Abu Abdollah Jafar ibn Mohammad Rudaki (ca.858-941), a Persian poet and a talented singer and musician, was born in Panjakent, Tajikistan, and served as a court poet to the Sāmānid ruler Naṣr II (r. 914-943) in Bukhara (now in modern-day Uzbekistan). Rudaki was among the first to write in the New Persian language. Persian was the official language of the regions ...

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Knowledge is better than material wealth, because it protects you while you have to protect your wealth...What you get from wealth disappears as soon as your wealth disappears, but what you achieve through knowledge will remain even after you. Nahj al-balagha, Sayings of Hazrat Ali Ali b. Abi Talib (d. 661), cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, is highly revered by ...

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Nahj al-Balagha. The Institute of Ismaili Studies 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (599-661) was the first cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad; the fourth of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs (al-khulafa' al-rashidun) (reigned 656-661); and the first of the Imams deemed by all Shi'i Muslims to be appointed by divine mandate. The word Shi'i itself is derived from the term shi'at' 'Ali, which ...

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"Strive to write elegantly for this will ensure your means of livelihood." Caliph ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (d.661) Calligraphy, from the Greek kallos (beauty) and graphein (to write) is the art of beautiful writing. Although the development of sophisticated calligraphy as an art form is not unique to Islamic culture, it has been used to a much greater extent and in ...

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Calligraphy, from the Greek kallos (beauty) and graphein (to write) is the art of beautiful writing. It is believed that the practice of calligraphy originated in China during the second millennium BC, eventually spreading to the Middle East. The art of transcribing the Qur'an in beautiful hand was considered a form of devotion and an act of piety. Through its medium, ...

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Islamic art describes the art created specifically in the service of the faith such as the mosque and its furnishings, but also characterises the art and architecture produced in the lands ruled by Muslims, produced for Muslim patrons, or created by Muslim artists.Tile with arabesque decoration, early 15th century, Turkey. Metropolitan Museum of Art Islamic art has been produced in diverse ...

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Tilework in the Mexuar, Alhambra, Spain. Image: Yannick Genin/Archnet In Islamic art, geometric patterns were combined, interlaced, and arranged in intricate combinations, thus becoming one of the most distinguishing features of the art. Islamic artists appropriated key elements from the classical tradition, then elaborated upon them, resulting in a form of decoration that stressed the importance of unity and order. The complex ...

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Geometric patterns, calligraphy, and vegetal patterns comprise the non-figural decoration in Islamic art. Although geometric ornamentation reached a pinnacle in the Islamic world, the sources for both the shapes and the intricate patterns already existed in late antiquity among the Greeks, Romans, and Sasanians in Iran. In Byzantine art, for example, depictions of people were often framed or linked by geometric ...

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Parzyryk carpet, southern Siberia, 4-5th century BC. Leningrad, Hermitage Carpets were probably first made by nomadic peoples to cover the earthen floor in their tents and to keep them warm. By the fifth century BC, carpet making was a highly artistic craft. The oldest surviving carpet is believed to be one discovered in 1949 in the Pazyryk valley in southern Siberia, preserved ...

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Copper inlaid incense burner dated 11th century, eastern Iran. Aga Khan Museum Metalwork has enjoyed great prestige in the Islamic world. Although most metalwork objects had utilitarian purposes and served the everyday requirements of their owners, many were regarded as status symbols. As in ancient times, household items made from bronze were valued for their durability and natural beauty. The early vessels ...

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Before the advent of Islam, Arabic was a spoken language among the various tribal kingdoms. Although these kingdoms had developed a sophisticated tradition of poetry, it was passed down orally. The first revelation to the Prophet was about knowledge and learning. The Qur'an also mentions writing materials and written books including the "well-preserved tablet" and the "celestial pen" and states that ...

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The great respect for writing the revealed Word of God became a major form of artistic expression and production not only of religious but also secular texts including scientific and literary works as well as albums of portraits. Among the most esteemed artists were calligraphers and illuminators. However, illumination - the visual embellishment of written texts - added to the value ...

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