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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Islamic Art and Its Spiritual Message III. The Spiritual Message of Islamic Art In order to knows the true spirit of Islamic art and its spiritual message and significance, we shall have to comprehend briefly its origin as well as some of its main forms such as calligraphy, architecture, painting, music, poetry and decorative arts in general with special reference to Iran as the contribution of Iran to these Islamic art-forms can be deemed to be second to none.

Generally speaking, Islamic art is the art of the civilization based on the Islamic religion. The - the last of the Prophets - first preached Islam in Arabia during the early 7th century A.D. and-the people who followed the teachings of Islam called themselves „Muslims‟. Islam has gigantic connotation with regard to every aspect of human life. It defines without a doubt the purpose of life, the universe and the relationship among the Creator (God), man and universe.

The intellectual, social, economic, -ethical and aesthetic features of Islamic religion make it distinct from worlds‟ other great religions.8 Thus, during the 7th century A.D. Arab Muslims began a series of conquests and amalgamated all the conquered countries or parts into a „single civilization‟ - millah.

Though the Arabs themselves had sophisticated very little of art yet their aesthetic sensibility enabled them to come into contact with the highly developed arts of Persia (now Iran), Syria, Egypt and Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Therefore, the people who acknowledged Islam blended their cultural styles and developed a distinct and uniform style of art best acknowledged as „Islamic art.

It is said that Islamic art was an out come of many centuries, extending from Spain to India.9 However, there are very realistic and authentic views on the emergence and evolution of Islamic art.