International Tiger Day is celebrated every year to raise awareness about the conservation of tigers, which have been declared an endangered species. These beautiful cats have inspired artists over the centuries #TigerDay
1/ Printing or engraving on paper, ornamental calligraphy, 19th century, India now Pakistan. The tiger embodies the holy text had-i-Ali, above its back is another inscription, and the name of the mausoleum, 'Rauza-i-Shah Hasaf Ashraf' @V_and_A#tigerday
2/ Tigers featured regularly in Mughal art. Detail of a tiger in a cave, gouache on paper, 1810. Kangra, North India @AshmoleanMuseum#tigerday
3/ Tiger above the portal of the Sher-Dor Madrasah 1619–1636, Uzbekistan, Samarkand
The Sher-Dor Madrasah was designed by the architect Abdujabor. It has images of tigers with the sun on their backs on each side of the arch #tigerday
4/ Pir Gazi and his tiger in Sundarbans, Bengal, India, around 1800 CE
Scene from the Gazi scrolls of Bengal (18th or 19th century). Depicts the legend of Pir Gazi and his tiger in the Sundarbans. His life is shown on the "Gazi Scroll" is currently in @britishmuseum#tigerday
The simple shape of the tiger & the tree trunk as well as the tiger’s charming face & upturned paws typify the style of Sheikh Taju, an artist at the Kota court known for his paintings of tigers & hunts #tigerday
6/ Tiger
Ibn Bakhtīshū
Manāfi˓-i ḥayavān (The Benefits of Animals), in Persian, for Shams al-Dīn Ibn Ẓiyā˒ al-Dīn al-Zūshkī
Persia, Maragha, Between 1297 & 1300
7/ Tipu Sultan’s Tiger Palanquin Pole Ends, Mughal India @V_and_A
Tipu Sultan (r.1782-1799) was the Muslim ruler of Mysore in South India. He famously uttered: "I would rather live a day as a tiger than a lifetime as a sheep" & adopted the royal tiger as his emblem #tigerday
8/ Tigers Head from the throne of Tipu Sultan, 1785-93
The finial, made of gold & set with rubies, diamonds & emeralds, is a rare example of fully documented 18th century South Indian goldsmiths’ work and its existence was unknown until 2009 #tigerday
9/ Tigers head ornament from Tipu Sultan's throne, 1785-93
Made from gold with rock crystal eyes & teeth and gold tongue, the mouth open as if roaring. The head rests on two large paws, on a square wooden plinth base covered in red velvet in @RCT #tigerday
10/ Calligraphy in the form of a tiger, unknown artist, late 19th century, Northern India @V_and_A
In zoomorphic Arabic calligraphy, the words are manipulated into the shape of a human figure, bird, animal or object #tigerday
11/ Majnun in the wilderness, from Shah Tahmasp's imperial copy of the Khamsah by Niz̤āmī. Mid-16th century, painted by Mīrak. Commissioned for Mughal Emperor Akbar. In it, Majnun affectionally strokes a tiger - you can almost see him purring @britishlibrary#tigerday
12/ Studies of a Tiger and Two Humans
India, Rajasthan, Kota, circa 1875 @LACMA#tigerday
13/ Tiger Approaching a Waterhole, Kotah, India, ca. 1790 #tigerday
14/ A tiger, from a copy of ‘Ajā’ib al-makhlūqāt wa-gharā’ib al-mawjūdāt (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) by al-Qazwīnī (d. 1283/682), Mughal India, possibly the Punjab, 17th century from National Library of Medicine #tigerday
15/ Painting on cloth depicting a tiger, Rajasthan, probably Udaipur, circa 1900-1920
Gouache on cloth, inscriptions in nagari script at upper right and lower centre, backed #tigerday
16/ A Tiger illustrated through Arabic calligraphy, representing power & majesty, but also control of the ego #tigerday
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Arabic is one of the most romantic languages. It has at least 11 words for love and each of them conveys a different stage in the process of falling in love.
For Arabic Language Day, a thread on expressions of love in Arabic…
1/ Habibi or Habibti (حبيبي/حبيبتي)
In Arabic, habibi (masculine) and habibti (feminine) means “my love”. Arabs use this as the most common expression of love - for friends, family, and sometimes, even strangers.
#ArabicLanguageDay
2/ Rohi (روحي)
Rohi means “my soul mate”. So calling someone rohi means you’ll love them a lot longer than your life - for eternity
Khalil Gibran (1881-1931) is a Lebanese-American poet, writer, and philosopher, who bridged the soul’s longing for truth with the world’s eternal search for wisdom.
Born in what is now modern-day Lebanon, Gibran moved to the United States as a young man, where he became an influential voice in both Eastern and Western literary traditions. His most famous work, The Prophet (1923), is a collection of 26 poetic essays that explores timeless themes such as love, freedom, work, and spirituality. Written in a lyrical, mystical style, The Prophet has been translated into more than 100 languages and remains one of the most widely read and beloved books of the 20th century. Gibran’s blend of Eastern mysticism and Western romanticism appealed to readers seeking spiritual and philosophical guidance.
Gibran’s impact on global literature and philosophy is immense, as his works transcend cultural and religious boundaries. His ideas about the interconnectedness of all humanity, the pursuit of personal freedom, and the power of love resonated with readers from diverse backgrounds. Gibran’s writings have influenced spiritual movements, literary circles, and even political discourse, especially in the Arab world where he is considered one of the most influential writers of modern Arabic literature. His philosophy emphasizes the universality of human experience, bridging the gap between East and West, and his poetic vision continues to inspire generations of thinkers, artists, and spiritual seekers worldwide.
Mariam Astrulabi was a pioneering female Muslim scientist & astronomer, born in Syria during the 10th century. She is known for developing Astrolabes, an ancient astronomical computer for solving problems related to time & position of the sun & stars
A thread on Mariam Astrulabi
1/ Mariam al Astrulabi's remarkable contribution to the art of astrolabes has largely been ignored by the world. What she achieved in the 10th century consequently helped several generations of scientists to explore the concept of time and space.
Astrolabe @HSMOxford
@HSMOxford 2/ Astrolabes were beneficial in determining the position of the sun, moon, stars & the planets. They were used in astronomy, astrology & horoscopes. Muslims would specifically use it to find the Qibla, determine prayer times & the initial days of Ramadan and Eid
Did you know Mosque ceilings are designed to reflect the magnificence of the universe?
Here are spectacular details of 24 Mosque ceilings from around the world…
A thread…
1/ Jami Mosque, Andijan, Uzbekistan
The construction of the madrasah began in 1883 and lasted for 7 years. It has a gorgeous fretwork of wooden columns supporting a ceiling decorated with bright patterns made of a combination of geometrical ornaments & vegetal elements
Construction of the mosque started in 1603 and was finished in 1619. Built by the chief architect Mohammadreza Isfahani, during the reign of Shah Abbas I of Persia. Beautiful interior dome details
Ever wondered who paved the way for the age of algorithms?
It was a 9th-century Muslim genius, mathematician, geographer & astronomer, Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi - also known as the Father of Algebra
A thread on the incredible Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi…
1/ Even the term algorithm is Al-Khwarizmi translated into Latin!
The scientist and mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi lived from 780 to 850 AD in Persia and Iraq.
2/ Al-Khwarizmi's most significant contribution to mathematics was the development of algebra. His book, "Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing), introduced systematic methods for solving linear and quadratic equations.
Did you know that the Persian scholar of medicine, Ibn Sina (980-1037) suspected some diseases were spread by microorganisms.
To prevent human-to-human contamination, he came up with a method of isolating people for 40 days.
A thread on Ibn Sina & his impact on modern science…
1/ Ibn Sina, also known to the Latin West as Avicenna, was a Persian polymath and one of the most influential Islamic philosophers, physicians, and scientists of the medieval period. He was born in 980 CE in present-day Uzbekistan and passed away in 1037 CE in Iran.
2/ Ibn Sina's medical works had a profound impact on European medicine. His most renowned work in medicine is "The Canon of Medicine" (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb), considered one of the most influential medical texts in history. It consists of five books & covers a range of medical topics