TO BE COVERED

Islamic Art: A “Sociological” IntroductionIslamic Art: A  Sociological  IntroductionIslam on Visual ArtsIslamic Art as Sacred ArtIslamic Art as Sacred Art Islamic Art as Applied ArtDepiction of Non Muslim Prophets in Visual ArtDepiction of Non Muslim Prophets in Visual ArtDepiction of Prophet Muhammad in Visual Art

ISLAMIC ART: A “SOCIOLOGICAL” INTRODUCTION PART#1

Visual arts produced from the 7th century onwards by people, not necessarily Muslim, who lived within the territory that was inhabited by or ruled by culturally Islamic populations.Th i t i th d i t l f I l i A tThe environment is the dominant role of Islamic Art and its quality is essentially contemplative.”Titus BurckhardtTitus Burckhardt

ISLAMIC ART: A “SOCIOLOGICAL” INTRODUCTION PART#2

Depiction of patterns and geometric shapes, rather than on figures and images | why?The fundamental testimony of Islam la ilaha illallah, the simple rationalePortraiture of the messengers and/or prophets is avoided, not only because their images could become the object of idol worship but also becausebecome the object of idol worship, but also because of the respect inspired by their inimitability

ISLAMIC ART: A “SOCIOLOGICAL” INTRODUCTION PART#3

Islamic Art began as a form of sacred Art, but later as applied Art deviating sometimes from the religious guidance on depiction of figures and images.To portray Allah, artists quested for perfection, and f d t i l h th b t l tifound geometrical shapes as the best solution.In the course of time Artists played with various forms of Islamic Art again sometimes disregardingforms of Islamic Art, again sometimes disregarding the religious barriers, but never went too far from the basic language of it, perfection.the basic language of it, perfection.

ISLAM ON VISUAL ARTS PART#1

“Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah p p ytill he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.” Bukhari 3:428“ l d h h h“… Angels do not enter a house wherein there are pictures.” Bukhari 4:47“Those are the people who whenever a pious manThose are the people who, whenever a pious man dies amongst them, make a place of worship at his grave and then they make those pictures in it. Those are the worst creatures in the Sight of Allah.” Bukhari2:425

ISLAM ON VISUAL ARTS PART#2

“Allah says that he created humans in the mostAllah says that he created humans in the most perfect shape.” At Teen 94:4“Satan promised Allah that he will command us to pmanipulate and change the creation of Allah.”An‐Nesa 4:119

ISLAMIC ART AS SACRED ART PART#1

Imagery intended to uplift the mind to the spiritual.Imagery intended to uplift the mind to the spiritual. It can be an object to be venerated not for what it is but for what it representsRadiates the beauty of the worship and, at the same time, protects it“Oh sons of Adam wear your beautiful garments in every place of prayer.” Al A’raf 7:31

ISLAMIC ART AS SACRED ART PART#2

Mihrabs andMinbars as mostly practiced forms ofMihrabs and Minbars as mostly practiced forms of Islamic sacred ArtMihrab, the prayer‐niche, is indisputably a creation , p y , p yof sacred Art, and has become in practice a regular element in the liturgy.Minbar, a pulpit, is a must in a mosque where the Friday prayers are celebrated together. 

ISLAMIC ART AS SACRED ART PART#33

Mihrabin the Mosque at Isfahanin the Mosque at Isfahan

Minbar at the Sultan Hasan Mosque

ISLAMIC ART AS APPILED ART PART#1

The application of design and aesthetics to objects ofThe application of design and aesthetics to objects of function and everyday use.Some definite forms of Islamic Art who have revealed in applied forms: rugs and carpets, ceramic accessories, glass accessories, metal accessories, and apparels

ISLAMIC ART AS APPLIED ART PART#2

A classicIslamic carpetIslamic carpet

ISLAMIC ART AS APPLIED ART PART#33

A traditionalIslamic ceramic bowl

Women in burqah

DEPICTION OF NON MUSLIM PROPHETS IN VISUAL ART

Devta, Devi, and Avatar in HinduismBuddha the Entlighed in BuddhismMoses in JudaismJesus the Christ in Christianityy

DEPICTION OF NON MUSLIM PROPHETS IN VISUAL ART HINDUISM

The Trimurti: The cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahmā the creator, Vishnu the maintainer, and Shiva the destructor

DEPICTION OF NON MUSLIM PROPHETS IN VISUAL ART BUDDISM

Head of Buddha, secured from the destruction done by the Afghans

DEPICTION OF NON MUSLIM PROPHETS IN VISUAL ART JUDAISM

Moses pleading with the Children of IsraelLithography from a Bible card published in 1907

DEPICTION OF NON MUSLIM PROPHETS IN VISUAL ART CHRISTIANITY

The Creation of Adam is a section of Michelangelo's fresco Sistine ChapelThe Creation of Adam is a section of Michelangelo s fresco Sistine Chapel ceiling painted circa 1512. Inspired from the Book of Genesis in which God breathes life into Adam

DEPICTION OF NON MUSLIM PROPHETS IN VISUAL ART CHRISTIANITY

The oldest known icon of Christ.

The two different facial expressions on either side emphasizes Christ's two natures as fullyside emphasizes Christ s two natures as fully God and fully human.

DEPICTION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD IN VISUAL ART PART 1

Arab illustration of Mohammed preaching from a minbar to the earliest converts. Al‐Bîrûnî, al‐âthâr al‐bâqiya

DEPICTION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD IN VISUAL ART PART 2

Muhammad re‐dedicating the Black Stone at the Kaaba. Jami' al‐Tavarikh

DEPICTION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD IN VISUAL ART PART 3

Muhammad meets the monk Bahira. Jami' al‐Tavarikh

DEPICTION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD IN VISUAL ART PART 4

Muhammad visits Paradise. Miraj‐Nama

Muhammad visits hell, where he views women being hung by their hair and tormented by a demon for the sin of showing their hair inthe sin of showing their hair in public. Miraj‐Nama

DEPICTION OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD IN VISUAL ART PART 5

The photograph by Lehnert & Landrock, which l t b thlater became the base of an Iranian depiction of a young y gMuhammad.

CONCLUDING STATEMENTS

• The fundamental testimony of Islam puts ban y pon pictures of individuals and animals reducing the risk that they might be worshipped or glorified in his place or along with himglorified in his place or along with him.

• Islam also talks about beauty as well.• Not as clash but rather as a bond between• Not as clash, but rather as a bond between these two‐ Islamic Art is born. 

• Sacred Art >> Applied Art >> Modern Art pp• Breaking the barriers of religious fundaments but sticking within the grammar

CONCLUSION

Th id dThe ideas and themes of core Islamic ArtIslamic Art 

expanded with respect to Art movements, and geography.