The Art of Orientation: An Exploration of the Mosque Through Objects

Description

The Art of Orientation explores the mosque through 125 artefacts from across the Islamic world. It employs an original and contemporary approach by incorporating essays by leading Arab and international authors, which provide a fresh interpretation of the cultural history behind the shown objects by interweaving concepts, histories and ideas. The Publication is a tribute to the mosque and an exploration of its origins, meanings and functions through a careful selection of artifacts, including intricate and striking pulpits, prayer rugs, lamps and manuscripts. The book examines the progression from the humble mud-brick structure of the prophet’s first Mosque in Medina to the imposing stone mosques of Cairo and Istanbul. It includes contributions from a range of highly acclaimed international scholars. Personalized and insightful they present these masterpieces of Islamic Art in an entertaining and accessible way. Cover Contents Forewords Introduction Mosque, art and orientation Place, space and time Mosque as a community center Education and knowledge Beauty and function Objects of orientation Final words 1. The astrolabe: finding place, space and time The astrolabe: function and application Tracking the Hijra through place and time GPS versus the astrolabe Time and mosque Final words 2. Masjid Al Nabawi: The prophetic prototype Researching the Hajj The beating heart of the faith The heart of the community The mosque and its many functions An example for life 3. The waqf firman: Everlasting charity The waqf (endowment) Waqf records: markers of devotion The born survivor End of a tale 4. The mosque tile: Visualizing the two holy sanctuaries The Haramayn illustrations: a historical context The Hajj certificate Roles and functions Education, inspiration and well-being Final words 5. The wooden tablet: The transmission of knowledge in the mosque Mosque and madrasa Books and libraries The wooden writing tablet Writing, scripts and substrates Final remarks 6. The alchemy of creation: A meditation on the geometry of ceramic tiles An alchemical transformation Circle and square Breath of the compassionate Geometry Contemporary inspiration Beauty, worship and transformation 7. The mosque lamp: A poetic reading into its shades and meanings The lamp Historical background Architectural meanings Aesthetics and functions Final thoughts 8. The mihrab: Reflections on form, function and symbolism The history of the mihrab Historical context of the mausoleum of Sayyida Ruqayya Features of this mihrab 9. The prayer rug: A microcosm of the mosque Historical perspectives Ushak row carpet Methods and materials Aesthetic and symbolic aspects Conclusion 10. Reflections on the minbar Definition and function The Berber minbar The minbar, a historical background Meaning and symbol Appendix Author biographies Acknowledgments Bibliography