The 65 metre tall Minaret of Jam, built by Sultan Ghiyat Ud-Din Muhammad ben San, in around 1190, with Kufic script and verses of the Koran on the exterior, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Women reading at Jamma Masjid (Delhi Great Mosque), Delhi, India, Asia

One of two early 12th century minarets built by Sultan Mas'ud 111 and Bahram Shah, that served as models for the Minaret of Jam, decorated with square Kufic and Noshki script, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Asia

Detail of window with Arabic script on tilework above, in the Green Mosque in Bursa, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Eurasia

The 65 metre tall Minaret of Jam, built by Sultan Ghiyat Ud-Din Muhammad ben San, in around 1190, with Kufic script and verses of the Koran on the exterior, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor Province, Afghanistan, Asia

The minaret of Bahram Shah, one of two minarets built by Sultan Mas'ud III and Bahram Shah with square Kufic and Noshki script, that served as models for the minaret of Jam, and believed to have originally been part of mosques, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Asia

The minaret of Sultan Mas'ud III, one of two minarets built by Sultan Mas'ud III and Bahram Shah with square Kufic and Noshki script, that served as models for the minaret of Jam, and believed to have originally been part of mosques, Ghazni, Afghanistan, Asia

Detail of tilework on the Friday Mosque or Masjet-eJam, built in the year 1200 by the Ghorid Sultan Ghiyasyddin on the site of an earlier 10th century mosque, Herat, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Detail of decoration on minaret dating from 12th century, including Kufic inscription in turquoise glazed tiles, Minaret of Jam, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ghor (Ghur, Ghowr) Province, Afghanistan, Asia

Detail of the Friday Mosque (Masjet-e Jam), Herat, Afghanistan, Asia

Detail, Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan, Asia

The ribbed dome, tiles and Arabic script on the Bibi Khanym Mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Central Asia, Asia

Decorative tiling, Saadian Tombs dating from the 16th century, Marrakesh, Morocco, North Africa, Africa

The Taj Mahal mausoleum east side calligraphy of teachings from the Koran in Arabic writing on large pishtaq arch, Uttar Pradesh, India

Entrance to inner courtyard of the Blue Mosque, built in Sultan Ahmet I in 1609, designed by architect Mehmet Aga, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Allah's 99 names Lyon, Rhone, France, Europe

Detail of the dome of the shrine of Imam Reza, Mashad, Iran, Middle East

Allah calligraphy in Koran, Le Bourget, Seine-Saint-Denis, France, Europe

Kitabaz Zadagan Ma'rifar, University Library, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe, Eurasia

Detail of Koranic phrase in stucco, Casa Real (Royal Palace), Alhambra, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Granada, Andalucia (Andalusia), Spain, Europe

Kufic manuscript, Mashad Shrine Library, Iran, Middle East

Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan, Asia

Muslim symbols in a car, Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne, Ain, France, Europe

Koran page, Paris, France, Europe

Mohammed Ali mosque, Cairo, Egypt, North Africa, Africa

Omar Dome, Jerusalem, Israel

Lamu, Kenya. Swahili woman paints henna design on hand of a friend for Idd al Fitr festival.

Young boys study the Koran at a madrassa in Karachi, Pakistan on February 1, 2008.