@C. Lewis Kausel: I am not an expert in architecture, the “Mughal Architecture” in India with its crowning glory “Taj Mahal”, is considered to be the fusion of Indo-Islamic-Persian architecture. I am not sure where such variants be considered?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MUTWlnBW80

@C. Lewis Kausel

Dear Kausel your insistence/emphasis on culture. But, question arises what is Islamic culture? Answer is the way of life practised by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and the ways and practices approved by him (PBUH). By that definition culture is simple life and human production that is in the reach of everybody, as such any simple building where one can live or work or do business may be example of Islamic cultural architecture, but grandeur and wastage of land and space should not be there. It is as simple as that. It is how Islamic cultural architecture may be defined so is applicable to town planning,. Interestingly, several buildings and townships in all culture will come under this definition. By the way, Islam has minimum requirements of cultural practices. The terms Islamic culture applies to those tenets of cultures of people of different races and regions who embraced Islam and those tenets do not violate Islamic faith. Better such instances are defined as Muslim cultural production not Islamic cultural production.An example (Taj Mahal) is given by Nageswara. We also have a masjid known as Makka (mecca) Masjid in Hyderabad. It was constructed on the pattern of a masjid in Mecca. Note, it is not called Islamic Masjid or Arab Masjid. Any place of worship where Muslims offer their prayers irrespective of the fact it has minaret or not or it has a tomb or not is a masjid- a place of worship for any Muslim anywhere.

Therefore, any cultural artifact only produced by Muslims should be called Muslim Cultural production, therefore, Arabic Islamic Architecture will mean an architectural monument built by Arab Muslim. In general referring to a monument built by Muslim of whatever region or race, term Muslim Architecture should be applied.

Islamic Architecture is the best title

@C. Lewis Kausel: As you rightly said we should not mix up religion in this context. We would like the beauty of architecture irrespective whatever religion it belongs. We like Taj Mahal for what it is: Magnificent architecture and not because it is the tomb of a Mughal king and queen.

Islam, a noun, is the religion. Muslim is both a noun and adjective. As a noun it refers to one who follows Islam. When an adjective, it means of or relating to Muslims or Islam.

@C. Lewis Kausel

The difference between "Muslim" and "Islamic" is not so clear-cut, at least to me. In an article entitled "Islamic Values vs. Muslim Values" Atiq Ebady states: What do I mean by Islamic values and Muslim values? Islamic values are those that are set out in the Quran and the practice of the noble Messenger, Muhammad (S). Muslim values are those that are created as part of the culture of the Muslim communities.

I do not know if this distinction--that Islamic pertains to the religion and Muslim (as an adjective) pertains to the culture--is generally made or is specific to Ebady. I look forward to seeing other answers you are given

Source: https://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110418210855AAuxVLu

What distinction between Islamic and Muslim is made by Atiq Ebady, This is what I have emphasised in my earlier response. Further, in the second link you will find out that Muslim is also used as an adjective in the sense of “pertaining to Muslim (s).

See:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/muslim

Dear All,

Jeanan has given but a brief explanation on her intention to talk. She has not mentioned anything specific on this subject and has not reacted on the answers yet. It would be crucial to give the Arabic equivalent of the expression hence there are on RG so many native speakers of Arabic language.

Dear all,

Thank you for your participation, if we want to discuss the term as the most Islamic region, so we have to say Islamic architecture, and if we want to discuss the first generation of Islamic architecture which were born in the arab region, in this case we should say Arabic Islamic architecture.

Both terms indicates the same architecture, which deserve our respect.

Its funny, I talked to my students about this question recently. I asked them what makes more sense "Islamic Civilization" or "Arabic Civilization". My students came to the conclusion that "Islamic Civilization" was more fitting, because although Arabs were in charge for some time, it was really the people under the Islamic Empire who did all the ground work; not necessarily the Arab ruling power.

Therefore, similarly, I would say that Islamic Architecture is more fitting, because the architecture had been influenced by so many cultures over time, such as the Byzantines, the Persians, the Turks and so on.

Dear Reem,

Nice to share such questions with our students, but I want to remind you that the question didn't ignore Islam in both terms.

I understand that the concept of Islam is present in both terms, however, I am cautionary towards talking about Arabic Islamic architecture, unless it is architecture founded in the Arabian Peninsula. Mainly, because in the Levant and North Africa, as well as further East and SouthEast, these were crossroad societies where influence on art and architecture came from all over the world.

I fail to understand why scholars are not appreciating that Islam offers very few cultural prescriptions. So far architecture is concerned there is no prescription at all. However, as for town planning is concerned, the Second Caliph issued instruction regarding building Basra in Iraq which specify that roads should be straight, main roads should be so much wide and build must not be more than two storyed so that loss of life may be avoided in the event of fire hazard, and in the center of the town should be main masjid (Jama Masjid). In fact, initially Arabs settled in different lands and non-Arabs started to embrace Islam. Arabs in alien lands adopted their culture applying test of Islamic tenets and non-Arab Muslims revised their culture against this very test. As such, Islam as a way of life did not produce any architecture, whatever said to be Islamic architecture is cultural production of diverse people including learning process with whom Muslims came into contact, short or long lasting. I think Islamic with any type of architecture found in Muslim land will be misnomer. It should be identified either by the people or region where it originated, if it is felt necessary that Islam should come somewhere Muslim will be quite good choice. One should, Muslims all over the world show different cultural patterns not a homogeneity.

Thanks Mohammad. It is enlightening to us who are non-Muslims.

Dear Mohammad ,

Thank you for your interest in is this subject.

don't you believe in Islamic ideology effects on Muslim's philosophy towards life and their products, specially in architecture?

One of the good examples is shown in the Islamic house style, with the inward looking, the indirect entrance, and the special type of windows ( mashrabya, shanasheel) which all provide privacy. Same thing in Islamic ornamentation which depends on ideology of Islam, such as using abstraction instead of picturing, unity, Repetition as worship.

The question is if there isn't any Islamic ideology effects, so why all the architecture built by Muslims has the same spirit and identity, wherever and whenever it was built?

Dear Jeanan

It is not a general law. In early Arab Muslim Houses entrance was direct, because even members of house (men) were instructed to enter into house taking permission. In Sub-continent of India and latter elsewhere this housing patter started. Even today in Afghanistan, there are elite's houses which don't have direct entrance. However, impact of Islamic tenets is not denied, I have myself provided its example. I simply mean to associate Islam with a particular culture is wrong, it is simply revision of local cultural production not violating principles of Islam. Even, in dress if you see a man in shirt and trousers you cannot say he is not Muslim or a women in full sleeves blouse and ankle length skirt you cannot say that she is not Muslim. Because the dress described here fulfill requirements of Islamic teachings but they do not belong to any Muslim country. Now I think, my contention will be clear.

Dear Jeanan

in short words it is islamic architectuer and islami art because before islam and

prophet Mohamed there was no many building and the shape or the designe of Mosque.

the prophet Mohamed is the only that put the shape and designe of the place of prayer.

thanks to all

Dear prof.Haddad we can say Arabic Islamic Architecture but what about the other architecture out of the Arab land like Turkey, Iran, India, Spain, etc......? so i think Islamic Architecture is More general and comprehensive.

Dear Ahmed,

We can't ignore the Arab influence in the Islamic art, even though Muslims worked and added new visions in each region to adapting to their environment. and that's why anyone all over the world when talking about Islamic art and architecture the first to come to their mind is the Arabs (camel, palms.... etc.) which found in the Arab region.

Dear Ahmed Abd elkawy Mohamed Mohamed,

Please suggesting whether present masjids are built in accordance to conform architecture as planned by the Prophet (PBUH) note there was on dome and minarets in Masjid-e-Nabwi during life time of the Prophet (PBUH) and much latter. Please consult the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Masjid_al-Nabawi

http://muslimmatters.org/2013/05/24/9-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-prophets-mosque/

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history/art-history-400-1300-medieval---byzantine-eras/islamic-art/a/introduction-to-mosque-architecture

Umayyads were interested in architecture in Andalusia , they built towns , forts, walls , doors, and founded the cities , also were interested in building mosques , palaces, baths domes and archways of water and patterns.

The Great Mosque of Cordoba is a unique religious architecture during the reign of the Umayyad dynasty in Andalusia , is still immortal to witness the greatness of the Andalusian art in that period . Established by Abdul Rahman Al Dakhil ( the year 170 AH / 786 AD) Place Church Gothic. Abdul Rahman Al Dakhil wanted to be the greatest mosques in Andalusia. He spent 80 thousand dinars to build it , and bought the land from the Christians of Cordoba hundred thousand dinars combines them to the mosque , but he died to be completed before construction , which was completed during the reign of his son Hisham. It was expanded several times accorded mosque during the reign of Abdul Rahman East, and completed by his son Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman . Prince Mohammed bin Mundhir have done all the restoration of the building. Al- Mustansir extended the mosque of Cordoba in his reign, and so did Muhammad ibn Abi

Wasn't all the previous characters Arabs, who worked and interested about spreading Islamic architecture, aren't they deserve reciprocate at least in the term.

Dear Mohammed Feroz Khan

What I mean here is the layout of the mosque has been home this layout in the orbit of the design developed by the Prophet peace be upon him mosque is a space clean pure regularly from the inside to the regularity of the rows of worshipers and since the hostel of the Prophet peace be upon him the city and the first thing to do is to build the mosque , as did the Companions of Sell ​​it in Kufa , Basra and Fustat , Kairouan and other cities they founded and be in the planning stages of this pattern sew Ali Mosque of the Prophet peace be upon him .

As for the minarets was Bilal in the era of the Prophet peace be upon him authorized from above Watban highest mosque and what rose architecture in Islamic countries for more than two floors had to be high so Taban or minaret to connect the call to prayer for Muslims hence the unity between the minarets in terms of function and varied in shape depending on the region where I grew up and the historical period we find the distinctive characteristics of each region or historical period , we find there are multiple patterns minarets of Egypt, Syria, Iran and the minarets of the minarets of Turkey, India and Samarkand , Bukhara and others.

Dear Jeanan

This proves beyond doubt that the term is more accurate is the Islamic architecture and although the Umayyads origins an Arab, but the environment in which they found in Andalusia was also in the crucible of Islam and if we look at the mosques and private Cordoba, we find that the planning does not come out for the planning wing, which put his daughter first Prophet Mohammad him, as well as architectural elements from columns, contracts and niches and platforms.

Talking about the same architecture doesn't mean having the exactly plan done by prophet Mohammad. but the same spirit. and you can recognize that easily in every Islamic building, at Arab and all the Islamic countries

Comparing architecture include a lot of elements and factors in addition to the plan.

Of course Arab Muslim were influenced by the style of architecture which was already used in Andalusia. Flexibility in adaption depends on diversity within unity.

Dear Ahmed Abd elkawy Mohamed Mohamed ,

I don't deny that plan of a building may form the part of architecture. However, I would like to point out that use of land in a building, or plan of it is generally according to the function (s) it is intended to perform. It is quite natural that all Masjids will have the same plan. But, would they have carved stone pillars or simple columns or simple wooden logs are carved wooden logs to support the roof depends on the local environment and cultural tradition and taste. I visited Mecca and Medina in 2005 for Haj and in 2013 for Omra, i visited many masjids in the two cities, except Masjid-e-Quba which has an elevated open platform where one may offer prayer if the congregation is large and Masjid-e-Aeyash which has a veranda, i saw all masjids to be fully covered, while in India we cannot imagine a masjid which has no veranda and courtyard (Open space). Domes etc. Arabs adopted perhaps from Persia and other places.

Please, for influences on Muslim architecture, Please see following link:

http://www.qantara-med.org/qantara4/public/show_document.php?do_id=1175&lang=en

Dear Mohammed Firoz Khan

The planning is very important for the shape and composition of house of worship , or mosque , which put its shape designing and the first Prophet peace be upon him and he is a space open- rectangular walled mud-brick then appeared corridors with the delegations of the people of the characteristics of immigrants Making them sunshade or recipe in front of the mosque and what increased number set up for them other capacity in the back of the mosque became the planning of the dish and the Stoics then completed Othman Ibn Affan Stoics others became the planning of the dish and four corridors and betray know by historians that the mosques of Kufa and Basra had been mounted on the chart pattern developed by the Prophet peace be upon him , then inherited it planning .

It is known that this design or planning is not his like in earlier civilizations of Islam did not take Muslims planning house of worship temples Romania or Christian churches or temples Fire Persian, but that design mode to house of worship Islam is Islam's Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him a prophet only to do so.

The simplicity and richness in the mosques , it goes back to the environment in which it was held where the mosque and the space that established them can not , for example, to cover the area of ​​the mosque completely area as large as Al-Azhar in Egypt and the Friday Mosque in Iran mosque Qutub Minar in India and for India, diversity planning , there is planning saucer and the Stoics and the three and four and one hallway .

The diversity of raw materials due to many reasons, including the environment - the economy - the desire of the originator but all that will come out from the crucible of the religious house of worship , a Muslim mosque, which put the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him .

Note: for mosques in Saudi Arabia , they believe the expression of traditional architecture or architecture environment.

The question here, does Islamic style indicated by mosques architecture?

There are so many examples of Islamic style one of them is Al Mustansiriya Madrasah. It was established in 1227 A.D, by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir and was one of the oldest universities in the world. Its building, on the left bank of the Tigris River, survived the Mongol invasion of 1258 and has been restored.

Dear Jeanan

The mosque is the corridors act as the school or the role of scientific Muslims before the emergence of the idea of ​​the mosque school, who Ncoayda result of the impact of ideological He was obliged to Islamic nations spread the idea of ​​jihad against the invasion of the Crusader and Mongol which exhorts them Sunnah Zaaud credited with the idea to minister System King Seljuk and so we see that any new ideas developed are also stemmed from the Islamic faith to say that Islamic architecture.

Dear Jeanan,

I am attaching, herewith, an expert's article on the topic. I do think all your concepts will become crystal clear.

Dear Jeanan

Dear Mohamed Firoz

It's as clear as the sun in the sky it's Islamic architecture, without the slightest doubt either Emigration was deliberate by those who occupied the countries of the media Islamic and this dangerous situation which was intended to change the Islamic faith and change the Islamic culture and change the architectural heritage of the Islamic and cut its extension to the events of that Emigration deliberate .

Evidence of deliberate change in Arut Islamic architecture is bringing in engineers Europeans to build palaces and houses and houses layer princes on the pattern of the European Fezhrt us models of different architectural such as the style of the European and Renaissance style and model of the Renaissance developed and model of neoclassical all that is found in the premises of Cairo and other cities and take the style of Islamic Architecture in the melt baptized in front of these models coming from Europe .

Nevertheless, we found people who formed a resistance to these models expatriate and set up facilities Islamic style and even some foreign engineers admired the style of Islamic and applied it in their buildings .

As a result, disappeared yard short of the Islamic houses appeared balconies overlooking the street in the non- observance of Islamic tradition , which were not permitting the ruins of the women on the street .

This period Ctla the Muslim world either so-called postmodern period has reflected the cultural heritage of Islamic many issues the first of the large increase in the number of people requiring him search for ease and speed of construction to meet the needs of the people of housing .

The second thing that has affected the economic impacts dramatically clear in the presence of the current style of the buildings.

It's the third political reasons that made the people of influence and building materials companies and investors Ansdon everything that would agree with the environment and this is what tried architect Hassan Fathy , who was inspired by the Islamic architecture Farad creation of cities and buildings inspired by Islamic architecture, which depends on the material environment.

However , and despite the so-called modernity Emigration remains based Islamic mosque wherever I saw him everywhere , even though in the heart of Europe When he sees people do not say , but they say based Arabic Islamic Mosque as well as when they see the floral decorations and Engineering say Islamic motifs are not Arab .

Dear Ahmed Abd elkawy Mohamed Mohamed,

What are you saying I am quite agree with you. Islam as a deen (way of life) for all people in all future times since our Prophet (peace be upon him) cannot strict in its cultural prescription when different people from different environment embrace Islam and when society and its institutions with their respective demand on people change over time. Therefore, Islam did lay down minimum of cultural requirements in terms of certain principles which should not be violated in any situation in the process of cultural production. Therefore, Muslim culture is not monolithic , it shows considerable plurality which is derived from local traditions and adapted to certain basic principle what the architects around the describe as elements of Muslim architecture. Therefore, a sing adjective of "Islamic" will be misnomer to describe such a plurality, while adjective of Muslim catch this plurality.

Dear Ahmad,

I agree with you, extraneous architecture has appeared in the Arab Islamic region and has bad influence, because it doesn't fit with our heritage culture of Islamic society. Transition from inward looking to the outward looking was, as you said, by using wide openings windows and then use heavy curtains and/or window Boards to provide privacy, although we have the best solution to provide privacy and sun protection, this is which we call Mashrabia or shanasheel.

Dear Mohammad,

Thank you for your contributions in this interesting subject.

We usually, for example, use the term Greek Architecture to indicate the architecture built by greece men. Thus, for Architecture production that belongs to any particular civilization. So why using the term "Muslim Architecture " instead of Islamic Architecture.

Dear Jeanan

The solution lies in the work of restoring the use of the Islamic architectural heritage and there are, unfortunately, foreign companies in our Islamic world works projects inspired by Islamic architecture and used plant and geometric motifs Islamic.

Although the style of construction in the modern era and the rapid broom buildings we find in Rivne Islamic cities and some separation of the wings of the reception rooms and men in mind to Islamic tradition.

We are trying to make the science of Islamic architecture, something alive, not dead, and that the implementation of Islamic-style buildings not only religious but also civil, at least in the new cities.

Dear Jeanan,

If we go by your argument, I think suggestion of Shafig Al-Haddad is quite plausible.

Dear Mohammad,

I do not know, but the debate will remain open to all researchers. Both terms are possible and indicate to the same amazing architecture.

Dear Jeanan

To clarify the matter can be to look at architecture , installations and wonder what is there to reflect the impact of ideological or religious it? In terms of direction , for example, can not block the mosque , but I put my hand or the direction of the Kaaba and the regularity of the mosque from the inside in order to be equal in rows and regular prayer and the presence of the pulpit for a sermon .

Even in civilian buildings , we find the religious impact in terms of openness on the inside and not the outside boil order to preserve the sanctity of the residents inside and control through mashrabiyya to see from the inside of the Alkharh not Isttig from abroad than at home .

Zama we look at the fountains , we find that the reason for its creation is the Islamic religion , which urged Muslims on it for watering thirsty and passers-by .

The question is: Is all that existed before Islam even say Arabic architecture ? Of course not , because all that was found after the mission of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and spread the teachings of Islam and the Islamic civilization, therefore I am not Arab and Islamic art are not Arab and Islamic architecture .

It 's better to speak of Islamic( not arabic) architecture. In fact it was very much enriched by Persian civilization , not only Arabic. Then it was able to integrate elements of African , Indian, Armenian , Turkish , and all other cultures into contact with Islam. Here, the word " Islamic " doesn't refers to religion , as the word "Muslim" would; but it refers to a culture that encompasses several realities, including its non-Muslim ( Jewish Christians , ... ) elements . This is a common practice, and compréhensibe, for a culture dominated by a religion, but who does not exclude other religions , and incorporates within it the cultures of different peoples.

However , it is not customary to speak of Christian architecture for the whole of constructs in Europe ( Churches,schools, publics constructs).The choice's difference for the words may pose problem, indeed . And we need remember that it's a choice...

Dear Jeanan

it is not right to give a name to the middle eastern architecture, a title like  Arabic Islamic Architecture or Islamic Architecture.as an architect  I believe that the Islam as a religion like other religions within middle east doesn't include any architecture from its begging in mecca.More over Arabs, they didn't have any idea about  architecture and the elements of the so called "islamic architecture",  the elements of such atchitecture came together later from other ancient countries like Sassanian empire or Romans empire. the evolution of  a mosque's form started centuries before isalm  in persia and a very vivid evidence of that is Ardeshir Babakan temple of fire in Firozabad.The invention of dome and squinche also the court-yard are the elements which copied from Sanitarians completely.so I think its better to to not talk about the Islam's role in architecture and put the emphasize on cultures not religions.

Dear Jeanan

it is not right to give a name to the middle eastern architecture, a title like  Arabic Islamic Architecture or Islamic Architecture.as an architect  I believe that the Islam as a religion like other religions within middle east doesn't include any architecture from its begging in mecca.More over Arabs, they didn't have any idea about  architecture and the elements of the so called "islamic architecture",  the elements of such atchitecture came together later from other ancient countries like Sassanian empire or Romans empire. the evolution of  a mosque's form started centuries before isalm  in persia and a very vivid evidence of that is Ardeshir Babakan temple of fire in Firozabad.The invention of dome and squinche also the court-yard are the elements which copied from Sanitarians completely.so I think its better to to not talk about the Islam's role in architecture and put the emphasize on cultures not religions.

Dear Mohsen

Don't you think that the Ideology of Islam has an effect on the way of how Muslims use and choose all the ancient Architectural elements in order to create a unique style?

Article: Architectural Elements in Islamic Ornamentation: New Vision in Contemporary Islamic Art (Jeanan Shafiq)

Dear Jeanan

it is not right to give a name to the middle eastern architecture, a title like  Arabic Islamic Architecture or Islamic Architecture.as an architect  I believe that the Islam as a religion like other religions within middle east doesn't include any architecture from its begging in mecca.More over Arabs, they didn't have any idea about  architecture and the elements of the so called "islamic architecture",  the elements of such atchitecture came together later from other ancient countries like Sassanian empire or Romans empire. the evolution of  a mosque's form started centuries before isalm  in persia and a very vivid evidence of that is Ardeshir Babakan temple of fire in Firozabad.The invention of dome and squinche also the court-yard are the elements which copied from Sanitarians completely.so I think its better to to not talk about the Islam's role in architecture and put the emphasize on cultures not religions.

the religions digested in cultures and the architecture following the cultural differences. this is why the architecture in iran is different from Egyptian architecture.

the Islam in its bases has evolution and I think there is no one unique islam .this is how the past affect the religious changes.

Dear Mohsen,

I do not agree with you that Islam has evolved in its bases, rather culture production has evolved. But, this evolution of culture in the case of art and architecture is restricted by some principles, for one as Jeanan has repeatedly pointed out, depiction of living creature either in art in the form of carving or statue.

Just returning  from Oman....ISLAMIC more  adequate in a wider meaning. But architercture of  islamic areas are designed by  many  international companies and artists. From European  and  American culture  too.

It does not make difference who designed, it matters whether building has concepts or elements identified as Islamic or Muslim and excludes those elements and concepts which are against ideology of Islam. Muslims do not live alone in arid or semi-arid climes, therefore, for comfort of people environment has to be integral part of a Masjid or a building in a Muslim country.

The islam architecture is something I wonder since many years. One of the last examples: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDkoZ5MgfFw&t=71s

regards,

Andrzej Orlowski

Dear All, I think Islamic civilization has many aspects of our life; Scientific method, Medicine, pharmacy, philosophy, Humanities & social sciences, and architecture.

Using Islamic Arabic Architecture, in one hand, it includes Muslims from any language on the other hand it includes others who participate in the civilization from other religions ( by their Islamic culture ) at least because they live among Muslims and this is their right.

Anyhow we can use only Islamic if we accept the Islamic concept in the frame of CULTURE not the religion as a comprehensive concept .

HI dear Jeanan.

The Arabs first conquered present-day Iran and Iraq, then moved on to countries such as Egypt, Syria, and Yemen to reach Spain. None of these countries were Arab. In all these ways, however, the Arabs make perceptions of the culture and architecture of different countries. Those countries themselves, like Syria and Egypt, had great and remarkable civilizations. The Arabs conceived of these. But when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps goes to Europe and Spain, the Europeans say that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has arrived, while it consists of different groups from different countries that have been captured, enter Europe and do a special architecture.

Because the Europeans know this population as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, they do not examine whether this piece of building has Iranian, Syrian or Egyptian architecture. It is generally called Islamic architecture. But because it enters Europe through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, they call it "Islamic" or attribute it to Islam. While a religion does not have such things. If we want to attribute these to religion, both that religion will be destroyed and a kind of historical denial will occur.

عمارة اسلامية مفهوم اوسع واشمل

الفرق بين المصطلحين يرتبط بجدلية بحثية ظهرت بودرها خلال الستينات من القرن الماضي تتعلق بالخلاف ما بين تيارين فكريين ظهرا على الساحة العربية وهما التيار القومي والتيار الاسلامي، فكان لكل منهما موقف من الحضارة التي أنتجتها الشعوب الإسلامية بدء من العصور الوسطى هل هي حضارة عربية أم حضارة إسلامية، وكان لكل تيار حججه وبراهينه التي تؤيد موقفه، استمرت تلك الجدلية حتى السبعينات حين ظهر تياراً وسطياً تبنى مفهوماً جديداً لتلك الحضارة أطلق عليها الحضارة العربية الإسلامية، ومن ثم انشق هذا التيار على نفسه ما بين مجموعتين احداها تقول بمصطلح الحضارة العربية الإسلامية ، وأخرى تقول الحضارة الإسلامية العربية، ولكن يبقى مفهوم الحضارة الإسلامية أعم وأشمل وأكثر دقة في تحديد نوعية النتاج الحضاري عموما .