Why did Muslim architecture incorporate Roman and Byzantine elements?

The Arab Muslims were conquered by the Romans.
Many Romans lived in the Arab Muslim empire.
The Romans and Byzantines once ruled some Muslim lands.
Muslims valued Roman and Byzantine architectural styles the most.

1 answer

Muslim architecture incorporated Roman and Byzantine elements primarily because the Romans and Byzantines once ruled some Muslim lands. After the Islamic conquests, many regions that came under Muslim control had significant Roman and Byzantine architectural influences due to their prior rule.

This incorporation occurred as Muslim architects and builders encountered existing structures and styles, which they adapted and reinterpreted to fit Islamic culture and religious practices. Additionally, the sophisticated engineering techniques and monumental designs of Roman and Byzantine architecture influenced the development of Islamic architectural forms, leading to a rich blend of styles that characterized the architecture of the Islamic Empire.