Horizontal sundial, with a depiction of the Ka’ba in the centre.
Constructed for the latitude of Istanbul, this is one of the more unusual examples of instruments.
The inside of the box with a compass and compass rose in twelve directions, divided into degrees, with painted medallion view of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This instrument, was made exclusively for Medina.
3/ Qibla Finder, possibly late 18th century or 19th century
View of the Holy Sanctuary at Mecca
Medium: lacquer-painted wooden base & lid & metal fittings
The interior of the base depicting the Ka'ba, encircled by names of various cities, the interior of the lid with a larger view of Mecca.
5/ Qibla Finder, 19th century, Turkey
The interior of the cover with the Kaaba at the centre surrounded by the maqams of the four Sunni schools of law with a view of Mecca. The base with a compass with cruciform steel needle and glazed cover.
The qiblanuma literally means 'showing the direction to the Ka'ba'. The inside lid shows, shows the minarets of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, with the Ka'ba in the courtyard
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
7/ Qibla Finder, 19th century, Turkey
Inside of the cover painted with a central medallion representing aerial view of the al-Masjid al-Ḥarām mosque in Mecca. Inside of the box with a compass & painted medallion view of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Made exclusively for Medina.
8/ Qibla Finder, 1700-1825, Turkey
Qibla Finders are used to find the direction and time of prayer by Muslim worshippers. According to the central tenets (or five pillars) of Islam Muslims must pray five times a day.
A white metal miniature bowl with cover engraved with a floral band around a central similar floral spray, the cover unscrewing to reveal the circular complete dial pivoting around the centre painted with the Ka’aba.
The interior of the base with the Ka'ba at the centre surrounded by the maqams of the four Sunni schools of law, around these in small naskh are the names of various cities.
11/ Qibla Finder, 19th century, Turkey
The interior of the base depicting the Ka'ba, encircled by names of various cities, the interior of the lid with a larger view of Mecca.
12/ Qibla Finder, 19th century, India
A small bone Mughal qibla finder with a view of Al-masjid Al-haram to the interior of the cover, the base with a compass with cruciform steel needle and glazed cover.
13/ Qibla Finder, 19th century, Turkey
The interior of the base depicting the Ka'ba, encircled by names of various cities, the interior of the lid with a larger view of Mecca.
14/ Qibla Finder, 19th century, Iran
A Persian lacquer Qibla indicator and sundial
of circular form, the lid and interior with patterns of interlaced floral and foliate motifs.
15/ Qibla Finder, 19th century, Turkey
The interior of the base depicting the Ka'ba, the interior of the lid with a larger view of Mecca.
Courtesy of Millon
16/ Qibla Finder, 1883, Turkey
Rotating disc on the compass has a picture of the Kaaba. Around it are the names of the 4 points of the compass, on the opposite side, are a number of cities, extending from Tunis in the west to Samarkand in the east.
The David Collection
17/ Qibla Finder, AH 1151/1738 AD, Turkey
Made by Barun Al-Mukhtara, Constantinople. The base has a European map showing the landmass north of the equator with a magnetic compass, below with a list of countries and cities with their coordinates.
If you like this thread, check out our forthcoming Islamic Art & Culture Digital Festival happening online on 28 & 29 November.
Join us for a celebration of Islamic art, heritage & culture
Lubna of Córdoba, originally a slave in the 10th century, rose to become a prominent figure in history.
She served as the secretary to Caliph Al-Hakam II and played a pivotal role in creating the renowned library of Medina Azahara, which housed over 500,000 books.
Moroccan design is all about colour, texture & fluid lines. It is a unique blend of North African, Mediterranean & Islamic styles, creating a distinctive look, which has inspired artists & designers all over the world.
A thread on the art of Moroccan design aesthetics...
1/ City planning, military architecture, urban casbahs, and the intricate beauty of Moroccan carpets, woodwork, and zellij tilework are all part of this distinctive and brilliant world of art.
Moroccan aesthetics continues to influence artists and designers all over the world…
2/ Some of the readily recognized features of Moroccan design include Islamic geometric patterns, vivid colors, and zillij tiles. Zillij tiles are terra cotta tile-work of enamel chips set in plaster to create mosaic geometric shapes…
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