Final answer:
The Taj Mahal reflects religious and cultural syncretism through the amalgamation of Islamic and Hindu architectural elements, Persian gardens, and special materials like the iconic white marble. The correct answer is a) By incorporating elements of Islamic and Hindu architecture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Taj Mahal represents religious and cultural syncretism by incorporating elements of Islamic and Hindu architecture. This is characteristic of the Mughal Dynasty, which fused local Indian art and architecture with Persian influences.
The Taj Mahal's design features reflect this with its Persianate gardens, Indian decorative elements, Islamic calligraphy, and the use of white marble, which was unusual for Indian tombs but common in Islamic structures.
The edifice also represents the Mughal era's tendency to integrate Hindu craftsmen into their construction projects, allowing for a blend of Hindu motifs in Islamic frameworks as seen in the Great Mosque of Xian, which mirrors the architecture of a Buddhist temple.
Architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauari, while employing the distinct Mughal architecture, also entrenched the building with Persian, Islamic, Ottoman, and traditional Indian architectural styles, cementing the Taj Mahal as a symbol of combined heritages and cultural dialogue.