The concept of art in Islam

on Monday, March 4, 2013

Art is the mirror of a culture and often serves as an excellent indicator of how a society views the world. Representatives of art and craft making in the Islamic world strongly believe in this statement. Islamic art not only reflects the cultural values of Islam, but also the way in which its followers, the Muslims, view the spiritual realm, the universe, and life in general. For Muslims, reality begins with and centers around Allah. Everything is subject to His will and laws. Muslims believe that Allah creates and sustains His creation as He wills, and every object or being returns to Him for eventual decision and judgment. Adherents of Islam are convinced of the equilibrium and accord of all things in existence. Therefore, nothing is believed to occur randomly or by chance, because it is all in the plan of the Almighty planner, Allah.

In Islamic art, you will find that there are several depictions of incidents revolving around Prophet Mohammed. There are also several random portraits showing Muslims hunting for animals. To avoid the promotion of idol-worshiping, which often manifests as worshiping artistic depictions of human beings and animals, Islamic art founded its roots in unusual abstract artistic techniques such as arabesque, calligraphy, floral designs and geometric patterns. A lot of Muslim art has been preserved for thousands of years. These primary forms are often intertwined, which results a beautiful conjunction of simple but rich appearances. From early times, Muslim art has reflected a very balanced, harmonious world-view. Most of the art that was created also depicted something important about Islam.

Throughout the history of Islam, its art has converted into many forms of representation, and has stretched its artful customs and traditions along a variety of cultures. Since Islam has spread all the way from North Africa to South East Asia, its artistic trends have merged with local traditions to create some of the world’s most famous art forms. Various countries that have adopted the rich art representations of Islamic world have mastered calligraphy, ceramics and pottery. While producing art, especially in crafting, people adapted the habit of drawing traditional lines with meticulous attention to detail.

These traditions have survived time, and still exist today. Islamic architecture and decorative arts are very much alive even today, and they are valued and appreciated in many parts of the Muslim world, and even in regions where Muslims are not in majority. Although Western influence has entered modern Islamic world, handmade crafts are still of utmost importance in Muslim communities. Traditional forms of art making are, even now, representative part of Islamic culture. Handmade decorations are main adornments in mosques all over the world as well as in Muslim homes.

The concept of art in Islam is very important to understand as there have been several misconceptions and wrong ideas about it. Art is appreciated and respected in Islam, and there are various Muslim artists who have gained fame and recognition all over the world. Even though there are some boundaries to what can be portrayed according to Islamic principles, Islam art is considered to be some of the most respected in the world.



View the
Original article

0 comments: