Symbol of Divine Light (eBook)

Nicholas Stone is an architect, dedicated to using traditional forms and techniques. Early in his career he worked with the Egyptian architect, Abdel Wahed El-Wakil, on projects reviving traditional brickwork techniques—notably at Al-Qiblatain Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Thereafter he worked on domes for the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, involving Islamic craft work, and further dome projects in Malaysia. There, in partnership with his wife, Nazanin Sheikhi, he established a design company, undertaking the design of the atrium of the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya; the design and construction of the prayer niche (mihrab), pulpit (minbar), and honeycomb vaults (muqarnas) for Al-Bukhary Mosque in Alor Setar; tropical house and Islamic garden designs; as well as the design and fabrication of a perforated brass mosque lamp, which ultimately led to the publication of this book.

Introduction viiI. Symbolism of Light and the Lamp1. The Verse of Light 3Koranic Exegesis 52. Symbolism 7Light 8Light in the Islamic Doctrines of Creation 10Muhammad as the Embodiment of Light 12Light and the Mystery of the Veils 14The Symbolism of Light in the Judeo-Christian Traditions 16The Symbolism of Light in Other Religious Traditions 22Niche 23The Cave 23The Mihrab 26The Prayer Niche and the Virgin Mary 27Etymology of the Word Mishkāh 29Lamp 30The Oil Lamp in Religions around the World 31Glass 39Oil 40Olive Oil for Food 41Olive Oil for Anointing 41Olive Oil for Lamps 42The Symbolism of Oil 44Tree 453. Commentaries on the Verse of Light 49Al-Ghazālī 50Mullā Ṣadrā 52Dārā Shikūh 52Shaykh Maḥmūd Shabistarī 54Ṣafī ‘Alī Shāh Ni‘matullāhī 55Abū Bakr Sirāj Ed-Dīn 56Frithjof Schuon 57Other Interpretations 594. The Verse of Light in Islamic Art and Architecture 63II. History of the Lamp5. The Historical Context 71References in the Early Islamic Traditions 746. Historical Development of the Mosque Lamp 77Develo pment of the Glass Lamp 77Early Glass Lamps 77Mamluk Glass 78Ottoman Glass 80Rock C rystal Lamps 81Develo pment of the M etalwork Lamp 83Fragments of Earliest Islamic Lamps 83Tenth-Century Lamp in David Collection 84Great Lamp of al-Mu'izz 84Lamp from Umayyad Mosque Damascus 85Lamp from Konya 87Lamp from Dome of the Rock 89Mamluk Lamps 89Post-Mamluk Islamic Metalwork 93A Contemporary Design based on Traditional Examples 95Larger, M ore C omplex T ypes of C hand elier 96Lamp from Mosque of the Alhambra 96Diverse Lamp Types 96Regional Variations 100Later Lamp Types 101Opaque “Lamps” 103Develo pment of the C eramic Lamp 103Hanging ornaments 105The Form of Iznik Mosque Lamps 1077. How Would Early Mosque Lamps Have Looked? 1098. The Mosque Lamp in the Contemporary Context 1179. The Mosque Lamp Motif in Islamic Art and Architecture 12110. Conclusions 149Notes 151List of Illustrations 167Biographical Notes 173Index 174