This is an important subject for all Islam, strongly felt especially
by the Shiites, in the case of Husayn's tomb, or those of the Karbala
martyrs, or of another victims of religious wars. The most important
is the Prophet's tomb, at Medina; his chosen city that welcomed him
when he had to leave Mecca and that believed in his preaching and gave
him most faithful followers. Previously the city was called Yathrib:
it was renamed Medinat an-Nabi or "city of the Prophet". The Medina
tomb is second in sanctity only to the Kaaba of Mecca and is essential
stage in the completion of the pilgrimage. In fact popular prints
nearly always show both the Kaaba and the tomb of Medina,
complementary one to the other. Ali is buried in a splendid mausoleum
at al-Najaf in Iraq, near the ancient city of Kufa, but another tomb,
also presumed to be his , is worshipped at Mazar e-Sharif in
Afghanistan. A cherished but rather unbelieved legend recounts that
his body was removed from the hands of his enemies after his death and
carried to safety in a distant but friendly land. The graphic style of
thiese prints is imaginative, highly-coloutred and naive, having
little connection with the actual places that are probably never seen
by the artists. Squares and courts are invariably paved with colourful
chequerboard; domes are green or gold, with shining minarets; the sky
hums with the wings of white doves. In addition to historical themes
widespread throughout all Moslem countries, there are other locally
important subjects restricted to areas as Syria, Africa (especially
Morocco and Mali), Persia and Indo-Pakistan. Local saints are
commemorated in legends that often include myth, ancient rites and
customs dating before the birth of Islam, just as beliefs and
traditions deruiving from the Greco-Roman world have been enveloped by
Chrisianity (see also I santi dell'Islam, La devozione musulmana, e
altri articoli di Casalino Pierluigi, su Asino Rosso e su Asino Rosso,
il blog).
Casalino Pierluigi, 9.12.2015
(See also Saints of Islam, Casalino Pierluigi, Asino Rosso)
by the Shiites, in the case of Husayn's tomb, or those of the Karbala
martyrs, or of another victims of religious wars. The most important
is the Prophet's tomb, at Medina; his chosen city that welcomed him
when he had to leave Mecca and that believed in his preaching and gave
him most faithful followers. Previously the city was called Yathrib:
it was renamed Medinat an-Nabi or "city of the Prophet". The Medina
tomb is second in sanctity only to the Kaaba of Mecca and is essential
stage in the completion of the pilgrimage. In fact popular prints
nearly always show both the Kaaba and the tomb of Medina,
complementary one to the other. Ali is buried in a splendid mausoleum
at al-Najaf in Iraq, near the ancient city of Kufa, but another tomb,
also presumed to be his , is worshipped at Mazar e-Sharif in
Afghanistan. A cherished but rather unbelieved legend recounts that
his body was removed from the hands of his enemies after his death and
carried to safety in a distant but friendly land. The graphic style of
thiese prints is imaginative, highly-coloutred and naive, having
little connection with the actual places that are probably never seen
by the artists. Squares and courts are invariably paved with colourful
chequerboard; domes are green or gold, with shining minarets; the sky
hums with the wings of white doves. In addition to historical themes
widespread throughout all Moslem countries, there are other locally
important subjects restricted to areas as Syria, Africa (especially
Morocco and Mali), Persia and Indo-Pakistan. Local saints are
commemorated in legends that often include myth, ancient rites and
customs dating before the birth of Islam, just as beliefs and
traditions deruiving from the Greco-Roman world have been enveloped by
Chrisianity (see also I santi dell'Islam, La devozione musulmana, e
altri articoli di Casalino Pierluigi, su Asino Rosso e su Asino Rosso,
il blog).
Casalino Pierluigi, 9.12.2015
(See also Saints of Islam, Casalino Pierluigi, Asino Rosso)