THE ISLAMIC VIEW OF GOD

Lesson objectives:•To know about how God is viewed in Islam•To understand why Muslims do not use images but words and geometry to represent God•To consider the advantages and disadvantages of not using images to portray God

What do Muslims believe about Allah?

How do Muslims express their belief about Allah?

Muslims believe that Allah is God and He is the only true God (tawhid; Shahadah)

Allah is beyond human understanding Nothing in the entire universe can be compared

to Allah Muslims believe it is wrong to try to draw Allah

or anything that he has created (e.g. humans, animals).

The Qur’an provides 99 Names which Muslims can use to talk to or about Allah. Each name reveals something about his character

The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah

The All-Merciful

The Truth

The Creator

The Sustainer

The Humiliator

The Judge

The Perfectly

Wise

The Last

The First

The Giver of Life

The Taker of Life

The King

The Most Holy

Questions (page 51) 1) Why do Muslims not believe that it is right to draw

images of Allah or his creation? 2) Why do you think is it helpful for Muslims to have

99 names for Allah instead of just one? 3) From the list on page 51, choose 2 of the Names of

Allah. For each one, explain what this shows about Allah and how it might also affect a Muslim’s actions e.g. ‘The All Forgiving’ shows that Allah will not hold

people’s bad actions against them if they say sorry. Knowing this about Allah’s character might encourage a Muslim to forgive someone who has wronged them, even when it is difficult.

Ext: What are the advantages and disadvantages of not using images when thinking about God?

Allah within Islamic art There are some Muslims who believe

Allah cannot be represented any form apart from description from the Qur’an written in beautiful calligraphy

However, other Muslims do believe it is possible to explain ideas about Allah through geometric shapes

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=KTOKjgpTYQnJ5M&tbnid=aeUwh-7mroIYBM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://swanmoreart.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/islamic-art-project-inc-homework/&ei=pF23UYLwNIHRtQaElIH4Cg&bvm=bv.47534661,d.Yms&psig=AFQjCNFVRSVF4CJi5IPqWY1GuzI_1H6CJg&ust=1371057911738233

http://ergdhmerg.wordpress.com/

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=gU-TisOqJzn3VM&tbnid=SswQwtQDQ5XMmM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://art13-kgm.blogspot.com/2012/01/3-islamic-art-geometric-patterns.html&ei=aF63UfiuO8zgtQaN-YCoBg&bvm=bv.47534661,d.Yms&psig=AFQjCNFVRSVF4CJi5IPqWY1GuzI_1H6CJg&ust=1371057911738233

Islamic artCreative task (complete for prep)• 1) Think of a character trait you admire

(e.g. Wisdom, compassion, courage) and try to represent this through a geometric pattern with added calligraphy to explain your image (the most beautiful writing you can produce!).

• Try to think about how you could do this (e.g. The shapes you choose and the colours you use)

• 2) Write an explanation of why you have coloured your shape in this way