Muslims that the depiction of the human form is idolatry[13] and thereby a sin against God, forbidden

in the Qur'an. Human portrayals can be found in all eras of Islamic art, above all in the more private
form of miniatures, where their absence is rare. Human representation for the purpose of worship is
considered idolatry and is duly forbidden in some interpretations of Islamic law, known
as Sharia law.

Medieval Islamic metalwork offers a complete contrast to its European equivalent, which is
dominated by modelled figures and brightly coloured decoration in enamel, some pieces entirely in
precious metals. In contrast surviving Islamic metalwork consists of practical objects mostly in brass,
bronze, and steel, with simple, but often monumental, shapes, and surfaces highly decorated with
dense decoration in a variety of techniques, but colour mostly restricted to inlays of gold, silver,
copper or black niello. The most abundant survivals from medieval periods are fine brass objects,
handsome enough to preserve, but not valuable enough to be melted down. The abundant local
sources of zinc compared to tin explains the rarity of bronze. Household items, such as ewers or
water pitchers, were made of one or more pieces of sheet brass soldered together and subsequently
worked and inlaid

The Pisa Griffin, an Islamic large bronze sculpture that has been in Pisa (Italy) since the Middle Ages and
is currently housed in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Cathedral Museum) in Pisa. It is the largest
medieval Islamic metal sculpture known (1.07 m tall, 87 cm length, 43 cm width), and was probably
made in the 11th century in Al-Andalus (or Islamic Spain). As all griffins, it represents a mix of different
creatures: it has the head of an eagle, ears of a horse, wattles of a rooster, wings, and the body of a lion
(or other mammal), with toes. It was made of cast bronze (i.e. copper alloy) with the wings cast
separately and held in place by rivets, and it is largely hollow inside. There is an engraved decoration,
including an Arabic inscription around the beast’s chest and flanks saying: “Perfect benediction,
complete well-being, perfect joy, eternal peace and perfect health, and happiness and good fortune

Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the
early history of Islam to the present day. What today is known as Islamic architecture was influenced
by Roman, Byzantine, Persian and all other lands which the Muslims conquered in the 7th and 8th
centuries.[1][2] Further east, it was also influenced by Chinese and Indian architecture as Islam spread
to Southeast Asia. It developed distinct characteristics in the form of buildings, and the decoration of
surfaces with Islamic calligraphy and geometric and interlace patterned ornament. The principal
Islamic architectural types for large or public buildings are: the Mosque, the Tomb, the Palace and
the Fort.

The Quran contains several verses regarding the origin of the Kaaba, it states that the Kaaba was
the first House of Worship, and that it was built by Ibrahim and Ishmael on Allah's instructions.
awaf (Arabic: ‫طواف‬, Ṭawāf; literally going about) is one of the Islamic rituals of pilgrimage. During
the Hajj and Umrah, Muslims are to go around the Kaaba (the most sacred site in Islam) seven
times, in a counterclockwisedirection; the first three circuits at a hurried pace on the outer part of the
crowd, followed by four times closer to the Kaaba at a leisurely pace.[1] The circling is believed to
demonstrate the unity of the believers in the worship of the On
n Jewish tradition the rock bears great significance as the Foundation Stone, the place from which
the world expanded into its present form and where God gathered the dust used to create the first
human, Adam;[6] as the site on Mount Moriah where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son; and as
the place where God's divine presence is manifested more than in any other place, towards which
Jews turn during prayee God, as they move in harmony together around the Kaaba, while
supplicating to God. According to some Islamic scholars, the rock is the spot[31] from which the
Islamic prophet Muhammadascended to Heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. Further,
Muhammad was taken here by Gabriel to pray with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.[32] Other Islamic
scholars believe that the Prophet ascended to Heaven from the Al-Aqsa Mosque.[33][34]

he main objective of this paper has been to emphasise the uniqueness of Islamic art, which was
defined by religious beliefs and cultural values prohibiting the depiction of living creatures including
humans. The other most important feature is the absence of religious representation. In Islam,
worship is due only to God, a feature common to many cultures, although they approach it in
different manners. Art critics propound the neutrality of Islamic art, which made it easily adaptable to
these cultures. Due perhaps due to its geographic proximity and religious "common ground", no
other culture was more exposed to the themes and motifs of Islamic art than the European. Despite
their differences, Islam and Christianity share most of their fundamental beliefs which are connected
to the same God, the same origin (of the message), and sometimes the same moral message. It is
not surprising that vestiges of Islamic art were repeatedly traced in major European artworks, a fact
which denotes its significance in the historical development of European art.