Art in the Spaces of Prayer
‘Qur’an stands, wooden boxes and minbars were where Islam and the place of prayer met on the artistic level.’
While sunlight passed through the stained-glass windows in which there were dozens of colourful flowers and which illuminated the mosque interior, hanging glass oil-lamps decorated with imperial symbols and verses from the Qur’an added to the effect. Prayer rugs and carpets, whose designs were drawn-up in the palace atelier, were remarkable for the similarity of their patterns to those on the tiles decorating the walls. Qur’an stands, wooden boxes where the Qur’an was kept, and minbars were other items where Islam and the place of prayer met on the artistic level.
Stucco stained-glass window

Hegira 12th century / AD 18th century
Ottoman
Islamic Museum, al-Aqsa Mosque / al-Haram al-Sharif
Jerusalem
Stained-glass windows were produced to illuminate the interior of the sacred space with colourful lights.