5/ In Islam cats are thought to be ritually clean. According to authentic narrations, one may make ablution for prayer with the same water that a cat has drunk from. It’s even permissible to eat from the same bowl that a cat has eaten from
7/ Cats have been revered for centuries in Muslim culture. So much so, that one of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) companions was known as Abu Hurairah (Father of the Kittens) for his attachment to cats
8/ Gli, the famous cat of Hagia Sophia Mosque who sadly passed away. Gli means "union of love" in Turkish #InternationalCatDay
9/ Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) himself was a great cat-lover. Many Muslims believe that Muezza (or Muʿizza; Arabic: معزة) was his favorite cat. However, there is no mention of this particular cat in the hadith
11/ Aside from cats protecting homes & food stores from pests, cats were valued by the paper-based Islamic cultures for preying on mice that destroyed books. For that reason, cats are often depicted in paintings alongside Islamic scholars & bibliophiles #InternationalCatDay
13/ A cat rests in Saudi Arabia’s Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, just a few hundred feet from the Kabah, the most sacred site in Islam. The fact that cats are allowed in such close proximity to the site reflects the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) devotion to felines #InternationalCatDay
15/ İsmail Saib Sencer (1873-1940), the director of the Bayezid Library in Istanbul, for example, fed hundreds of cats. For this reason, Bayezid Library was called “The Cat Library
17/ Caring for cats is important. Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) said, A woman entered the Hell because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth. (Sahih al-Bukhari 3318)
21/ A selfie of Gli, the famous cat of Hagia Sophia Mosque. Gli was a beloved and world-famous Turkish shorthair cat who resided at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul & sadly died on 7 November 2020, aged 16 #InternationalCatDay
22/ There is a mosque in Damascus called Masjid al-Qitat. Qitat means cats in Arabic. In 1267, it was donated under Islamic law as a charitable foundation established to protect cats. This endowment set up 800 years ago is still thriving
23/ Imam Hüseyin Koçak, from the mosque in Kırklareli province’s Ahmetçe village, Turkey is renowned for the care and shelter he provides to cats in the mosque, especially during harsh winters #InternationalCatDay
Arabic calligraphy is the most highly regarded element of Islamic art, as it is the language of Qur’an. The script has the potential for creating ornamental forms
Today, the art of Arabic calligraphy continues. Here are 20 contemporary artists redefining calligraphy
A thread...
1/ Influenced by her British and Pakistani heritage, artist Maaida Noor combines ancient techniques with modern expression. Through her work, she aims to reconnect with nature and spirituality, using harmonious geometries and vibrant colors as her language.
2/ Born in Tehran, @snasernia
began his career primarily as a calligrapher & typography artist. He turns Arabic letters into an abstract language, creating a new concept called Crazy Kufik & deconstructs the rules of Arabic & Persian writing
It is believed 2000 years ago in Persia, Arabs who conquered the Persian Empire enriched the recipe of snow chilled honey with milk & sugar #IceCreamDay
For #WorldIceCreamDay here are 25 frozen treats from Muslim cultures…
A thread…
1/ Es Doger, Indonesia
Made of shaved ice, coconut milk, coco pandan syrup, fermented sticky rice & fermented cassava. It is popular in Bandung, West Java & comes from Cirebon. Its name is derived from ‘es dorong gerobak’, which translates as ‘carousel-pushed ice.’#IceCreamDay
2/ Dondurma Ice Cream, Turkey
Dondurma is a Turkish mastic ice cream, typically including the ingredients cream, whipped cream, salep, mastic, and sugar. It is believed to originate from the city and region of Maraş and hence also known as Maraş ice cream #IceCreamDay
Chess is a significant part of Muslim history. The game originated in northern India in the 6th century AD & spread to Persia. When the Arabs conquered Persia, chess was taken up by the Muslim world
For #WorldChessDay here is the history of chess & Muslim heritage
A thread...
1/ The Indian ancestor of Chess was called chaturanga, developed in the 6th century AD meaning “4 Members”, it comes from the 4 military divisions of the Indian army: infantry, cavalry, elephantry, & chariotry.
Two women play Chaturanga, c. 1805 — c. 1815
#WorldChessDay
2/ Eventually, the game spread to Persia. After the Islamic Conquest of Persia, the game spread westward & a large portion of the Arabian population began to take up chess where it became known as Shatranj
Chess Piece as Seated Man, 13th c. Iran @KhaliliOnline
#WorldChessDay
The incredibly unique contemporary Bab Al-Salam Mosque in Oman is nothing like you’ve ever seen before!
Designed in the form of a circular disc, borrowing from the moon, the windows in the shape of its crescents & its glass ball pendant symbolises the vault of heaven
A thread…
1/ ‘Allahu Nur as Samawati wa al Ard’ means Allah is the Pure, Primordial Light of both the Heavens and the Earth.
Surah An-Nur ayat 35
Bab Al-Salam Mosque
2/ This is embodied in prayer that involves raising hands to the sides of the face, proclaiming Allah Akbar, and entering a peaceful and silent world where there is a connection with the divine. This state of surrender is what true prayer is all about.