolation: Machicolation means a floor with openings for dropping missiles on attackers.
merlons: Merlons are solid portions of wall that alternate with empty spaces and together cap a wall
pendentive: A pendentive is a panel that curves both horizontally and vertically and supports a dome overhead.
exedrae: Semicircular niche, or a large apse around the perimeter that resolved in semi-circular apses
apse: An apse is a large niche
wadi: A wadi is a seasonal stream
fiat city: A fiat city is one built all at once, on the command of the patron.
haram: The haram (or harem) means the family quarters where the women and children lived
riwaq: A riwaq is an arcade surrounding a mosque’s courtyard.
ziyada: A ziyada is the outer enclosure of a mosque
alfiz: An rectangular architectural frame, often defined by a molding
maqsura: A barrier around the mihrab (and possibly minbar) to protect the prince.
miradors: places for seeing and enjoying the view
voussoirs: Voussoirs are the wedge-shaped blocks that make up an arch
adhan: Adhan means “the call to prayer”
muezzin: The muezzin is the person who calls the faithful to prayer five times daily
keel arch: An arch with straight sides that curve over the dome’s shoulder and then flatten out again as they reach the apex of the dome
bays: Bays are compartmentalized spaces on the inside of a building, or indicated on the exterior by windows or ornament
skewed façade: a façade that does not align with the building interior
hadith: Sayings of the Prophet and reports based on observation of him and his practices
iconography: The study of symbols and symbolism
lustre: A type of metallic overglaze applied to ceramic and glass
mashhad: A mashhad is a shrine or commemorative mosque
muqarnas: Small curved niches stacked to create a honeycomb effect
transition zone: The area between the base and the dome in which the shift from square to circle is achieved.
ablaq: Ablaq is the close juxtaposition of stones of contrasting colors for decorative effect.
baraka: blessing
dikka: a platform from which the Quran is recited and prayers are delivered by the imam
khutba: Friday sermon delivered in the mosque
mamluk: Mamluk literally means “owned,” and it refers here to slaves
oculus: a circular window, from the Latin word “eye”
squinch: A squinch is a small arch that spans the corners of the dome chamber’s base and thus allows the base to transition to an 8-sided band on which the dome rests
tiraz: Tiraz literally means “inscription” and refers to textiles with borders embroidered with inscription
tympanum: the half-circular panel formed by the arch over the door lintel or, in this case, the wall
waqf: A waqf is a religious foundation that oversees an endowment for an institution such as a mosque or a charitable practice such as providing dowries for orphans
acequia: Acequia is a Spanish word derived from the Arabic al-saqiya, meaning waterwheel or watercourse
qubba: A qubba is a dome or domed structure
sebka: An ornamental screen or panel formed by the repeated interlacing of arches
vassal: one who receives protection in return for allegiance and acknowledgement of subordination. Vassals often pay a fee (tribute) for such protection.
corbel: A corbel is an element that extends horizontally from the wall and carries superincumbent weight
zawiya: A zawiya is a monastery or religious school, often centered around a spiritual leader called a marabout
zellij: Zellij tile is glazed, cut into geometric shapes, and then reassembled like mosaic
pisé: rammed earth construction
hazar-baf: Hazar baf literally means “thousand weavings”
pishtaq: An arch or iwan set within a rectangular frame, in which the frame often rises above the adjacent wall
dome-on-square: A commonly repeated morpheme consisting of a square base supporting a dome
Turkish triangles: Pendentives rendered as flat triangular panels
chinoiserie: Chinese-influenced motifs in non-Chinese arts
banna’i: Alternation of glazed and unglazed brick to form patterns or inscriptions
Pax Mongolica: The Pax Mongolica refers to the stability in Asia that ensued under the Mongols whose various branches ruled an immense territory
khanqah: A place for Sufi gatherings and a residential retreat, similar to a zawiya
turbe: Tomb
kulliye: Endowed architectural complex
zawiye: A spiritual retreat for study
cloisonné: Masonry technique of framing stone blocks with brick
valide sultan: Queen mother
tughra: The Ottoman sultan’s calligraphic signature
maydan: Public plaza
trabeated: Post and lintel construction
talar: Trabeated hall or porch with wooden supports
chini khana: “China cabinet,” referring to the vase and cup shapes of the panel’s niches
cuerda seca: Literally “dry cord,” referring to the use of a cord of wax to separate the glazes during firing
chadar: Scalloped water cascades
hesht bihisht: A radially symmetrical plan divided into eight regular bays.
intarsia: Wood or stone inlay
chattris: Chattri literally means "umbrella," referring to the open-air cupolas on stilts.
jali: Perforated ornamental screens, often carved from a single slab of stone
hizar: A hizar is a protective screen enclosing a sarcophagus (tomb)
darshan: Darshan is a Sanskrit word meaning "seeing"; it refers to visual communication between god and mortal
zenana: Women’s quarters
khanqah: Spiritual study center or retreat for Sufis
mandala: A geometric design that in Hinduism represents the cosmos
bangla: Bangla roofs have distinctively curved roofs, derived from Bengali prototypes