#prayer niche

[wgm-beautiful-world]

Mihrab Prayer Niche in Isfahan, IRAN

[charlesreeza]

Mihrab - ceramic mosaic from Isfahan, Iran - Cleveland Museum of Art

[artthroughtime]

Islamic Art - Prayer Niche (Mihrab), the early 1600s.

Iran, Isfahan.

The prayer niche (mihrab in Arabic) is the focal point in the interior of a mosque. It is located in the qibla wall which is oriented toward Mecca, the holy city of Islam. Muslims face the qibla wall during prayer. This mihrab is an excellent example of different design elements-calligraphy, plants, and geometry-integrated into a beautiful harmonious whole. Graduated colours and sizes contribute to its success. The dominant white glaze presents the most important verses from the Qur’an written in elegant thuluth script which frames the niche. White glaze also outlines geometric patterns and arabesque vines. The less conspicuous turquoise glaze forms secondary designs such as curving vines behind the stunning calligraphy. Curved and straight lines are juxtaposed, enhanced with additional colours of mustard-yellow and aubergine on the deep blue ground. The design is formed with individual pieces of tile in the ceramic mosaic technique. Segments are cut according to the pattern from monochrome tiles with a chisel and their edges smoothed with a file. The pieces are then arranged face down according to a pattern and covered with plaster in manageable sections to install. Since colourful ceramic mosaic decorates many old buildings in Iran, modern craftsmen have become skilled in their workmanship and ongoing maintenance. The style and design in this mihrab, which developed during the 1500s, continues to the present day. Translation of Calligraphy on the Mihrab The Qur’anic inscription around the mihrab is from the Chapter of Light (24:35): God is the light of the Heavens and the Earth. His Light is like a niche in which is a lamp-the lamp enclosed in glass-the glass, as it were, a glistening star. From a blessed tree it is lighted, the olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would well neigh shine out, even though fire touched it not! It is light upon light. God guideth whom He will to His light, and God setteth forth parables to men, for God knoweth.

Credit: The Cleveland Museum of Art

Art Through Time

[artpedia]

Mihrab (Prayer Niche), A.H. 755/ A.D. 1354–55. Mosaic of polychrome-glazed cut tiles on stonepaste body; set into mortar

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC:

Arabic Inscription (on the outer border in thuluth script): Qur'an 9:18–22 Arabic Inscription (framing the niche of the mihrab containing hadith of Prophet Muhammad in kufic script): "Said [the Prophet] (on him be blessing and peace): . . . witness that there is no God save Allah and that Muhammad is his Apostle and the Blessed Imam, and in legal almsgiving, and in the pilgrimage, and in the fast of Ramadan, and he said, on him be blessing and peace." Arabic Inscription (at the center of the niche in thuluth script): "The Prophet (may blessings and peace be upon him) said: ‘The mosque is the abode of every believer.’" This prayer niche, or mihrab, was originally set into the qibla wall of a theological school in Isfahan, now known as the Madrasa Imami, built just after the collapse of the Ilkhanid dynasty. The mihrab was created by joining a myriad of cut glazed tiles to produce its intricate arabesque and calligraphic designs. The result is one of the earliest and finest examples of mosaic tilework. A splendid work of religious architectural decoration, this mihrab is one of the most significant works in the Museum’s collection.

[artsofislam-blog]

Mihrab, the Great Mosque of Cordoba (Mezquita-Catedral), Cordoba, Spain.