Much of the artwork here in Saudi Arabia features verses from the Quran in beautiful Arabic script. Since the Quran discourages the displaying portraits of people (or animals, for that matter) in the home, every home I have been in here has Quranic verses in a variety of different media, like metal, porcelain, or paintings.
I am an American woman. I met my husband more than 30 years ago when we were both college students in Arizona. So after all that time in the states, my hubby desired to move back to his native home of Saudi Arabia. I've been in Jeddah now since October 2007. My new home is amazing: interesting, fascinating, and colorful. The people are warm, courteous and as interested in me as I am in them, however they highly regard their privacy. My camera goes with me every time I step out the door - I don't want to miss a thing!
Please be sure to also visit my other blog, SUSIE'S BIG ADVENTURE, which relates my experiences, observations, and thoughts about living in Saudi Arabia.
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Hi Aafke!
It DOES kinda look 70s, doesn’t it? In person, it’s even more beautiful.
I love this ‘’seventies” take on calligraphy! I’ve never seen anything like it!
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Abe and Sally – Thanks! There is really so much exquisite Qu’ranic artwork here, but much of it is under glass and it’s hard to get decent photos without some kind of reflection. I’m going to keep trying!
I agree it is very lovely….quite exotic to a western-trained eye.
It is beautifully done.
Thanks, Ab, for researching that for me! None of the homes I have visited here display any artwork featuring “something/someone that has a soul.” Maybe it is just here in Saudi Arabia – they seem to have their own guidelines for many things here!
Yeah..I read more on this topic (of not displaying artwork), and I learned that drawings and photos that are not meant for worship are allowed in Islam (http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503546054)
“there is nothing wrong in drawing as long as the images do not depict nudity or other indecent representations.”
But Wahabbi Saudis might be different.