Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

The place of "imagery" in the Qur'an and its relationship with religious rituals and arts

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Bashir Motamedi 1
Mahdi Montazerghaem 2
Asghar Fahimifar 3
Abdollah Bicheranlou 2
1 Research Institute of Cultural Studies and Communication/Research Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies /Tehran. Iran
2 Department of Communication / Faculty of Social Sciences / University of Tehran
3 Art History and Research Department/ Faculty of Arts/ Tarbiat Modares University
10.22034/iscw.2024.2040664.1093
Abstract
The course of historical developments indicates that "word" and "speech" have always served a basis for delivering religious messages to the people. In other words, "word" as a container has been a platform for presenting religious messages. However this concept has been seriously challenged by the unique features of the era that is referred to as the "image era" in the contemporary age. In fact with the advent of new media such as cinema, television, and Internet, messages are presented on an "image" basis.

As in other religions, Islam also has restrained/prohibited the use of "images" partly throughout history, which brings up this question once more whether or not the religion is inconsistent with "image" and "imagery". This paper however claims that Islam is (definitely) consistent with these concepts for at least four reasons: (a) the place of imagery in the holy text of the Quran; (b) explaining Islamic concepts with verbal imagery; (c) image in the form of religious rituals; and (d) the place of "image" in Islamic art.
Keywords
: religions
new media
imagery
Quran
verbal imagery
visual rituals
Islamic art
Subjects
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Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World
Volume 3, Issue 1 - Serial Number 5
August 2024
Pages 287-317

  • Receive Date 08 May 2024
  • Revise Date 02 June 2024
  • Accept Date 25 September 2024
  • First Publish Date 25 September 2024
  • Publish Date 25 September 2024