THE GREAT WISDOM AND MORAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ADOPTING VERSES FROM SURAH AN-NAHL AS THE CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATION OF THE EPIGRAPHIC DECORATION OF SHER-DOR MADRASAH
Keywords:
Islamic epigraphy, Sher-Dor Madrasah, Surah An-Nahl, Qur’anic symbolism, Samarkand architecture, Registan ensemble, calligraphy, Yalangtosh Bahodir, theological aesthetics, moral philosophy.Abstract
This article explores the profound wisdom behind selecting verses from Surah An-Nahl (The Bee) of the Qur’an as the conceptual basis for the epigraphic decoration of Sher-Dor Madrasah in Samarkand. Built in 1619–1636 (AH 1042) under the patronage of Yalangtosh Bahodir, the monument forms part of the Registan architectural ensemble. The study examines the theological, symbolic, and philosophical meanings of the selected verses—particularly verses 68–70—and their metaphorical association with the life and mission of Yalangtosh Bahodir. Special attention is given to the symbolism of the bee, divine revelation, justice, moral responsibility, and the transient nature of worldly life. The research demonstrates that the epigraphic program of Sher-Dor Madrasah represents not merely ornamentation but a deeply structured spiritual and ethical concept embedded in architecture.
References
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