Islamic Art 13.2

Islam & Muhammad  In the 7 th century AD, a religion known as Islam (which means followers of God’s will) emerged in the Middle East.  The Prophet of Islam was an Arab merchant named Muhammad, who was born in Mecca around 570AD.  Following the death of his parents, Muhammad was raised by an uncle. As a hard working young trader, Muhammad learned the habits and languages of the wandering Arabs.  His fortunes improved following his marriage to a wealthy widow, whose business he tended.  During this time Muhammad received personal revelations that forced him to challenge superstitions of the Arabs, who worshipped many different idols.

The Teachings of Muhammad  Following years of meditation, Muhammad heard a divine call to be the last of the prophets and a teacher for all.  He taught that there is only one god. Allah (in Arabic “The God”), whose will should be followed in order for people to live just and responsible lives.  At first Muhammad taught in secret, converting his wife, cousin, and adopted son.  When he began to teach openly he was opposed by those who wished to preserve established tribal and religious customs.  He persisted and today there are more than 925 million followers, called Muslims.  Muslims regard Muhammad as one of the last great prophets and as their guide, the Messenger of God.

The Koran  After Muhammad’s death, messages he received from God were assembled into the Koran.  Koran or Qur’an – the holy scripture of Islam  For Muslims the Koran is the final authority in matters of faith. It also offers rules for daily life of Muslims.  A page from a Koran during the 14 th century shows the skill with which Muslim artists used a decorative script to record Muhammad’s accounts. Page from a 14 th Century Koran

Islamic Art in the Fertile Crescent  During the early centuries of Islamic history, the center of the Muslim world was an area known as the Fertile Crescent, composed of present day Iraq, Syria, and Palestine.  Here the constant blending of Eastern and Western cultures had left a stunning array of magnificent ruins.  To these ruins, Muslim builders soon added their own impressive structures. Included among these was the mosque, or Muslim place of worship.

The Mosque of Al-Mutawakkil  In the 9 th century the largest mosque was built in at Samarra in Iraq.  Measuring 384 by 512ft, it covered 10 acres and could hold 100,000 worshippers.  Today little remains of the huge prayer hall. Only traces of the 464 brick columns that once supported the flat, wooden, roof can be seen.  However a minaret, a tower attached to a mosque, still stands. From the top of the tower a prayer caller once summoned people to group worship each Friday.

Islamic Art in Spain  By 710, the religion of Islam had spread throughout North Africa, at times by persecution and at by times by force.  In 711, Muslims crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered Spain.  The Muslim army advanced swiftly through Spain, encountering little resistance.  After their advances into France were repelled, the Muslims did not attempt additional invasions. Instead they consolidated their control of Spain and some other parts in southern Europe.  The Muslims known as Moors in Spain, remained on the Iberian peninsula for almost 800 years.  At the height of the Moorish power in Spain, the city of Cordoba was one of Islam’s most impressive capitals.  People from all over Europe came for enlightenment and knowledge.  In contrast to many other cities in Europe, Cordoba was a great city of learning and the arts. All that survives today however are the remains of a fortress, -and the great mosque known as the Mezquita.

The Mezquita  The ancient brown walls of the Mezquita, marked by sealed, arched entries, offer little hint of pleasures that await inside.  Within these walls, however, lies a courtyard known as the Patio of the Orange Trees.  Originally no walls separated this courtyard and the interior of the mosque.  The courtyard and the mosque were linked by the lines of orange trees outside and the rows of columns inside.

Muslim Worship  Muslims worship five times a day: at sunrise, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening.  Private prayers can be offered anywhere, but group prayer takes place in the mosque at noon on Fridays.  In Moorish times, preparing for a group worship involved ceremonial bathing.  The fountains in the Patio of the Orange Trees were used for this bathing.  In contrast to the courtyard, the mosque interior is dark.

Mosque Interiors  The interior of Islamic mosques are unlike interiors of Christian churches.  Christian artists created religious images as a ways of teaching the religion to people who could not read.  Islamic artists avoided portraying living creatures in mosques and other religious buildings, because they did not want it to diminish the greatness of God’s creative power by portraying such forms.  Instead these artists decorated mosques and other religious structures with ornate calligraphy, geometric patterns, and stylized plants and flowers.

Architectural Features

Madinat az-Zahra  Not far from Cordoba, a Moorish ruler erected a palace.  When it was completed, it was like no other place in the world – an entire self-contained city extended upward in three levels: a mosque below, gardens in the center, and an alcazar, or fortified palace at the top.  Covered an entire hillside and had more than 400 rooms, hundreds of fountains, and 4000 columns that supported a massive roof.

The Alhambra

The Court of the Lions

The End of Moorish Rule in Spain

Islamic Book Illustrations

The Meeting of the Theologians

Use of Color and Pattern

Vocab and Quiz Review