So why is it that mosques are not decorated with images of people or animals and no rugs?

Question

Does anybody know the reason behind this?

Answer 1

The mosques in Turkey have rugs.
As for images of people or animals, they are forbidden by Islam.

Answer 2

I am not a Muslim but if I remember correctly, according to the Q'uran and the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) it is a sin to adorn the walls of a mosque with graven images, or specifically images of God or the Prophets. Therefore, unlike christian churches, you will not see stained glass representations of Jesus (Isa in Islam) or a representation of God. Most Mosques are kept austere (except for intricate tile and mosaic work) so as to not take away from the primary function of a mosque which is to gather in fellowship and give praise to Allah (God).

here are a few Hadith's (Sayings or events attributed to the Prophet Muhammed):

I heard Allah's Apostle saying; "Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal)."

Abu Talha, a companion of Allah's Apostle and one of those who fought at Badr together with Allah's Apostle told me that Allah's Apostle said. "Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture." He meant the images of creatures that have souls.

And from the Q'uran:
Al-Anbiyâ 21:51-54
51. And indeed We bestowed aforetime on Ibrâhim (Abraham) his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well-Acquainted with him (as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allâh, etc.).
52. When he said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which you are devoted?"
53. They said:"We found our fathers worshipping them."
54. He said: "Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error."

Al-A'raf 7:148
And the people of Moses made in his absence, out of their ornaments, the image of a calf (for worship). It had a sound (as if it was mooing). Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to the way? They took it for worship and they were Zalimun (wrong-doers).


hope this helps

Answer 3

Not exactly sure on this one. I think it has something to do with Allah being the only one worshiped and having pictures of people/animals would detract from him being worshiped. They would become false gods.

Answer 4

I'm remembering back to my religion class something to do with it being a sin in Islam to create art with people being in it. That's why they instead have the art with letters and inscriptions.

Answer 5

It is because Muslims do not put up images of living things upon their walls unless we refer to the plant world. We keep our photographs in picture albums rather than upon the walls.

When I reverted I had a house full of beautiful goddesses and images I had collected over the decades. I made a major purge of my home and it was amazing how bare it felt for the first while. I loved the clutter of so many things around me.Many Muslims have disliked, and still dislike, the use of figurative representations in art and architecture. A number of Muslim authorities have claimed, and continue to claim, that figurative art is forbidden by the Koran and by the Prophet.

However, the world of Islam has always made use of pictures. Archaeological excavations of mosques erected in the latter part of the 8th century have shown that images of both humans beings and animals were used to embellish mosques and palaces. Pictures were also used to illustrate manuscripts.

The art of painting miniatures was raised to a high level, particularly in the Turkish and Iranian linguistic region. There exist many examples not only of representations of living beings, but even of the holy persons of Islam. We can find images, for example, of the Prophet Muhammad as a new-born baby, as a boy and as an adult, as well as of other prophets.

There are a number of different interpretations of the Koran regarding this issue. Nowhere is there a definite prohibition of the use of images in the Koran. The use of images as embellishment is forbidden is based on the belief that the Prophet Muhammad spoke of the use of images, because they could result in cults of those who were pictured, i.e. deification. When I was taking down my images when I reverted I found it hard to fit an image of my long dead grandmother or children in that category but I obeyed. It was easier to understand when I removed my vast collection of old goddess imagery however.

Islam has much beautiful art however. Art is not created specifically in the service of Islam, but also characterizes secular art produced in lands under Islamic rule or influence, whatever the artist’s religious affiliation. This is an art unified in style and purpose, and there are certain common features that distinguish the arts of all Islamic lands. It is a highly dynamic art often marked by strong regional characteristics as well as by significant influences from other cultures, it retains an overall coherence that is remarkable given its vast geographic and temporal boundaries. Of paramount concern to the development of this singular art is

Calligraphy is the most important and pervasive element in Islamic art. It has always been considered the noblest form of art because of its association with the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book, which is written in Arabic. This preoccupation with beautiful writing extended to all arts—including secular manuscripts; inscriptions on palaces; and those applied to metalwork, pottery, stone, glass, wood, and textiles—and to non-Arabic-speaking peoples within the Islamic commonwealth whose languages—such as Persian, Turkish, and Urdu—were written in the Arabic script.

Islamic art has a preference for covering surfaces with patterns composed of geometric or vegetal elements. Complex geometric designs, as well as intricate patterns of vegetal ornament, create the impression of unending repetition, which is believed by some to be an inducement to contemplate the infinite nature of God. This type of nonrepresentational decoration may have been developed to such a high degree in Islamic art because of the absence of figural imagery, at least within a religious context. No matter the perfection, however, the artist knowingly always left at least one minor defect in his work because it is believed only Allah can create perfection. A good example of this is the ALhambra in Spain or the Taj Mahal in India..

The most beautiful art in Islmam, in my eye, is the architecture. Instead of putting images on the walls of works of art, you live in them instead. The graceful fluid lines never fail to please the eye.

I have found, btw, in the years since I removed all my clutter, I enjoy the simplicity. If I miss the statues or images I used to have, or a cluttery space, I visit the friends and family I gave them too. Meanwhile I still fill my photo albums instead of plastering my walls. A lot less dust in the house too!

Answer 6

As I remember it's forbidden by their Holy Book: Coran !
They have on the walls only abstract representations.