Islamic Art
“art beyond the European tradition”
“There is only one God, and Muhammad is his
prophet.”
Chapter 13
Islam
• In Arabic Islam means “to submit”
• The religious faith of Muslims, based on the
words and religious system founded by the
prophet Muhammad and taught by the Koran,
the basic principle of which is absolute
submission to a unique and personal god,
Allah.
Five Pillars of Islam
• Belief in Allah; Qur’an (Koran), Muhammad
• Muslims believe that faith alone is
meaningless unless backed by action in
everyday life.
• These actions (pillars) are characterized: faith,
prayer, fasting, pilgrimage and charity.
Five Pillars of Islam
• 1) There is only 1 God – the prophet
Muhammad (Faith)
• 2) Muslims should pray 5 times a day (Prayer)
• 3) Provide for the poor (Charity)
• 4) Fast during the month of Ramadan (Fast)
• 5) Muslims who are physically and
economically able to make pilgrimage to
Mecca, the holiest site in Islam (Pilgrimage)
Art Historically….
• Pillars 1 and 2 are most important…
• Exert a huge influence on Islamic art and
architecture.
• Worshipping other gods was forbidden – much
like Christianity and Judaism….HENCE….
• Forbade images of humans and animals – which
could represent gods in sacred buildings.
• Therefore, the art of Islamic sacred places lacks
figural representation, HOWEVER elaborate
abstract designs were created.
Koran and Calligraphy
Figure 13-16 Koran page with beginning of surah 18, al-Kahf (The Cave),
ninth or early tenth century. Ink and gold
Koran
• The holy book of Islam
• Divided into 14 suras (chapters)
• Details the many visions and revelations given to
Muhammad by Allah through the angel Gabriel.
• Reading the Koran is important, because it
establishes faith (1st pillar).
• All the writing provided a major form of artistic
expression, CALLIGRAPHY, decorative writing.
• Decorative and didactic instructs the religion’s
followers.
Arabesque Designs
Complex interweaving of plant motifs and geometric pattern.
Arabesque Designs
• “Arab-like”
• Verses in the Koran describe paradise as a
place of lush gardens, verdant groves of trees
and flowing streams.
• The mosaics helped the Muslim faithful to
visualize the beauty that awaits them.
• The arabesque is distinctive feature of Islamic
Art.
Mosques
• A place of worship for Muslims
• Aid in the fulfilling of the 1st and 2nd pillars
1) only one God (Allah)
2) prayer (5 times a day)
• Form of the mosque follows its Function!
-minaret, qibla wall (prayer hall,
hypostyle), mihrab, minbar
Mosque (place of worship)
The Great Mosque Aleppo, Syria
Mosque Architecture
• Minaret (tower) - a Muslim crier climbs to the top
to call prayer
• Recall Hagia Sophia – had 4 minarets
• During prayer the faithful face Mecca – a qibla wall
– points in the direction of Mecca.
• The qibla is part of a prayer hall –often designed as
a hypostyle, a room of columns, Muslims gathered
in the prayer hall and prayed toward the qibla.
• The qibla contained a niche (usually in the center),
called a mihrab, the purpose is unclear.
Considered decorative.
Mosque Architecture
• A mosque usually has a dome in the roof marking
where the mihrab is located.
• The interior of the dome is usually very ornate.
• The exterior the mihrab dome is useful in
recognizing the mosque
• A mosque has podium or minbar – where a
religious teacher reads verses from Koran
• Before and after worship the faithful gather in
forecourt, a large courtyard, of the mosque
complex.
• Encourages community, and fellowship
Plan of the Great
Mosque, Kairouan,
Tunisia, ca. 836–875.
Mihrab from the Madrasa Imami,
Isfahan, Iran, ca. 1354. Glazed
mosaic tilework, 11’ 3” X 7’ 6”.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York.
Dome of the Rock
Dome of the Rock
• Built has a holy platform from which Muhammad
ascended, climbing the golden ladder, into
heaven to meet Allah.
• Located in Jerusalem
• A pilgrimage site—NOT a mosque.
• Excellent example of Islamic art and architecture.
• Interior of dome covered in tiles with arabesques
and calligraphy.
• NO people or animal images.
• Exterior BLUE and GOLD calligraphic panels of
verses from the Koran.
Dome of the Rock
• Octagonal structure with
a dome…
• Dome 75’ high
• 60’ wide
• Shows the influence of
Byzantine
buildings…..such as San
Vitale, in Ravenna
Figure 13-2 Interior of the
Dome of the Rock,
Jerusalem, 687–692.
Figure 13-11 Prayer hall of the Great Mosque, Córdoba, Spain,
eighth to tenth centuries.
Great Mosque in Cordoba, Spain
• One of the most famous features of the space is the
hypostyle prayer hall.
• Red and white pattered double arches that rest on
36 piers and 514 columns
• The columns were taken from Roman buildings in
the region and were too small to provide ample
space, SO the architects created a 2-tierd arch
system, with the lowest arch having a horseshoe
shape.
• The numbers of columns and the double arches of
the prayer hall make the GM in Cordoba one of the
most famous in the world.
Figure 13-11 Alternate View
Interior of the Mosque with some
of the 36 piers and 514 columns
Figure 13-13 Dome in front of the
mihrab of the Great Mosque,
Córdoba, Spain, 961–965.
Taj Mahal, India
Taj Mahal
• The TM is a tomb – NOT a
mosque
• Elaborate funeral monument
• Its height (not including the
minarets) is the same as its
width, the distance from the
base of the dome is equal to
the height of its facade.
• Four minarets, with a
reflecting pool and gardens.
• Shah Jahan built the TM in
honor of his wife, Mumtaz
Mahal.
• After 19 years of marriage,
his wife died giving birth to
their 14th child.
• The tomb was ordered to be
built “as beautiful as she
was beautiful”.
• For 22 years, 20,000
workers labored on Shah
Jahan’s last gift to his
queen.
• The effect is to appear
weightless, with a white
marbled monument that
could float toward the
heavens.
Islamic Art- Closure
• Lacks figural
representation in holy
buildings
• Adorned their religious
structures with
calligraphy and
arabesques.
• Know and explain the
functions of the Islamic
mosques.
• Form follows function!
• Parts of the mosque
reflects the
requirements set forth
by the Five Pillars of
Islam – especially 1 and
2!!
• Holy buildings: Dome of
the Rock, Great Mosque
in Cordoba, Spain.
Do Now!
 What is the role of art and architecture in the
Islamic world?
 What do you think are the most impressive
visual qualities of Islamic art?