Jihad: The Concept in Visual Art

Abstract

The concept of Islam leads mankind to tawheed (the oneness of Allah) and submission to Allah the Almighty. Islam encompasses all aspects of human’s life where one’s characteristics will be incomplete without religious awareness. Allah instructs mankind to live life to the fullest. Meanwhile, beauty is an awareness which shed lights on the truth of the creator. Beauty can be presented in many ways, in which includes the greatest artistic creation, the holy Al-Quran. Al- Quran provides guidance and guidelines to mankind where its completeness contains high dignitaries’ value incomparable to men’s creations. The effort to revive art according to Islamic perspective is considered as ‘jihad’ in the journey to identify beauty and to get to know Allah. “Allah is beauty and Allah loves beauty”. This research uses art history as its approach and ‘jihad’ definition with regards to visual art. The basic method also refers to Al-Quran, the Islamic art principles and worshipping concepts.