The difference between one art and another is civilizational. Arts are expressions of the sense of belonging to different civilizations. Roman art, for instance, is an expression of strength. It represents the role of the "strong arm" in building that civilization. In the case of the Greek civilization, we find that philosophy, which is the essence of the Greek civilization, dominates Greek art.
Similarly, Islamic art is an expression of the great civilization that encompassed many cultures, races, and peoples over the ages. The Islamic arts of India, Egypt, Iraq, and elsewhere are expressions of the greatness of the Islamic civilization and arts. The following are some features of Islamic arts.
Music, Abstractionism, and Islamic Arts
The central value of Islamic art is its abstractionism and the music that is associated with it. Its philosophical underpinnings and the role of the arts are not to express the "seen world," but beyond. It is an attempt to explore the laws and the objectives behind creation. It's an expression of the Islamic views on the Creator, the creation, and the universe. The peak of this high culture was the Andalusian Muslim civilization in Spain more than 600 years ago.
Carving Living Creatures
Before Islam, it was a common practice to carve creatures and bestow upon them a holy value. However, some Islamic artists refrained from such practice, which was common to the Greek and Arab pre-Islamic civilizations.
God says in the Qur'an what means,
[O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, sacrificing to stones, and seeking luck or decision by arrows are an abomination of Satan's handiwork. Eschew such abomination so that you may prosper.](Al-Ma'idah5:90)
Thus, Islam prohibits worshipping these carvings instead of God. However, many Muslim scholars were not against pictures or the art of drawing, and, as Imam Mohammed Abdo says, Islam does not prevent us from taking advantage of one of the most effective instruments of learning (meaning drawings) (Reda 498-502).
Paintings are no harm to the Islamic creed. Accordingly, Islam does not make paintings and hanging pictures on walls an unlawful act if the objectives are decorating and beautifying houses and proving scientific or religious facts. The wealth and treasures left by Muslim artists since the advent of Islam is proof of such an opinion.
Harmony With Nature
Islamic art is in harmony with nature. It is in peace and harmony with God's creation. It expresses this harmonious relationship between the Creator and His creation. Nature is a central source of inspiration to old Islamic artists.
They studied it, absorbed its secrets, reformulated its meanings, and expressed them in many artistic ways. Art critics believe that the originality of Islamic art stems not only from the source, which is nature in this case, but also from the meaning and rhythm added to it by artists.
Simplicity
One of the basic principles of Islam is simplicity and the avoidance of extravagance in life. It is based on the principle that anything except God will perish. Islam at one time had reached a point of greatness and richness to the extent that if Muslims had sought to beautify their mosques with gold and silver, they could have done it.
However, Islam's views on simplicity and economy prevented Muslims from exaggerating the decoration of their mosques and homes with silver and gold.
Islamic artists have been so creative that they created material to replace the use of silver and gold. A few examples are the use of crystal, glass, wood, and even dirt to create artistic columns at mosques and public parks.
Again, Andalusia represents the peak of such advancement. Other places, such as Istanbul, Cordoba, and Baghdad are lasting expressions of the greatness of the Islamic civilization and Islamic arts.
Works Cited
Reda, Mohamed Rasheed. Tareekh Elostaz Elmoallem, 1931.
