ISLAISLAMM

The word derives from the Arabic The word derives from the Arabic root root saleemasaleema, meaning: peace, , meaning: peace, purity, submission and purity, submission and obedience.obedience.

Therefore, literally: ‘Islam’ Therefore, literally: ‘Islam’ means ‘submission (to the will of means ‘submission (to the will of God)’, and a ‘Muslim’ is “one who God)’, and a ‘Muslim’ is “one who submits (to the will of God)”.submits (to the will of God)”.

The Qur'an specifically says that The Qur'an specifically says that all human beings are equal before all human beings are equal before God although Muslims are more God although Muslims are more equal than others and Christians equal than others and Christians and Jews are second class and Jews are second class citizens.citizens.

It is held that the angel Jibril (Gabriel) dictated the Qur’an It is held that the angel Jibril (Gabriel) dictated the Qur’an directly to Muhammad, who is considered to have had no directly to Muhammad, who is considered to have had no personal influence on the text.personal influence on the text.

Because the Qur'an Because the Qur'an is such a holy book is such a holy book and no pictures are and no pictures are allowed in Islam, allowed in Islam, the calligraphy is the calligraphy is often very beautiful.often very beautiful.

This is a page from This is a page from a 13th century a 13th century copy.copy.

When Islam was introduced it When Islam was introduced it represented a move forward for women represented a move forward for women in the tribal areas of Arabia where in the tribal areas of Arabia where women were often treated badly – women were often treated badly – almost as male possessions. The almost as male possessions. The Qur’an limits the number of wives to Qur’an limits the number of wives to four and these must all be treated four and these must all be treated equally. The Qur'an says: equally. The Qur'an says: “..marry such “..marry such women as seem good to you, two, three women as seem good to you, two, three or four but if you feel you will not be or four but if you feel you will not be equitable, then only one….” (4:4)equitable, then only one….” (4:4)

Women are allowed to Women are allowed to own property (when own property (when this was not possible this was not possible in the Christian West) in the Christian West) and the Qur'an forbids and the Qur'an forbids female infanticide and female infanticide and also forced marriages.also forced marriages.

Women are seen as Women are seen as supports for their supports for their husbands – rather husbands – rather than as independent than as independent individuals with the individuals with the marriage.marriage.

Quotes from the Qu’ranQuotes from the Qu’ran

‘‘Men have authority over Men have authority over women because Allah has made women because Allah has made the one superior to the others, the one superior to the others, and because they spend their and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient.’ women are obedient.’ (Surah 4:34)(Surah 4:34)

On death, men shall inherit On death, men shall inherit twice as much as women twice as much as women (Surah (Surah 4:176)4:176)

Women have to dress Women have to dress so that they do not so that they do not provide a temptation provide a temptation to men. to men. Muslims Muslims differ as to how this differ as to how this is to be interpreted.is to be interpreted. Some hold that every Some hold that every part of a woman’s part of a woman’s body must be body must be concealed – even her concealed – even her eyes. Others accept eyes. Others accept ‘Western’ dress, ‘Western’ dress, provided it is modest. provided it is modest.

In Afghanistan the In Afghanistan the Taliban forbade women to Taliban forbade women to work, to be educated, to work, to be educated, to be out on the street unless be out on the street unless totally covered – but other totally covered – but other Muslims see this as a Muslims see this as a perversion of the Qur'an. perversion of the Qur'an. Much depends on Much depends on interpretation.interpretation.

ABRAHAM (IBRAHIM)ABRAHAM (IBRAHIM) Abraham is the Abraham is the

father of Islamfather of Islam through Ishmael through Ishmael his first born son.his first born son.

Abraham is the Abraham is the father of Judaismfather of Judaism through his second through his second son, Isaac andson, Isaac and

Abraham is the Abraham is the father of father of ChristianityChristianity through his faith.through his faith.

Key CitiesKey CitiesJERUSALEM JERUSALEM

MEDINAMEDINA

MECCAMECCA

THE MOSQUE OF THE MOSQUE OF THE PROPHET, THE PROPHET,

MEDINAMEDINABuilt over Built over

Muhammad’s burial Muhammad’s burial placeplace

THE DOME OF THE THE DOME OF THE ROCKROCK

The Dome of the Rock encloses the The Dome of the Rock encloses the sacred rock where Muhammad began sacred rock where Muhammad began his night journey – his ascension to his night journey – his ascension to Heaven.Heaven.

St. Sophia, St. Sophia, Constantinople/IstanbulConstantinople/Istanbul

The greatThe greatChristianChristianCathedral ofCathedral ofSt. SophiaSt. Sophiawaswastransformedtransformedinto ainto aMosque Mosque afterafterthe defeat the defeat ofofConstantinoConstantinopleple(It is now a(It is now amuseum.)museum.)

REQUIREMENTS OF REQUIREMENTS OF MUSLIMSMUSLIMS

THE SHAHADA:THE SHAHADA: Muslims Muslims must declare:must declare:There is no God There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet’his prophet’

SALAT:SALAT: As a minimum, As a minimum, Muslims must pray five times a Muslims must pray five times a day facing Mecca) using day facing Mecca) using prescribed postures and prescribed postures and recitations. (N.B. Shi’i Muslims recitations. (N.B. Shi’i Muslims pray three times a day.)pray three times a day.)

ZAQAT:ZAQAT: payment of an payment of an obligatory tax to the needyobligatory tax to the needy

FASTING:FASTING: Muslims must fast Muslims must fast during the month of Ramadanduring the month of Ramadan (the 9(the 9thth month of the Islamic calendar) month of the Islamic calendar)

HAJJ: PILGRIMAGE TO HAJJ: PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA:MECCA: This must be made, This must be made, if a person is able to do so, if a person is able to do so, once during a Muslim’s once during a Muslim’s lifetime.lifetime.

BeautyBeauty

The beauty of fine art is affirmed The beauty of fine art is affirmed and themes of nature can be and themes of nature can be expressed in calligraphy, expressed in calligraphy, carpets, mosaics and carpets, mosaics and architecture (but not in architecture (but not in religious paintings of people or religious paintings of people or animals – hence there are no animals – hence there are no paintings in Mosques).paintings in Mosques).

Carpets are often a Carpets are often a work of art and can work of art and can express a prayer as they express a prayer as they are works of devotion are works of devotion and dedication.and dedication.

The ‘arabesque’ style The ‘arabesque’ style has a theological has a theological significance bringing significance bringing together unity and together unity and eternity – there are eternity – there are incredibly beautiful incredibly beautiful examplesexamples

Islamic Art is characterised by a use Islamic Art is characterised by a use of pattern.of pattern.Pattern is not just decorative, it is Pattern is not just decorative, it is designed to draw our eyes and minds designed to draw our eyes and minds into a deeper understanding of into a deeper understanding of reality. reality.

Islamic Art is about exploring the Islamic Art is about exploring the level at which it is closest to its level at which it is closest to its creator, God.creator, God.

Islamic patterns often feature a Islamic patterns often feature a deliberate mistake – to show that the deliberate mistake – to show that the artist is not seeking to be a God in artist is not seeking to be a God in producing perfection.producing perfection.

Alien to our culture?Alien to our culture? Although Islamic dress, Although Islamic dress,

particularly as it relates to particularly as it relates to women, is often portrayed women, is often portrayed as alien to our culture it is as alien to our culture it is worth thinking about things worth thinking about things in a longer time-frame…in a longer time-frame…

Islamic and ‘western’ Islamic and ‘western’ societies shared a demand societies shared a demand for modest dress for for modest dress for centuries – Indeed English centuries – Indeed English women sought out Muslim women sought out Muslim women in 17women in 17thth and 18 and 18thth Century India because they Century India because they felt more comfortable with felt more comfortable with modestly dressed women modestly dressed women than with Hindu women who than with Hindu women who dressed more casually. dressed more casually.

Have things moved on?Have things moved on? One suggestion is that Muslim dress is One suggestion is that Muslim dress is

Medieval and that women should Medieval and that women should embrace the 21embrace the 21stst century in casting off century in casting off their veils.their veils.

Is 21Is 21stst century liberalism really about century liberalism really about insisting on wearing less though?insisting on wearing less though?

Surely the whole point of developments Surely the whole point of developments in fashion is to encourage individual in fashion is to encourage individual expression and challenge ‘rules’ about expression and challenge ‘rules’ about dress?dress?

Certainly, western liberals have a Certainly, western liberals have a concern about women being forced concern about women being forced to wear Islamic clothing – or indeed to wear Islamic clothing – or indeed to do anything…to do anything…

Yet women often choose to dress Yet women often choose to dress modestly and to adopt the cultural modestly and to adopt the cultural interpretation of Islamic standards interpretation of Islamic standards which they feel comfortable with and which they feel comfortable with and

which expresses their rootswhich expresses their roots..

Hussein ChalayanHussein ChalayanTurkish Cypriot, based in Turkish Cypriot, based in

London. Graduate of London. Graduate of Central St Martin’s – has Central St Martin’s – has own Fashion Label and has own Fashion Label and has worked for companies such worked for companies such as Asprey’s. Has courted as Asprey’s. Has courted controversy by using his controversy by using his work to comment on the work to comment on the relationship between relationship between Islamic and ‘western’ Islamic and ‘western’ culture. His work skirts culture. His work skirts around the psychological around the psychological and political implications of and political implications of dressing in certain ways…dressing in certain ways…

Rifat OzbekRifat Ozbek

Turkish designer, Turkish designer, based in London based in London and another and another graduate of Central graduate of Central St. Martin’s. Well St. Martin’s. Well known for known for producing clothes producing clothes inspired by Islamic inspired by Islamic Cultures – has Cultures – has worked with worked with Monsoon.Monsoon.