Islamic Art & Architecture

Islamic Art & Architecture

Islamic Art & Architecture:

• Islamic Art generally refers to work made beginning in the 7th century, a period when the Islamic faith was first developing under the prophet Muhammad, in regions in which Islam was the dominant religion.

• While Islam shares the prophetic tradition of Judaism and Christianity, the monotheistic religion has its own tenets and rituals, such as the belief in Allah as the one god and Muhammad as his prophet, daily prayer, charity, fasting during Ramadan, and, if possible, a pilgrimage to Mecca

Islamic art is difficult to define:

• Not all artists who created it were Muslim. Islamic art includes architecture, calligraphy, decorative arts (carpets, ceramics, and metalware, among other examples).

• and painting and stems from territories as diverse as the Arab world: Iranian lands, Turkey, India, China, and Spain

Development of Islamic Art:

• Islamic art developed a unique artistic language whose hallmarks included all-over decoration and the use of vegetal and geometric patterns, such as the Arabesque, among other forms. As writing is highly valued in Islam, calligraphy is ubiquitous, serving as decoration for objects and buildings.

Muslim Symbols in Crafts:

• Crescent shape - The crescent moon is a powerful symbol in Islamic culture. In fact, the crescent signifies the beginning of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.

• Green - Many Muslims believe that the color green is beloved by the prophet Muhammad.

• Dates - These sweet fruits are considered a delicacy in many Muslim countries. They are often associated with celebration