What did Muslim art emphasize?
Art and Design- Most Muslims thought that it was wrong to use the human form in art. Such images, they believed, took people’s attention away from their faith. Many religious leaders also felt that people might be encouraged to worship these images rather than God. As a result, Muslim art emphasized plant life and geometric patterns. Abbasid artists became famous for stunning designs using tile, pottery and wood. One design, the arabesque, showed intertwined stem, leaves, and flowers of a plant.
Muslim art also often used Arabic script. Arabic was very special to Muslims because it was the language of the Qur’an. Many Muslim artists became very skilled at calligraphy, or the art of fine handwriting. The Abbasids employed calligraphers to decorate everything from buildings to swords to armor. When used as a decoration, calligraphy often became so fancy that the words were almost unreadable.