Question:hard

Which of the following statements about the elements of Islamic Architecture is/are correct?

Show Hint

Remember that Mimar is a job title meaning architect, while the tower used for the call to prayer is called a minaret, not Mimar.
Updated On: Aug 6, 2026
  • Mimar is a tower-like structure usually associated with mosques or other religious buildings.
  • Mashrabiyya is a wooden grille or grate used to cover windows or balconies.
  • Mulqaf is a wind-catcher.
  • Minbar is a type of pulpit usually found in mosques from which prayers and speeches are given.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B, C, D

Solution and Explanation

Islamic architecture has its own vocabulary, and this question is really testing whether four specific words are matched to their correct meanings.

  1. Mimar: in Turkish, Persian, and Arabic, mimar means architect, the person who designs the building, not a physical part of it. The actual tower used for the call to prayer is the minaret. So calling Mimar a tower-like structure mixes up a job title with a building element, making this statement false.
  2. Mashrabiyya: picture a window covered by an intricate wooden screen made of small turned spindles locked together in a geometric pattern. That screen is the mashrabiyya, used on windows and overhanging balconies to filter light, allow air movement, and give privacy. The statement describes this correctly.
  3. Mulqaf: this is a passive cooling device, a shaft rising above roof level that scoops moving outdoor air and funnels it down into the rooms below, exactly what a wind-catcher does. The statement matches.
  4. Minbar: inside a mosque, a raised platform reached by steps, used by the imam to give the Friday sermon and lead announcements, is the minbar, matching the statement exactly.

Three of the four definitions, for mashrabiyya, mulqaf, and minbar, are textbook accurate, while the definition of Mimar swaps the meaning of an architect's title for a minaret's function, so it is the false one.

Let's summarize:

  • Minaret, not Mimar, is the correct tower term; Mimar means architect.
  • Mashrabiyya (lattice screen), Mulqaf (wind-catcher), and Minbar (pulpit) are all correctly defined.

So the correct statements are (B), (C), and (D).

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