ISLAMIC ART

ISLAM
Islam means “submission [to God’s will],” and refers equally to
the religion, its adherents (Muslims or Moslems), and the
countries in which they live. Islam was founded by the prophet
Muhammad, who was born in Mecca in western Saudi Arabia
around a.d. 570. At the time of his death in 632, Islam was
established only in Arabia. But within a generation, Muslims
controlled large areas of the Middle East. As a result of
aggressive campaigns of conquest and conversion, Islam one
century later stretched from Afghanistan in the East to Portugal,
Spain, and southwestern France in the West, where it rivaled
Christianity. Islam differs from Christianity in having no
priesthood, religious hierarchy, sacraments, or liturgical
requirements. It does, however, include caliphs (rulers) and
imams (leaders in prayer).
Characteristics of Islamic art
Muhammad’s teaching forbade idolatry, and the
Koran condemns the figurative representation of
Allah or his prophets. Islamic religious painting thus
consists mainly of abstract geometric and floral
patterns. Sculpture was considered the work of Satan
and is virtually nonexistent in Islamic art.
 Architecture and architectural
ornament

Monumental architecture and architectural

decoration, on the other hand, flourished under Islam.
The primary architectural expression of Islam is the
mosque, where Muslims pray, kneeling and facing Mecca.
In the early days of Islam, the faithful prayed in any available
building or space, provided it was oriented toward
Mecca. The main features that all mosques have in common
are a sahn, or enclosed courtyard, and a qibla, or
prayer wall. The qibla frequently has a mihrab (small niche)
set into it, indicating the direction of Mecca.
Taj mahal
Ottoman architecture
Object art and textile
The art of book