"Allah is beautiful and loves beauty"
Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ 6906
People think it’s the mind that drives us. It is the heart. The mind is a slave to the heart. So check the condition of the heart.
Yasmin Mogahed
The beauty of your intention is that it is between you and Allah
- Fajr 5:07 AMIqamah: 8:07 pm
- Zuhr 11:49 AMIqamah: 2:49 am
- Asr 2:51 PMIqamah: 5:51 am
- Magrib 5:11 PMIqamah: 8:11 am
- Isha 6:32 PMIqamah: 9:32 am
- Jumah 1:30 PM Iqamah: 2:00 PM
Category
Architecture
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- Architecture
- Jul 19, 2022
Medina’s religious significance in Islam

- Architecture
- Jul 14, 2022
Al-Saleh Mosque

- Architecture
- Jul 14, 2022
Mukhtarov Mosque, Vladikavkaz, Russia

- Architecture
- May 27, 2022
Al-Ansar Mosque (Singapore)

- Architecture
- May 13, 2022
Male Hukukru Miskiu
Art
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- Art in Islam
- Aug 04, 2022
Cotton in the Art of Islam

- Art in Islam
- Jul 15, 2022
Siyah mashq

- Art in Islam
- Jul 15, 2022
“Munajat” by Abdallah Ansari

- Art in Islam
- Jul 08, 2022
Ivory panel with Qur’anic inscription
Design
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- Design
- May 06, 2022
Ali Kapu Palace

- Design
- May 05, 2022
Shakirin Mosque in Istanbul

- Design
- Apr 29, 2022
Alhambra, Granada, Spain

- Design
- Apr 13, 2022
Latifa Spiker (London, UK)

- Design
- Apr 13, 2022
Encode / Ornamatics (Alexandria, Egypt)
Painting
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- Painting
- Jun 10, 2022
Turkestan Album, Part Archeological
- Painting
- May 05, 2022
Monir Shahroudi Farmanfarmayan

- Painting
- Apr 11, 2022
Rasul Akbarlu

- Painting
- Apr 11, 2022
Oil Calligraphy on Canvas by Bahram Hanafi

- Painting
- Apr 11, 2022
Paintings by Alireza Karami
Calligraphy
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- Calligraphy
- May 27, 2022
Ayat al-Qursi

- Calligraphy
- Apr 22, 2022
Instruments of Ottoman calligraphers

- Calligraphy
- Apr 21, 2022
Hassan Massoudy (Nedjef, Iraq/Paris, France)

- Calligraphy
- Apr 20, 2022
Calligraphy on wood

- Calligraphy
- Apr 13, 2022
Kumali Ali Sharif (Karachi, Pakistan)

- Calligraphy
- Apr 13, 2022
Salah Shaheen (Dubai, UAE)
Photography
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- Photography
- Jul 08, 2022
Yumna Al-Arash (New York, USA)

- Photography
- Jul 08, 2022
Firouz Zahedi Photo Series

- Photography
- Jul 08, 2022
Bilal Ouafa. Ashes photo series

- Photography
- Apr 12, 2022
Hajj, Journey of a Lifetime

- Photography
- Apr 12, 2022
Color photographs of Cairo, Egypt, 1910
Ceramics
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- Ceramics
- Apr 29, 2022
Samples of tiles for exterior walls

- Ceramics
- Apr 12, 2022
Vintage ceramic tiles from Iznik, Turkey

- Ceramics
- Apr 12, 2022
Soheila Esfahani (Tehran, Iran)

- Ceramics
- Apr 05, 2022
Ali Asad Naqvi (Lahore, Pakistan)

- Ceramics
- Apr 05, 2022
Ceramics: Tiles Turkey 1450
Contemporary
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- Contemporary
- May 27, 2022
Bait Ur Ruf Mosque (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

- Contemporary
- Apr 14, 2022
Sami Benkiran (Fez, Morocco)

- Contemporary
- Apr 13, 2022
Soraya Syed (London, UK)

- Contemporary
- Apr 05, 2022
Hassan Boukhari (Rabat, Morocco)
- Contemporary
- Apr 05, 2022
Karim Jabbari (Montreal, Canada/Tunisia)
Crafts
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- Crafts
- Jul 14, 2022
Anhalt rug, mid-16th century, Iran

- Crafts
- May 13, 2022
Persian carpet in the main hall of Muscat Mosque

- Crafts
- May 03, 2022
Sword. Morocco, 20th century

- Crafts
- Apr 18, 2022
Susana Fabre (Doha, Qatar)

- Crafts
- Apr 18, 2022
Susana Fabre (Doha, Qatar)

- Crafts
- Apr 05, 2022
Unita Hadinata (Surabaya, Indonesia)
Installation
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- Installation
- Apr 05, 2022
Ahmed Mater (Saudi Arabia)

- Installation
- Apr 04, 2022
Crossroads
Exploring the Richness of Islamic Art
Welcome to EncyclopaediaIslamica.com, the leading online platform dedicated to the intricate beauty and vast diversity of Islamic art. Our purpose is to cultivate understanding, appreciation, and respect for the cultural heritage and creativity of Islamic societies around the world.
Islamic art, a radiant expression of the Islamic world’s rich cultural heritage, extends beyond religious beliefs, offering a complex aesthetic universe that has evolved over 1,400 years. Unlike Western art genres, Islamic art is not confined to a specific medium or period but pervades various fields, including architecture, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, calligraphy, and painting.
A Tapestry of Styles
Islamic art is characterised by its diverse regional and historical influences. While the Quran’s teachings have informed its central themes, the art form’s true beauty lies in the myriad of styles that have emerged from Morocco to Malaysia. The designs you’ll see are unique yet interconnected, borrowing from Persian, Arab, Turkish, and other cultures, resulting in an amalgamation of strikingly beautiful forms.
The Power of Calligraphy
At the heart of Islamic art is calligraphy, often considered the highest form of artistic expression in the Islamic world. Qur’anic verses beautifully rendered in Arabic script adorn a multitude of surfaces, from mosques’ towering minarets to humble pottery pieces. The various scripts, like Kufic and Naskh, each tell a story of their evolution, reflecting changes in taste and the dynamic culture of the Islamic world.
Geometric Patterns and Arabesque
Islamic art is renowned for its extensive use of intricate geometric patterns and arabesque, complex designs of intertwined plants, leaves, or vines. These are symbolic, representing the infinite, and are used to evoke a sense of the divine. Islamic artists have turned geometry into an art form, using mathematical precision to create patterns that mesmerize with their complexity and symmetry.
Islamic Architecture
One cannot discuss Islamic art without mentioning its architectural achievements. From the sprawling courtyards of the Alhambra in Spain to the towering minarets of the Hagia Sophia in Turkey, Islamic architecture blends functionality, beauty, and symbolism. Key architectural elements include courtyards, minarets, iwans, and domes, often decorated with intricate calligraphy, tile work, and geometric patterns.
A Living Tradition
While Islamic art has a rich history, it is not a relic of the past. Today, contemporary artists continue to draw inspiration from traditional forms, styles, and themes, transforming them in innovative ways. This continued evolution showcases the dynamism and resilience of Islamic art, linking the past, present, and future in a continuous creative dialogue.
Here at EncyclopaediaIslamica.com, we invite you to explore the breathtaking depth and diversity of Islamic art. From academic articles to interactive multimedia, our resources offer an immersive experience, whether you’re a scholar, student, or enthusiast. Join us as we journey through centuries of creativity and innovation, celebrating the remarkable contribution of Islamic art to global cultural heritage.
Discover Islamic art — an encounter with beauty, an experience of the divine.