Download The Why of Islamic Art

The WHY of Islamic Art
When you are asked WHY something is the way it is in Islamic art you need to refer to some
point(s) below
In the 7th century CE a man named Mohammed lived in what is now called the Saudi peninsula in the city
of Mecca.
Mohammed received divine inspiration from Allah and he had Allah’s words written down in the Koran.
Mohammed and his small group of followers were expelled from Mecca and went to Medina.
In Medina they grew to significant political and military force.
They attacked Mecca and took it over.
Mecca contains the Kaaba, which is the most sacred spot in Islam. The Kaaba is a cubiod building
adorned with fabulous tapestries. It is basically empty. It was the last place Mohammed went to before
he died. Third most sacred site: al-Aqsa mosque and nearby Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Muslims
believe it is the site that Muhammad rose into heaven. This is also site that Abraham almost sacrificed
Isaac (Mt. Moriah) and the site of the first and second temple of the Hebrews (both destroyed: only an
outer wall of the second temple remains; it is called the Western Wall).
All Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca (haj) at least once in their life.
Islam, which means surrender (interpreted as surrender to Allah and/or surrender to Islamic military
force; depends who you ask) spread quickly (in about a century) and broadly east to what is now
Pakistan and Eastern Europe and west along North Africa and up into Spain and deeply into what is now
France. This conquest was seen as a holy war or jihad.
Muslim congregations meet in a mosque. The structure of the mosque is loosely based on
Muhammad’s house and courtyard where he preached. Structures in a mosque: qibla, mihrab, minaret,
minbar, hypostyle prayer hall, maqsura. Great mosque or Friday mosque: Large mosque for Friday
(Sabbath) prayer.
Muslims believe that the Koran can only be written and read in Arabic. Translations are not
considered authentic.
There are 5 pillars of Islam. Know them:
1. Faith – “I testify there is no god but God, and Muhammad is His prophet.”
2. Prayer - ___5____ times a day
3. Alms to the needy
4. Fasting during the holy month of ____Ramadan________________
5. Pilgrimage to Mecca is called the ____haj________________
Islam has strict proscriptions (things to be avoided) against idolatry. No one can make an
image of Muhammad or of Allah. You cannot even depict Muhammad’s shadow. Therefore
all their religious buildings and religious artifacts are devoid of any depictions of people or
animals (zoomorphic art). They are decorated with elaborate geometric and floral designs.
Highly stylized Arabic script (quotes from the Koran) are also extensively used as decorations
of religious buildings.
Figurative art is permitted in Islam, just not in a religious context. The Mughal Empire ruled a
substantial part of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to 19th century. Their art has a rich figurative
tradition which mostly came from the artistic traditions of that land before the Mughal’s conquered it.
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum a Mughal king built for his wife.