{"id":639,"date":"2026-07-01T05:35:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T04:35:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merder.org\/?page_id=639"},"modified":"2026-07-01T05:35:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T04:35:41","slug":"islam","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/merder.org\/?page_id=639","title":{"rendered":"Islam: Images, Symbols, and Sacred Places"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wrig-page\">\n<style>\n    .wrig-page { max-width: 1120px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 1rem; line-height: 1.55; }<br \/>\n    .wrig-page h1 { margin-bottom: .35rem; }<br \/>\n    .wrig-note { border-left: 4px solid #52616b; padding: .7rem 1rem; background: #f6f7f8; }<br \/>\n    .wrig-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(260px, 1fr)); gap: 1rem; margin: 1.25rem 0; }<br \/>\n    .wrig-card { border: 1px solid #d9d9d9; border-radius: 6px; padding: 1rem; background: #fff; }<br \/>\n    .wrig-card h2 { font-size: 1.15rem; margin-top: 0; }<br \/>\n    .wrig-card img { width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; border: 1px solid #ececec; background: #f7f7f7; }<br \/>\n    .wrig-caption { margin-bottom: .75rem; }<br \/>\n    .wrig-meta, .wrig-caution { font-size: .92rem; color: #333; }<br \/>\n    .wrig-caution { background: #fff8e6; border-left: 3px solid #b98200; padding: .55rem .7rem; }<br \/>\n  <\/style>\n<h1>Islam: Images, Symbols, and Sacred Places<\/h1>\n<p>This gallery presents Islamic manuscripts, architecture, calligraphy, and design selected for close study. It avoids images of the Prophet Muhammad and focuses on text, prayer, ornament, and sacred space.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-note\">These images are selected for study and comparison. Look closely at the source, rights note, caption, and category for each image before drawing conclusions.<\/p>\n<section class=\"wrig-grid\">\n<article class=\"wrig-card\">\n<h2>Section from a Qur&#8217;an Manuscript<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/merder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/islam-section-from-a-qur-an-manuscript.jpg\" alt=\"Section from a Qur'an Manuscript\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-caption\">Section from a Qur&#8217;an Manuscript is a candidate image from The Metropolitan Museum of Art found with the curated search term &#8216;Quran manuscript&#8217;. It is relevant to Islam because it fits the page category: Mosque architecture, mihrab, Quran manuscript\/calligraphy, geometric\/vegetal design, minbar, or pilgrimage architecture. It would help World Religions students connect a specific object, site, or practice with the tradition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-caution\"><strong>Caution:<\/strong> Do not use images of the Prophet Muhammad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Category:<\/strong> Quran manuscript \/ calligraphy<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/454664\">The Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Rights\/license:<\/strong> The Met Open Access \/ public domain<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Why included:<\/strong> Kept from current material because it is relevant, but repetition is capped for variety.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"wrig-card\">\n<h2>Mosque Lamp<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/merder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/islam-mosque-lamp-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Mosque Lamp\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-caption\">This mosque lamp connects Islamic sacred architecture with light, devotion, and material culture. It provides an object-based example beyond Qur&#8217;an folios. Students can discuss how mosque furnishings shape religious space.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-caution\"><strong>Caution:<\/strong> Do not use images of the Prophet Muhammad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Category:<\/strong> Mosque lamp<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/444520\">The Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Rights\/license:<\/strong> The Met Open Access \/ public domain<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Why included:<\/strong> Adds mosque object category.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"wrig-card\">\n<h2>Mihrab (Prayer Niche)<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/merder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/islam-mihrab-prayer-niche-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Mihrab (Prayer Niche)\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-caption\">This image shows Mihrab (Prayer Niche). A mihrab marks the qibla, the direction of prayer toward Mecca. Students can connect mosque architecture with embodied prayer and the organization of sacred space.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-caution\"><strong>Caution:<\/strong> Do not use images of the Prophet Muhammad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Category:<\/strong> Mihrab \/ prayer niche<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/449537\">The Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Rights\/license:<\/strong> The Met Open Access \/ public domain<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Why included:<\/strong> Found from exact targeted The Met Open Access search term &#8216;mihrab prayer niche&#8217; and verified.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"wrig-card\">\n<h2>Prayer in the Mosque<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/merder.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/islam-prayer-in-the-mosque-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Prayer in the Mosque\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-caption\">This image shows Prayer in the Mosque. A mihrab marks the qibla, the direction of prayer toward Mecca. Students can connect mosque architecture with embodied prayer and the organization of sacred space.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-caution\"><strong>Caution:<\/strong> Do not use images of the Prophet Muhammad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Category:<\/strong> Mihrab \/ prayer niche<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/436482\">The Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Rights\/license:<\/strong> The Met Open Access \/ public domain<\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\"><strong>Why included:<\/strong> Found from exact targeted The Met Open Access search term &#8216;mihrab prayer niche&#8217; and verified.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"wrig-questions\">\n<h2>Questions for Looking Closely<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>How do text, calligraphy, architecture, or design communicate religious meaning?<\/li>\n<li>How does the image connect with prayer, recitation, learning, or sacred space?<\/li>\n<li>What does the source information tell you about place, period, or artistic tradition?<\/li>\n<li>How can Islamic visual culture be studied without relying on images of the Prophet Muhammad?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/merder.org\/world-religions-images\/\">Back to World Religions Image Gallery<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wrig-meta\">Source note: Image records and rights statements are shown with each card. WordPress-hosted image files are used only after the source image or existing media URL has been verified.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Islam: Images, Symbols, and Sacred Places This gallery presents Islamic manuscripts, architecture, calligraphy, and design selected for close study. It avoids images of the Prophet Muhammad and focuses on text, prayer, ornament, and sacred space. These images are selected for study and comparison. Look closely at the source, rights note, caption, and category for each &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/merder.org\/?page_id=639\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Islam: Images, Symbols, and Sacred Places<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":628,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/merder.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/639"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/merder.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/merder.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merder.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merder.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=639"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/merder.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":846,"href":"https:\/\/merder.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/639\/revisions\/846"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merder.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/merder.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}