Abstract
Over the centuries, there has been plenty written and documented about Muslims’ attitudes towards the arts. Many scholars of Islam claim that the faith as a whole is opposed to the visual representation of living things, however, a look at representational art and images created in Muslim societies— past and present— tell a different story. A study of the Holy Qur’an will show that no prohibition exists in Islam that applies to all representational images. This article investigates the origins of how, why, and where ideas about prohibition developed, from a historical perspective, in order to explore what led some contemporary Muslim societies to develop, maintain, and create a generational succession of opposition to images in everyday life and within the visual arts. The sources included in the article will also shed light on how social, cultural, and political situations that contributed to aniconism and iconoclasm in some situations.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
