Islamic Art and Architecture

Qur’an (Koran) page with beginning of Surah 18, \n al-Kahf (The Cave)

9th or early-10th century

ink and gold on vellum

Mihrab from Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran – \n ca.1354,

Glazed mosaic tilework, \n Metropolitan Museum NY today.

The Great Mosque (Mezquita) of Córdoba, Andalucia, 784

The Great Mosque (Mezquita) of Córdoba, Andalucia, 784

Interior/ Horseshoe Arch example

Maqsura of the Great Mosque, Cordoba, Spain, 961-965

Mihrab Wall located behind this

Mihrab (prayer niche) Mosque, Cordova

How is the Mihrab wall designed?

-Kufic Script

-Lots of Gold, Red, and Green

-Plant Motifs sometimes intermingled with abstract geometric shapes

What is forbidden to represent in a Islamic holy space?

-Humans or animals

-Implies that humans assume the power of God

Islam=

Submission to God

Muslims =

Those who submit

Karen Armstrong, “Unity: The God of Islam” \n Main Ideas

• The conditions in Arabia (the Middle East) which gave rise to Islam

• Muhammad’s own experiences that gave rise to Islam

• The nature of the Koran and the ways in which it creates unity

kaaba (ka’ba)

empty structure in Mecca said to have been built by Abraham (Ibraham)

hajj

pilgrimage to Mecca \n obligation of all male Muslims to undertake at least once if \n possible

Muhammed

• Born 570 CE in Mecca

• Married Khadija at 25

• 610 (40 years) the arch angel Gabriel (Jibril) commanded Muhammed to recite!

• Powerful tribes of Mecca feared Muhammed message would disrupt trade

• 622 Muhammed and his 4 followers go to Medina (hijra)

• 630 Muhammed returns to Mecca, converted the population and destroyed Pagan idols

Early Caliphs

Rightly guided Caliphs 633-661

Kufic

• Rectilinear script used in the early Qur’an page

• Most early Arabic was written in Kufic script

The Qur’an

Sacred text of Islam Codified in the 7th century

Imam

Leader of collective worship

Mihrab

Semicircular niche set to the qibla wall of mosque, where prayer leader stands

Qibla

the direction (toward Mecca) that Muslims face while praying

Qibla Wall

Wall marking direction of prayer

Mosque (Masjid)

• Place of prostration

• Main idea of Islamic architecture is “transcendence”

• Meaning inside is filled with vast patterns and designs so you lose yourself