Islamic Art by Jose Radin L. Garduque

Islamic Artby: Jose Radin L. Garduque

Islamic Art:

• Historical Context• Aesthetic

Consideration• Spiritual Motif• Visual Arts (Painting…)

• Architecture• Literature• Theater/Drama• Music• Dance

Islamic Art: Historical Context

Islamic Art emerged in 610 A.D. It started in Saudi Arabia and flourished throughout West Asia, North Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and some parts of Europe. It evolved from Roman, Early Christian, Byzantine, Coptic, Sassanian/Persian, Central Asian, Chinese and Indian influences.


Religious and civic architecture were developed under the Ummayad Dynasty (661-750 A.D.) The Dome of the Rock was constructed in Jerusalem during this period. Abd al-Malik introduced a standard coinage that featured Arabic inscriptions, instead of images of monarchs.


Calligraphy began to be used in surface decoration of pottery during the Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 A.D.). Magnificent palaces were built in Spain during the 1300s. Turkish carpets and the use of crescent as the symbol of Islam became dominant during the Ottoman Empire (1300s – 1900s). Nowadays, the carpet industry remains at large!

Islamic Art: Aesthetic Consideration

The beauty and uniqueness of Islamic Art outshines in calligraphic designs found in paintings, pottery, textiles/carpets, sculpture and architecture. Such calligraphy are mainly derived from Quranic verses. Other inscriptions include verse of poetry, records of ownership and donation.


For most of the Islamic period, majority of coins only showed letterings. No Islamic product has become better known outside the Islamic world than the carpet, more commonly referred to as oriental carpet/rug. Its beauty is emphasized by calligraphic, geometric/batik, landscape & arabesque designs.


In painting, Chinese influence include the adoption of bird’s eye view of hilly landscapes or palace buildings. Calligraphy in Islamic pottery were also influenced by the Chinese. When it comes to architecture, the trademark of an Islamic structure includes horseshoe-shaped archs and onion-shaped domes.

Islamic Art: Spiritual Motif

Islamic art is not at all restricted to religious art, but includes all the art of rich & varied cultures of Islamic societies as well. It may include secular elements that are frowned upon by Muslim theologians who are mostly iconoclasts.


Although figurative paintings like depictions of the Prophet Muhammad exist, it is strictly prohibited in Islamic establishments like Mosques. The use of human and animal figures in Islamic art is feared by many Muslims because it can be considered as idolatry.


That is why Islamic Art has focused on calligraphy and arabesque. Arabesque is a form of Islamic art that uses geometrical, floral or vegetal designs in a repetition. It symbolizes the transcendent, indivisible & infinite nature of God. Mistakes in repetitions maybe intentional to prove that only God can show perfection.

Islamic Art: Visual Arts (Painting, Sculpture, Tapestry)

Pisa Griffin – largest surviving bronze animal sculpture in Spain


Jami Al-Tawarikh – an artist who created a painting of Muhammad lifting the black stone to the Kaaba


Kiswa – embroidered covering of the Kaaba with expensive and exquisite calligraphy (Quranic texts)

Islamic Art: Architecture

Kaaba – located in Al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, it is a cubed-shaped building to which Muslims face during prayers and worship.


Al-Masjid al-Haram – the most sacred mosque in Islam built around the Kaaba


mosque/masjid – place of Islamic worship, equivalent to church/cathedral


minaret – slender tower where the muezzin performs the Islamic call to prayer (adhan/azan)


ablution facilities – include fountains/faucets where Muslims wash themselves and shoe shelves/racks where they place their footwear before entering the mosque


musallah – the prayer hall inside the mosque where Muslims perform their prayers, worshipping and listening to sermons


qibla wall – set perpendicular to the location of Kaaba in Mecca so Muslims face it during worship & prayer


mihrab – a niche at the center of qibla wall indicating the direction of Mecca


minbar – pulpit for the speaker of sermon


Quba Mosque – oldest Mosque located in Medina


Dome of the Rock – mosque in Jerusalem where Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven


Hagia Sophia – cathedral converted into mosque in Turkey


Great Mosque of Cordoba – mosque converted into church in Spain


Great Mosque of Xian – first mosque in China established during the Tang Dynasty


Taj Mahal – great Islamic tomb in India


Sehan – Islamic courtyard/garden adjacent to some mosque, a representation of paradise

Islamic Art: Literature

Quran/Koran – holiest book of Islam, believed to be the word of God revealed by Archangel Gabriel to Muhammad for a period of 23 years (609 632 A.D.)


Surah – Chapters of the Quran


Bismillah – “In the Name of Allah/God,” an opening phrase of every Surah


Hadith – book that contains the life and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)


Shahadah – the first pillar of Islam wherein a believer declares “La Illaha ill Allah, Muhamadar Rasul Allah” (There is no god but God, Muhammad is the Prophet of God)


Arabian Nights (A Thousand and One Nights) – compilation of folk tales by Persian Queen Scheherazade


Shanameh – national epic of Iran written by Ferdawsi


Hay ibn Yagdhan – first fictional Arabic novel written by Ibn Tufail


adhan/azan – the Islamic “Call to Prayer”

Islamic Art: Theater/Drama

Moro-Moro – depicts battle between Muslims and Christians

Islamic Art: Theater/Drama

Tazieh – portrays martyrdom of Imam Hussein

Islamic Art: Music

*Some Muslims believe that only vocal music is permissible (halal) and that instruments are forbidden (haram), but other Muslims contend that instruments are lawful – like daff, zarb, rebab, etc.

Islamic Art: Music

Hamd – song in praise of Allah

Islamic Art: Music

Naat – a song in praise of Muhammad

Islamic Art: Music

Nasheed – traditional religious song (e.g. Talaal Badru Alayna, a 1400 year old nasheed sung by the people of Medina upon the prophet’s arrival to their city)

Islamic Art: Dance

Singkil - this dance takes its name from the bells worn on the ankles of the Muslim princess. Perhaps one of the oldest of truly Filipino dances, the Singkil recounts the epic legend of the "Darangan" of the Maranao people of Mindanao.

Islamic Art: Dance

Vinta - Also called Pangalay ha Pattong, this dance is named for the picturesque boat with colorful sails which glide across the Sulu Sea. Central to this dance are the Royal Couple who each balance atop a pair of swaying bamboo poles, simulating their ride aboard a vinta.

Islamic Art: Dance

Katsudorotan - depicts a royal manner of "walking" among the Maranao people who live mainly around Lake Lanao. Ladies of the royal court perform this stately dance in preparation for an important event. The bright colors and flowing handkerchiefs add to the drama of the dance.

Islamic Art: Dance

Sema - performed by dervishes (equivalent to monks) by whirling their bodies to repetitive circles as symbolic imitation of the planets in the solar system

Islamic Art: Music

Dhikr/Zikr – worship dance of Sufi Muslims

Islamic Art

A Report in Soc. Sci. 415 (Humanities) under Prof. Jonathan Adjijil at Filamer Christian University, Roxas City, Philippines (1st Sem., A.Y. 2013-14)

Salam!

Islamic Art by Jose Radin L. Garduque

Education

uniqueness of islamic

form of islamic art

islamic pottery

islamic period

islamic structure

islamic establishments

islamic world

islamic product