Throughout history, the magnificent elephant is much loved & an integral part of cultures around the world.
To mark #WorldElephantDay here are wonderful depictions of elephants in Islamic art & culture, starting with Al-Jazari's ingenious elephant clock invention
A thread...
1/ Twelfth century engineer Al-Jazari was fascinated by every kind of mechanism & designed machines of all kinds, shapes & sizes.
His Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices (1206 AD) described 50 mechanical devices, including water clocks #WorldElephantDay
2/ One of the engineering marvels of the medieval Islamic world is AI-Jazari's 800 year old automatic Elephant clock
A reproduction in Kasımiye Medrese , Mardin, Turkey #WorldElephantDay
3/ Its moving parts were automated using a water-powered timer inspired by an Indian mechanism known as ghatika – the clock’s timer was a bowl that would slowly sink into a hidden water tank #WorldElephantDay
Find out how the mechanism worked here:
4/ Al-Jazari wrote: "The elephant represents the Indian & African cultures, the 2 dragons represent Chinese culture, the phoenix represents Persian culture, the water work represents Greek culture & the turban represents Islamic culture.’ #WorldElephantDay
5/ The elephant clock gives physical form to the concept of multiculturalism, reflecting influences from across Muslim civilisation, including Indian, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese & Arab #WorldElephantDay
Ben Kingsley describes the Al-Jazari's Elephant Clock
6/ The clock incorporated a figure of a scribe and his pen that move to indicate the number of minutes past the hour.
As well as telling the time, this grand beautiful water-powered Elephant clock was a symbol of status, grandeur, and wealth #WorldElephantDay
7/ Al-Jazari's elephant clock continues to delight today. Reproductions can be found across the world including in the Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai, the Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle in Switzerland, & the Museum of Science & Technology in Islam in Saudi Arabia #WorldElephantDay
8/ Elephants are featured widely in Islamic art. There are many depictions of elephants in Islamic manuscripts and miniature paintings from across South Asia & Central Asia
9/ This Mughal drawing of an elephant from 1630 is identified by a Persian inscription written by emperor Shah Jahan. It records that the animal's name is Mahabir Deb, it had been presented to the emperor by 'Adil Khan, & was worth 300,000 rupees
10/ The 2 affectionate elephants shown here are an illustration in the manuscript Manāfi˓-i ḥayavān (The Benefits of Animals). They are royal elephants, as seen from their caps and the bells on their feet
11/ One of the outstanding paintings of Muhammad Adil Shah’s reign. Wearing a gold robe, the Sultan directs the elephant while his African minister Ikhlas Khan rides behind waving a cloth.
13/ A detailed colourful Mughal miniature painting of Prince Aurangzeb, son of Shah Jahan, on the elephant Sardar Gaj #WorldElephantDay
14/ The royal elephant Madhukar, by Hashim, Mughal, Agra, c 1630- 40
The 17th c. saw Mughal art & culture spread across the world. So impressive was the dynasty for Europeans, that John Milton refers to its wonders in Paradise Lost
15/ Here are some magnificent Mughal elephants at the wedding of Prince Dara-Shukoh, son of the Mughal Emperor Shah-Jahan. They are illustrated in the Padshahnamah, a history of Shah-Jahan's reign made in 1640-50 @RCT#WorldElephantDay
16/ Great Mogul And His Court Returning From The Great Mosque At Delhi India - Oil Painting by American Artist Edwin Lord Weeks Portland Museum of Art, Maine, 1918.1. #WorldElephantDay
17/ This majestic elephant is made of moulded stonepaste, covered with a slightly opacified white glaze, with turquoise and cobalt-blue in-glaze staining (laqabi ware)
A desert oasis in the Middle East, the architecture of Oman is suited to its different terrain, ranging from mountain houses to desert tents, coastal forts & mud houses. More than just practical, the architecture gives insight into Omani culture
A thread on the beauty of Oman…
1/ Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, Oman is modern Islamic architecture at its finest. The Mosque is hewn out of Indian sandstone and shows an elegant design backed by minimalism
2/ Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman, is a real feast for the senses with archways, courtyards and mosaics with Persian designs, as well as white marble floors and ornate doors that were inspired by designs from the city of Samarkand
This is the dance of Jupiter & Mars, as they orbit around the sun. A spectacular display of geometry!
Islamic geometry has a spiritual dimension, reflecting the order of the universe.
Here are 21 contemporary Islamic artists, inspired by the wonders of the cosmos…
A thread…
1/ Artist Neslihan Enkinci creates contemporary Islamic art inspired by the cosmos. This work is called ‘The Loop’ it reflects the entire universe and life as a never-ending cycle…
2/ Artist Julia Ibbini uses algorithms and new technologies to create Islamic geometric paper cut works inspired by the universe…
In the Qur’an there is a chapter called An-Naml which means ‘The Ant’ in Arabic.
The chapter has this name because a part of it is about a dialogue between Prophet Solomon (AS) and ants. This story is often cited as a lesson in humility and wisdom.
“when they came across a valley of ants, an ant warned, “O ants! Go quickly into your homes so Solomon and his armies do not crush you, unknowingly.”
2/ Prophet Solomon (AS) couldn’t hold back a smile as he heard the ant talk, and he thanked the Almighty for the many favours bestowed upon him, including his ability to understand and avoid trampling over the homes of the ants.
Designed to imitate the heavens, Islamic gardens are lush oases of scent, water and sacred geometry. They are a cool place of rest and a reminder of paradise.
Here are 20 beautiful Islamic gardens from across the world…
A thread…
1/ Gardens at Alcázar of Seville, Spain
These lesser known gardens are mesmerising in their own right. Built by the Moorish Muslim kings, today the Alcázar of Seville is considered to be one of the world’s most impressive examples of Mudéjar architecture.
2/ Nishat Bagh (Urdu: نشاط باغ) Jammu and Kashmir
Built in 1663, it is the second largest Mughal garden in the Kashmir Valley. ‘Nishat Bagh’ is Urdu, and means the "Garden of Joy," "Garden of Gladness" and "Garden of Delight.
Did you know 24 craters of the Moon have names of Arabic and Islamic origin?
These craters are named after famous scholars of Islamic civilisation, and were all approved by the International Astronomical Union.
A thread on Arabic & Islamic crater-names on the Moon…
1/ Abulfeda Crater
Named after Isma’il Ibn Abu al-Fida, a renowned Syrian geographer (1273-1331 CE). This lunar impact crater is located in the central highlands of the Moon.
2/ Abulwafa Crater
Named after Abu al-Wafa al-Buzajani, a renowned Persian mathematician and astronomer (940-998 CE). Abul Wafa is an impact crater located near the lunar equator on the far side of the Moon.
The beauty & complexity of Islamic geometric patterns is deeply connected to spirituality & symbolism. Believed to reflect the underlying order & harmony of the universe, Islamic geometry is a manifestation of the Divine.
A thread on Islamic geometry & Iranian architecture…
1/ The spiritual aspect of Islamic geometry is closely linked to the concept of tawhid, the belief in the oneness of God.
The ceiling dome of Shah Mosque of Isfahan
معماری و تزئینات کاشی کاری ایرانی
تزئینات زیر گنبد مسجد شاه اصفهان
2/ Islamic geometric patterns are characterized by intricate and symmetrical designs that are often based on repeating geometric shapes such as circles, squares, and stars.
Shah Mosque of Isfahan
معماری و تزئینات ایرانی
مسجد جامع شاه عباسی اصفهان