1.2 Islamic Beliefs and Practices

Islamic beliefs and practices form the foundation of Islamic art and architecture. The Five Pillars, Tawhid, and Quranic teachings shape artistic expression, influencing everything from calligraphy to architectural design.

Aniconism, the avoidance of figurative representations, led to the development of intricate geometric patterns and abstract forms. These artistic choices reflect core Islamic principles and have created a unique visual language in Islamic art and architecture.

Core tenets of Islam

Five Pillars and fundamental beliefs

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• Five Pillars of Islam form the foundation of Muslim life
  • Shahada (declaration of faith)
  • Salat (prayer)
  • Zakat (almsgiving)
  • Sawm (fasting during Ramadan)
  • Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
• Tawhid concept of oneness and unity of Allah influences all aspects of Muslim belief and practice
• Quran considered direct word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad through angel Gabriel
  • Serves as primary source of Islamic teachings and law
• Islamic eschatology shapes Muslim attitudes towards morality and ethical conduct
  • Includes beliefs about Day of Judgment
  • Paradise (Jannah)
  • Hell (Jahannam)

Prophethood and Islamic law

• Concept of prophethood (Nubuwwah) recognizes lineage of prophets
  • Muhammad as final messenger sealing cycle of divine revelation
  • Previous prophets include Abraham, Moses, and Jesus
• Sharia Islamic law governs various aspects of Muslim life
  • Derived from Quran and Hadith (sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad)
  • Covers personal conduct (dietary restrictions, dress code)
  • Family matters (marriage, inheritance)
  • Societal organization (economic principles, criminal justice)

Islamic beliefs in art

Tawhid and non-figurative expression

• Tawhid principle influences Islamic art by emphasizing abstract and geometric patterns
  • Reflects unity and infinity of Allah
  • Avoids representational forms
• Prohibition of idolatry leads to avoidance of figurative representations in religious contexts
  • Shapes development of non-figurative art forms (arabesques, tessellations)
• Islamic art incorporates Quranic verses and religious phrases as decorative elements
  • Reinforces spiritual messages through visual means
  • Examples include mosque inscriptions and illuminated Quran manuscripts

Symbolism and divine order

• Concept of Paradise inspires creation of intricate floral and vegetal motifs
  • Symbolizes gardens of afterlife
  • Found in carpet designs, architectural decorations (Alhambra Palace)
• Islamic cosmology and belief in divine order influence artistic compositions
  • Use of symmetry and repetitive patterns
  • Reflects harmony of creation
  • Examples include geometric star patterns and muqarnas (honeycomb vaulting)

Significance of calligraphy in Islamic art

Calligraphy as sacred art form

• Calligraphy considered highest form of visual art in Islam
  • Role in preserving and beautifying word of Allah as revealed in Quran
• Various calligraphic styles developed across Islamic world
  • Kufic angular and monumental
  • Naskh cursive and fluid
  • Thuluth elegant and elongated
  • Diwani ornate and complex
• Calligraphy serves multiple functions in Islamic art
  • Decoration of architectural elements (mosque domes, minarets)
  • Communication of religious texts
  • Form of spiritual meditation for both artist and viewer

Versatility and integration of calligraphy

• Integration of calligraphy with other art forms creates unique visual language
  • Architecture (Dome of the Rock inscriptions)
  • Metalwork (inlaid brass bowls with Quranic verses)
  • Textiles (embroidered prayer rugs)
• Calligraphic inscriptions incorporate complex mathematical proportions and geometric principles
  • Reflects Islamic emphasis on knowledge and rational thought
  • Example Square Kufic style combines letters with geometric grid
• Art of calligraphy extends beyond religious contexts to secular uses
  • Poetry (Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat)
  • Official documents (Ottoman imperial decrees)
  • Personal correspondence

Aniconism in Islamic art and architecture

Origins and principles of aniconism

• Aniconism in Islam refers to avoidance of figurative representations in religious contexts
  • Particularly of Allah, prophets, and living creatures
• Practice stems from Quranic prohibition of idolatry
  • Belief that creating images of living beings may be seen as attempt to imitate Allah's act of creation
• Aniconism led to development of alternative forms of artistic expression
  • Geometric patterns (star and polygon designs)
  • Arabesques (intertwining floral motifs)
  • Calligraphy (as discussed previously)

Impact on artistic and architectural expression

• Aniconism influences design of mosques and other religious buildings
  • Emphasizes non-figurative ornamentation (tile work, stucco carving)
  • Spatial arrangements focus on direction of prayer (qibla wall, mihrab niche)
• Degree of aniconism varies across different Islamic cultures and historical periods
  • Some allow limited figurative art in secular contexts (Persian miniature paintings)
  • Stricter adherence in religious spaces (absence of human figures in mosque decoration)
• Concept contributed to development of abstract art forms in Islamic culture
  • Predates similar movements in Western art by several centuries
• Aniconism fostered rich tradition of symbolism and metaphor in Islamic art
  • Abstract forms and patterns convey complex theological and philosophical concepts
  • Example use of light and shadow in mosque architecture to represent divine presence