ANICONISM IN ISLAM

Abstract

The practice of aniconism in Islam has been a topic of discussion for scholars and artists alike. This article seeks to explore the complex reasons behind this prohibition, which arises from the belief that the creation of living forms is the exclusive right of God, and from the Islamic prohibition of idolatry. While the Holy Quran does not explicitly forbid the graphic representation of living beings, the hadith literature, which contains the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, contains clearer prohibitions on images of living creatures. This has led to varied interpretations of the aniconism practice throughout history and across different Islamic societies. Traditional Islamic art is characterized by the absence of human and animal figures and the use of calligraphic, geometric, and abstract floral patterns. This research article aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of the religious and historical contexts of aniconism in Islam, examine the different interpretations of this practice among various groups, and provide examples of artwork from different Islamic empires and their significance. By using a qualitative methodology, this article also highlights the interdisciplinary approaches to get a profound understanding of aniconism in Islam.