Islamic art reflected religious beliefs without figurative imagery, focusing instead on geometry, calligraphy, and nature. This was influenced by Islam's emphasis on the oneness of God and prohibition of idolatry. Architecture used elements like minarets, mihrabs, and qibla walls to organize prayer and reflect influences from nature and other faiths while distinguishing itself. Ornamentation in tilework and mosaics depicted flowers, plants, and intricate scripts to symbolize paradise and creation.

1. Natural Curiosity
Islamic Art Reflected in the Arts

2. DISCLAIMER
This presentation is an overview of the material in your text. It is not
comprehensive, nor is it meant to be. This presentation allows you to introduce
yourself to concepts and images in the respective chapter. Best practice says to
view this presentation with your book open, as many of the images in this
presentation are small or incomplete.

3. Guiding Questions
• How do you reflect religious
belief without narratives (unlike
Christian and Jewish artists)?
• How does an interest in natural
sciences and observation affect
the religious arts?
Prayer Hall, Great
Mosque, Cordoba, Spain

4. The Islamic Empire will surpass the geographic extent of the
Roman empire. That is impressive given the land mass that the Where in the world
Roman ruled. Delve into your text to see how the Islamic are we?
caliphs and dynasties achieved such success. Could it be
because they were interested in gaining knowledge from
various customs and cultures?

5. Guiding Historical
Events
• Abraham has a son with his servant,
Hagar, and he names him Ishmael.
Together they build a shrine to the
monotheistic Creator at Mecca—the same
Creator worshipped by Christians and
Jews
• In 610, Mohammed begins writing the
Qur'an, meaning recitations. He finishes in
623. It is considered the first time God,
Allah in Arabic, spoke his words in Arabic
to an Arabic people
• The Umayyads establish the first Muslim
dynasty in 661 and rule from their capital
in Damascus, Syria
• The Ottomans capture Byzantine
Constantinople in 1453
The Kabah, Mecca,
Saudi Arabia

6. Five Pillars of Islam
• Shahadah--proclamation of the
monotheistic Creator--God
• Salat--prayer five times a day
• Zakah--voluntary giving
• Sawm--fasting during the month
of Ramadan (as determined by
lunar, ceremonial calendar)
• Hajj--pilgrimage to Mecca once
in a lifetime if physically and
financially able
Maliwiya Minaret,
Sammarra, Iraq

7. Contributions of
Arabic Culture, to name a
few
• The number zero
• Soap for personal hygiene
(Christians at the time do not
bathe for fear that they will tempt
evil, lust, and the devil into their
homes)
• Preservation of Greek and
Roman philosophical texts
(which Christians destroy but will
later translate and reconcile with
Christian doctrines)
Hall of the Two Sisters, The
Alhambra, Grenada, Spain

8. Triumph of Islam reflected in architecture Newgrange, Ireland
Dome of the Rock,
Jerusalem
The site on which the Dome
of the Rock sits is important
to all three monotheistic
religions, and so is an
appropriate location to place
an architecture that shows
triumph.
In Islam: Rock from which
Mohammed ascended to the
Heavens in his Night Journey
Self Study: In Christianity and
What have Islamic leaders adopted from Roman and Judaism:
Christian architecture? What have they chosen to do Burial site of Adam, the
slab on which Abraham was
differently as they try to distinguish themselves from to sacrifice Isaac, and the site
pagan and Christian culture? of the destroyed Temple of
Solomon.

9. Architecture as
Religious Expression
• The interior hypostyle
hall and exterior
columns are meant to
remind believers of
the olive trees
Mohammed
preached in front of
• The interior prayer
hall is arranged in
rows to organize
communal prayer
• The ablution fountain
the courtyard is vital
for ritual washing
before entering Great Mosque, Damascus, Syria
sacred space

10. Elements of the Islamic
Mosque
Minaret
Minbar
Mihrab
Maqsura
Qibla Wall
Self Study:
Look over these elements as
you read about them in your
text.

11. Christian Parallels
• The mihrab is similar to the Apse, but does
not hold an altar or imagery of anything living
• The minbar is similar to the Christian pulpit.
The Imam reads from the minbar texts of the
Qur'an
• The maqsura is akin to the stage or choir in
the Christian church. Tis is a space reserved
for important figures, I.e. royalty
• The qibla wall faces Mecca and is like the
church that is directed to ward the cardinal
point of East, the direction of the rising sun,
and so Christ
• The minaret is like a Christian lantern tower
or steeple

12. Tile Work in Islamic Decoration
• Meant to reflect
the beauty of
Paradise and of
Creation
• Often meant to Baghdad Kiosk at Topkapi
imitate fabric Palace, Istanbul, Turkey
• Often high liter
with Kufic, an
abstracted Arabic
script
Mosaic Mihrab, from the
Madrasa Imami, Isfahan,
Iran Iwan Muqarnas from Royal
Mosque, Isfahan, Iran

13. In subsequent presentations, you will explore:
• The Dome of the Rock
• The mathematics of religious ornament