ISLAMIC ART
KEY IDEAS
- Islamic art and architecture directly reflects Islamic religious beliefs, Atmosphere of Paradise
- The most important building for Muslim worship is THE MOSQUE
- Muslims pray toward city of Mecca, the holiest place of Islam
- The mihrab is a niche in the qibla (direction toward Mecca) wall
- Calligraphy is a highly revered holy task(Persian manuscripts)
- Calligraphy includes arabesque and tessellation designs (interweaving vegetal motifs and geometric patterns)
The 5 Pillars of Islam
1. Faith: there is no God but God, Muhammad is his messenger
2. Prayer: Pray 5x per day in direction of Mecca (qibla)
3. Charity: Give alms to the poor
4. Fasting: from sunrise to sunset during holy month of Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage: Visit city of Mecca
This is a great (albeit lengthy) documentary on Islamic art and architecture. Check it out!
