Islam and Art

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”

Aristotle.

Art, historically, came in the middle of Arabic citizen since the dawn of Islamic civilization. Some experts of craftsman make diverse handicrafts as a result of their long meditation and sometimes from their long contemplation. Their work can’t be paid with the low cost. There are so many works in several fields produced by them, like calligraphy, architecture, building, painting, glasses, singing, poem, etc. Unfortunately, it is precisely misunderstood by some Muslim either in Asia or in Africa till arousing some endless debates among ulama during centuries ago. It inclines to be opposed by them. They worry that listening to music will make people forget about Allah. Or when some paintings or architectures are exhibited, they believe that some day they must give that painting a soul. Is it true that Islam bans art?

That condition is caused by their high belief to some ulama that has a point of view that several types of art are forbidden. Meanwhile, one of the greatest Philosophers in Islam, al-Ghazali, says: “The perceiving of beautifulness (of art) is when the pleasure of itself and to be loved because of its beautifulness, and not because of its surface.” It means that beautifulness of art depends on the beholders. Al-Ghazali divides the beautifulness of art into two parts; which comes from inside (religious character) and from outside (secular character).

The beautifulness of the outside thing can be seen with the nude eyes, even by children or animals. But, it is different from the beautifulness from inner thing. It can only be seen if we use our inner self. It just can be felt by heart. We ourselves feel when inspiration comes to us and then we present it becomes a work. The real art emerges from the heart (knowledge by present) and finally can express our submission to God. Some people speak about art, but their concept cannot depict the art itself. Art is life, and it is a part of human life.

With art, the beautifulness of someone can be transmitted. Just imagine, when someone presents his meditation in a paper, glasses, carving, or in an instrument, someone else maybe will ask: “who is the singer of this song? It’s so beautiful!” Or “who is the painter of this painting, it’s so amazing!” maybe someone will be curious with the owner of that work and his inner beauty will be emitted.

Sometimes, when we talk about art, like calligraphy, architecture, or some things similar with it, it sounds like we have told about Islam. Art can’t be separated from Islam. But, as a matter of fact, we just talk about the surface of it (not the inside of it).

Who says that Islam bans art..? Instead Islam has its own art. Like we often look some field of Islamic architecture such as calligraphy, painting, rugs and carpets, ceramics, tiling, glass, metalwork, textiles, and etc., these becomes a unique character of Islamic style of art.

At first, painting in Islam emerges in the territories before the arrival of Islam, which has a tradition of painting that has been developed, especially in Persia, Iraq and Central Asia. The oldest painting on a wall, for example, glass made by Muslim found in the Umayyad palace built by Sultan Walid I in 712 M in Qusair Amra, Syria. Besides, in the middle Ages Islamic glass was the most sophisticated in Eurasia exported to both Europe and China, not only glass, but also tiling, and metalwork. Or we talk about calligraphy, who doesn’t know about it? This has become very identical from Islam. We often see it at mosque, buildings, books, and similar places.

But, if we talk about art from the outer side, of course we are not only talk about something identical with painting, architecture, and something similar with it. Art has a very broad scope. The other arts includes:
music, poetry, theater, dance, technology, arts & crafts, and etc.

At last, we hope that art can give some goals such as to communicate, to motivate and to entertain everyone who has it to keep improving their great capability, because art can’t be shown except it is manifested in a concrete form. The great works will always be hidden if it is not shown through the work of a real art.

Written by:

ZAHROH AKIEDH