In the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an a chapter is dedicated to the bee, called An-Nahl. This literally translates to ‘The Bee’ & it describes the bee’s way of life, & how Muslims should be more like them.
For #WorldBeeDay we are celebrating the bee in Islam 🐝
A thread…
1/ Al Nahl, Chapter 16, 68-69, talks about a variety of topics, but Allah specifically chose the title The Bee to catch the attention of the readers. Bees are said to be Allah’s miracles; the way they function and how they behave, are to be held as an example #WorldBeeDay
2/ The significance of Al Nahl as Chapter 16 is important. The only verse in this chapter that mentions bees is made up of 16 words & 16 different Arabic letters. Coincidentally, female bees have 16 pairs of chromosomes, whereas males have 16 chromosomes #WorldBeeDay
3/ What is fascinating about the bees in the Qur’an is that it was written from a scientific standpoint where the colony, roles, and practices of bees are observed. These characteristics & traits were used as a figure of speech for the follower reading the Qur’an #WorldBeeDay
4/ A reason why an entire chapter in the Qur’an has been devoted to the bee is that Allah has enabled the honey bee to produce a substance within which there is a cure for all mankind. Honey 🍯
5/ In Surah Al Nahl, Allah is asks people to “give thought” to the attributes of the bees & embody these traits in their lives. Through their behaviour, we learn different things such as to gain knowledge & reflect, to care for our community & maintain good relations #WorldBeeDay
6/ In the scientific language all the honeybees belong to the genus Apis. The honeybee communicates with other honeybee using a dance language, which scientists have discovered to be very complicated and highly developed #WorldBeeDay
7/ Approximately a third of all the food we eat is due to pollination from the honeybee. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss, pollution, pesticides & disease, their numbers have been dwindling. Over the last decade, there has been a rise in colony collapse disorder #WorldBeeDay
8/ If bees disappeared from the surface of the Earth, humans would have 4 years left to live. The bee has officially been declared the most important animal on Earth by the Earthwatch Institute in 2017 #WorldBeeDay#savethebees
9/ Surah an-Nahl, 16. Pages from an early Ottoman Qur'an written in two different script styles, 16th century The right hand page starts with part of verse 110 from Surah an-Nahl (The Bee) and continues through to verse 122 on the left hand page #WorldBeeDay
10/ Since 2011 the East London Mosque @elondonmosque in England has been home to several beehives. Most of the hives are kept on the roof of the London Muslim Centre #WorldBeeDay
(Khalil and Salma inspecting a hive. Pic: Jessica Chia)
11/ This is a look around the observation hives at the East London Mosque @elondonmosque where you get a feel of beekeeping in the mosque.
13/ This mosque in Indonesia is well-known in the community as Sarang Lebah (Honeycomb) Mosque or An-Nahl Mosque, because honeycombs inspire most of the architectural elements used in this building including hexagon-shaped vent blocks, similar to those of honeycombs #WorldBeeDay
14/ The Al Nahl mosque promotes the pilgrims' essential concept, the world as a public and social entity, just like the bees, which are social creatures and hard workers, where no bees live alone. It aims to build a broader empathy for fellow human beings #WorldBeeDay
15/ Bees lives less than 40 days, visit at least 1000 flowers & produces less than a teaspoon of honey.
For us it is only a teaspoon of honey, but for the bee it is a lifetime of work
In Muslim countries, tea is more than just a hot drink. It is very important to the heritage, traditions and cultures in which it originates.
For #InternationalTeaDay we celebrate the art of tea, with 24 different types of tea from across the Muslim world…
A thread…
1/ Somali Shaah
A spiced black chai made throughout Somalia. It is found across the Somali diaspora & is a cousin of Yemeni, Kenyan & Indian chais. It differs from other chais in that it often omits black pepper, & the milk is added after the cooking process #InternationalTeaDay
2/ Persian Chai
Black tea, called chai in Farsi, is one of the most popular drinks in Iran. It is so popular that it is more than just a drink – it is part of Persian culture. Black tea leaves are boiled with cardamom pods for the perfect Persian chai #InternationalTeaDay
In Islamic architecture, water features & fountains occupy a privileged place inside mosques, domestic spaces & gardens. They provide peace & purification
Morocco is renowned for its astounding mosaic water features, which have influenced design
Here are 24 examples
A thread…
1/ Beautiful Water Feature / Fountain, Morocco
2/ Mosaic Water Feature / Fountain, Ablution Fountain in Great Mosque of Paris, inspired by Moroccan design
Lebanese Poet Khalil Gibran (1883-1931) is renowned for ushering in a renaissance of modern Arabic literature. His work inspires people across the world, & is influenced by his Christian faith & the mysticism of Sufism
1/ ‘Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit’
― Khalil Gibran
2/ ‘I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers’
Geometric patterns are one of the most distinguishing features of Islamic art, thought to reflect the language of the universe & the greatness of creation
Today, artists are reinterpreting this traditional artform in new ways
A thread on 24 artists redefining Islamic geometry…
1/ Nima Nabavi is an Iranian-American artist who is now based in the UAE. His art practice is driven by a mathematical approach, and a contemplative execution of intricate geometries. He talks about his creative journey & reimagining geometry:
2/ After completing a bachelor’s in accounting & finance, Indian artist Antara Biswas took the plunge, switched careers and pursued what she loved doing most, creating art inspired by Islamic geometry…
From Senegal to Ghana, to Egypt to Somalia, Africa is known for its fantastic mosques – each an architectural masterpiece in their own right.
Here are 20 of the most unique & ancient mosques in Africa, each a reflection of the local building styles #JummahMubarak
A thread…
1/ The Mosque of the Companions, Massawa, Eritrea. early 7th century CE
Did you know? This was the first mosque built in the continent of Africa. It is believed to be the first mosque on the African continent.
2/ Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali, built 13th c. current structure 1907
World’s largest mud-brick building & finest example of Sudano-Sahelian architecture; characterised by its adobe plastering & wooden scaffolding. The walls are reconstructed with mud each April in a 1 day event
Islamic miniature paintings are small paintings that are part of a manuscript, used as a frontispiece, or an illustration for a text.
Different types of Islamic miniatures:
-Ottoman (Istanbul)
-Safavid (Shiraz)
-Timurid (Herat)
-Mughal (Delhi)
A thread…
Ottoman…
The Ottoman court became invested in writing its own history.
The court historian (şehnameci), a new position established in the 1550s, set to work producing manuscripts with illustrations.
Sultan Murad III (r. 1574-1595) in his Library @harvartmuseums
Safavid…
The best artists from across the empire were brought together & under the direction of Bihzad, the famed miniaturist from Herat, and formed a new Safavid style of painting.