The representation of prophets and saints in Islam is erroneously considered nonexistent by many scholars of Islam, Muslims, and the general public. The issue is often dealt with superficially without attention to its deep roots in piety and religiosity. Visualizing Belief and Piety in Iranian Shiism offers new understanding of Islamic iconography and Muslim perspectives on the use of imageries in ritual contexts and devotional life.
Combining iconographic and ethnographic approaches, Ingvild Flaskerud introduces and analyzes imageries (tile-paintings, posters and wall-hangings), ritual contexts and interviews with male and female local viewers to discuss the representation, reception and function of imageries in contemporary Iranian Shia environments. This book presents the argument that images and decorative programmes have stimulating qualities to mentally evoke the saints in the minds of devotees and inspire their recollection, transforming emotions and stimulating cultic behaviours. Visualization and seeing are significant to the dissemination of religious knowledge, the understanding of spiritual and ethical values, the promotion of personal piety, and functions as modes of venerating God and the saints.
Author(s): Ingvild Flaskerud
Edition: 1
Publisher: Continuum
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 320
Tags: Islamic art, Shia, Religion, Iran, Ashura, Karbala
Cover
Contents
List of figures
Preface
Introduction
Visual culture in contemporary Iranian Shiism
Interpretive communities and the meaning of visual signs
The text in the image
On the chapters
I. The portrait of Imam Ali
Introduction
1. The emergence of a prototypical model and its survival
A new prototypical model and its iconography
Alternative iconographic designs
The power of the order of Imam Ali
Popular religious devotion
The new genre of Karbala narrative painting
Concluding remarks
2. Imam Ali in Shia memory
3. The iconography of Imam Ali and its reception
The character in the face
Appearance through paraphernalia and attributes
Reconciling Imam Ali in contemporary portraiture
Local representations of Imam Ali in imaginary portraiture
Concluding remarks
II. The battle at Karbala
Introduction
Visual narratives and interpretive strategies
4. The battle at Karbala in Shia memory and piety
5. Visual Karbala narratives in Shia piety
6. The parcham wall hanging
The battle at Karbala
Karbala
Portraiture
Concluding remarks
7. The representation and reception of Karbala in colour posters
Ali Akbar
Abu al-Fazl al-Abbas
Ali Asghar
Imam Husayn
The aftermath of the battle at Karbala
Concluding remarks
III. Images and decorative designs in ritual space
Introduction
8. The image as a votive gift
The image in the transactional process
Iconographic and textual characteristisc in Iranian Shiism
Votive images in contexts of ritual performance
The relationship between the vow and the gift
The image as an adequate vehicle for invoking favour and giving thanks
Concluding remarks
9. Images in the liturgy and commemoration and celebration
The visual setting of Muharram
Commemorating the battle at Karbala
Visualization and the liturgy of Muharram commemoration
The visual setting of Mowludi
Celebrating Mowludi
Visualization and the liturgy of celebration
Concluding remarks
10. Decorative programmes across gendered ritual space
11. Transposing iconography
Concluding remarks
Conclusion: Visualizing and seeing in the service of Islam
Notes
References
Index
