The Nature of Belief - 'Describe the part which art plays in the worship and spiritual life of Islam'

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Nicola Wood 11A

Coursework Task A                  The Nature of Belief

‘Describe the part which art plays in the worship and spiritual life of Islam’

In Islam, there is a very strong belief of never drawing any type of picture of Allah, Muhammad or animals.  This is due to the worry of people worshiping the image rather than what it actually represents.  Pictures similar to this are considered as blasphemous as they are misleading and unreliable.  The quotation below describes the belief of Allah.

‘No vision can grasp Him

 but His grasp is over all vision;

He is above all comprehension,

yet is acquainted with all things.’

                                                                                                      (Surah 6:103)

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Giving a false impression of Muhammad would be wrong, however in the past if a picture were to be drawn, the face on the figure would be smudged.  Allah has no form as he is beyond all images; he is transcendent.  Pictures of Allah would limit his actions.  As Muhammad is the last prophet he is never drawn nor worshipped.

The concept of Tawhid is the most basic Muslim belief.  Allah is one and not begotten.

‘He is Allah, the One,

Allah is Eternal and Absolute.

None is born of Him,

He is unborn.

There is none like unto ...

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