How Sufi shrines became architectural manifestations of Islam’s notions of beauty and art

“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things.”

He who knows himself, surely, knows God.

Although there is much academic debate about the origins of Sufism – the mystical branch of Islam – it is widely accepted by Muslims that, in its essence, Sufism is firmly grounded in the Quran and the Hadith. Today, Sufism is largely only associated with the esoteric and mystical aspects of Islam. However, in the pre-modern Muslim world, Sufism was not just about these aspects of the religion, but was an inextricable part of everyday practice – as both religion and mysticism were integrated into all aspects of life, be it art and craft, architecture, poetry, music, social and material culture, and even political resistance. As Syed...

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