Islamic Art

A strong domination of lines, circles and geometric designs can be seen in this art style

The term ‘Art’ includes many forms like visual arts viz. paintings, pottery, sculpture or performing arts like music, singing, dancing and others. It is also related to various periods of history like Renaissance art, modern art, etc. Usually, when the phrase ‘Islamic Art’ is mentioned people tend to think of art related to the religion of Islam. Surprisingly, this stands incorrect.

In Islam, it is a sin to create an image of God (in any form) or any living thing, as all living things were created by God and nobody can infuse life into his or her creation except God. Also, the making of the image (drawing, painting or sculpting) of any life form is equivalent to idolatry, which is against the very basic tenet of Islam. Hence there is no religious art in Islam like Christian art or Buddhist Art. However, Islamic art exists and yes it is related to religion but in a different manner.

The evolution

The religion of Islam, as known today, was spread by Prophet Muhammad (salal-laho-alaihi-wasal-lam) and its followers are called Muslims. Islamic Art refers to art that are related to the Muslim world, it relates to art that have been created in the service of Islam and art produced in land under Muslim rule or influence. Historically its geographical boundaries spread from Spain to South East Asia and its temporal limits extend from the time of Prophet Muhammad (salal-laho-alaihi-wasal-lam) about 632 AD to the present. Islamic art has been influenced by the regions it conquered during its expansion like the Roman, Byzantine and Persian art. It gained prominence under the reign of the Umayyad dynasty. Other dynasties like the Abbasid, Safavid, Ottomans and Mughals also influenced this art. As Islam spread, the Muslim world grew and gradually the Middle East or West Asia more correctly then North Africa, Spain, central Asia and India came under the folds of Islam.

Influence of geometry

Restricted with non-use of life forms, artists turned to abstracts, following which a strong domination of lines and circles and geometric designs is seen in this art style. A new form using and intricate pattern of lines and circles developed called Arabesque. The designs are made by repeating lines, angles, curves and circles, by overlapping them or forming shapes and patterns and grids or mosaics. The four major components of Islamic art which developed are – calligraphy, vegetal patterns, often overlaid on the geometric patterns and figural representations, though Islam frowns on it.

 

Another limitation was about not using costly material. So they used cheaper and readily available material like wood, brass and earth. The various forms of Islamic art is today seen in religious texts, book illustrations, architecture like mosques, tombs, pottery, ceramic work, metal ware, rugs and decorative art works.

The holy book of Islam – the Quran – was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (salal-laho-alaihi-wasal-lam) through recitation. Thus it became imperative that the word of God be transcribed and the Quran was written down in beautiful script and calligraphy assumed importance befitting the script for a divine revelation. Several styles of calligraphy developed like the Kufic, Nastalic, Diwani, Thuluth, etc.

 

This magnificent art form is spread all over the world. Apart from the Masjid-ul-Haram at Mecca, the Masjid-ul-Nabawi in Medina and the Masjid-ul-Aqsa in Jerusalem, the Blue Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif and the Jama Masjid in Herat in Afghanistan,   and another blue mosque - the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul are some of the other symbols of the art. However, a major concentration of Islamic art can also be found in the Indian subcontinent – like the Taj Mahal in Agra, the two red Forts in Delhi and Agra, the Jama Masjid in Delhi, mosques in south India, the Sidi Bashir Mosque, famous for its shaking minarets also known as Jhulta Minar in Ahmedabad, just to name a few. Apart from architecture, blown glass work, lustre work from Basra, Iraq, the ceramic works- which have been greatly influenced by the Mongols and Chinese etc., the pile rugs are some of the other notable examples of Islamic art.