Through architecture, a nation's identity is revealed. Therefore, the search for architectural identity is a search for the nation's identity. Conversely, architecture reveals the identity of the nation that produced this or that art.
Because a nation's identity is not represented by blood types—but by the characteristics of its civilization—reading the history of architecture must begin with reading the history of a nation's civilization, because architectural construction is part of the nation's being. In this sense, architectural identity signifies the belonging of this architecture to a particular civilization left behind by a particular nation.
A contemplator of Arab-Islamic civilization and its architecture will find it rich in examples that testify to the extent of the development and advancement of this nation's civilization. It was also distinguished by a unique architectural style from which Western and Eastern civilizations drew inspiration.