The Architecture of the Adina Mosque in Padua, India

The Adina Mosque of Padua, built by Sultan Sikandar Shah in 1375, is seen as one of the greatest Islamic monuments in all of South Asia. This work serves as a detailed study of the mosque including its architectural components and reveals the symbolic meanings behind its architectural forms and decoration. The author uses the mosque as a metaphor for the liberal politics and religious philosophy of Sikandar Shah who was able to forge a cohesive state for himself in the frontier region of Bengal. The text examines the significance of the mosque for its royal patrons and contemporary users, drawing on the accounts of international travellers and histories of the region. It aims to interest scholars of Indian and Islamic art and history, primarily those concerned with the major changes across the Islamic world in the 14th century.