Language of the Taj Mahal

Michael Calabria is Director of the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Franciscan Institute, St Bonaventure University, New York, U.S where he is also Associate Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies. He has published in the journals South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies and Journal of Religion and Film. He completed his PhD at the Arab and Islamic Studies Centre, University of Exeter, UK.

"Michael Calabria’s The Language of the Taj Mahal is n important, unique and thoroughly engaging study of one of the Seven Wonders of the World attracts millions of Muslims and tourists every year. As its subtitle: Islam, Prayer and the Religion of Shah Jahan, indicates, while The Taj Mahal addresses the historical context, art and architecture of the Taj Mahal, its new and primary focus on its religious significance. Calabria masterfully investigates and explains how the personal faith and piety of Shah Jahan influenced its design and construction and how the extensive use of Qur’anic inscriptions reflect basic and core belief and teachings of the Quran and Islam in seventeenth century South Asia."

• List of IllustrationsPreface & AcknowledgementsNotes on Translation, Transliteration and DatesPart One: Historical BackgroundI. The Prince and the CalligrapherII. The Emperor and the CalligrapherPart Two: The Texts of the Taj MahalThe Great Gate (Southern Façade) III. Return to Your Lord: al-Fajr The Mausoleum ExteriorIV. The Trumpet Will Sound: Ya SinV. Where Are You Going? al-Takwir VI. The Graves Are Shaken: al-Infi?ar VII. You Will Meet Your Lord: al-Inshiqaq VIII. God Is Well Pleased: al-BayyinahThe Mausoleum InteriorIX. Look Again! al-Mulk X. A Seed Sends Forth Its Shoot: al-Fat? XI. A Reward for You: al-Insan XII. Turn to Your Lord: al-Zumar (39.53-54) XIII. The Cenotaphs Upper Cenotaph: al-Fu??ilat 41.30al-Mum’min 40.7-8al-Mu?affin 83.22-28al-Baqarah 2.286al-Hash 59.22Lower Cenotaph: al-Zumar 39.53Al Imran 3.185 al-Mu’minun 23.118al-?ashr 59.22al-‘Asma’ al-?usnaThe MosqueXIV. Purify Your Soul: al-Shams & al-Ikhla? The Great Gate (Northern Façade) XV. The Future Will Be Better: al-?u?a XVI. With Hardship There is Comfort: al-Shar? XVII.Why Do You Deny Faith? al-Tin Part Three: ConclusionXVIII. The Religion of Shah JahanChronologyGlossaryBibliographyIndexes1. Index of Persons2. General Index3. Qur’anic Citations