Early representations of the prophet Muhammad, with special reference to the Mi'raj scenes

Abstract

This thesis discusses the representation of the Prophet Muhammad in early Islamic manuscripts. It also investigates whether the art of representing living beings was indeed prohibited by the Prophet. The investigation mentions the well-known hadiths which are attributed to Muhammad and the contradictions between each one. The earliest surviving representation of Muhammad dates from the Ilkhänid period but the evidence is slight that Islamic representations of him were known before this period. The various Ilkhanid manuscripts with religious scenes are discussed in detail. There then follows the discussion of a religious manuscript, the Mi'raj-Namah, of the mid-fifteenth century, which deals with the miraculous journey of 'Muhammad to heaven. Finally, the appearance of religious scenes as frontispieces in Islamic secular books is discussed, and the Süfi element in the mi'räj theme is explored.