The Concept, Characteristics, and Standards of Islamic Art in the Decorations of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik’s Palace in Jericho

Abstract

This study sheds light on the concept of Islamic art, its characteristics and features, and the standards related to its content. This is explored through its title: “The Concept, Characteristics, and Standards of Islamic Art in the Decorations of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik’s Palace in Jericho.” The study employs the inductive and tracking method, the descriptive method, and the analytical-applied method. It consists of two main sections with several subtopics.

      The study highlights the intention of the Muslim artist and his goal of reaching inner and spiritual meanings, considering that the concept of Islamic art refers, in terms of its content, to the purpose and objectives that align with the aims of Islamic law and its spiritual goals; and in terms of its form, to a set of visual features such as shape, color, and script, along with a set of structural principles such as rhythm, unity, diversity, and comprehensiveness.

      The main problem addressed in this study is the exploration of the concept of this art and its realization in the palace floors specifically. This is approached through the descriptive method, which describes the state or phenomenon, followed by the analytical method, which attempts to deduce ideas or principles related to the features and standards of this art. The study also discusses the concept of Islamic art and the reality of its existence as a distinctive and unique concept for this form of art in general.

      The study concludes that the concept of Islamic art was a product of the spiritual purposes of religion. It was not religious art per se, but it was influenced by religion. The principle of unity (tawḥīd) played a significant role in the comprehensiveness of this art. It has been established that the floor decorations in the palace, with their diverse balances and rhythms based on a small number of abstract visual entities, carry symbolic significance reflecting the principle of unity.