representation, on occasion
The emphasis on nonfigural, geometric art in Islam, and the tendency to mistrust figural representations, has not always prevented Muslims from attempting human representation.
Especially as Islam interacted with non-Arabic cultures, in which the tradition of figural representation was quite strong, stunning examples of artistic images of human figures emerged. Most commonly, artists would choose to illustrate the life of Muhammad. Of all the scenes in his life (taken often from the hadith) a favorite was the night ascent of Muhammad to heaven, on the angelic horse Buraq.
From an illustrated version of the Life of Muhammad; the Life itself was written in fourteenth-century Egypt, but illustrated 200 years later in Ottoman Turkey. This panel shows the Battle of Badr, one of the early influential battles of the prophet's life.
This illustration, from the same Life of Muhammad, shows the angel Jibril (Gabriel, center) delivering revelations of the Qur'an to Muhammad (veiled, right).
These are both Persian images of the "night journey" of Muhammad (the mir'aj); Muhammad (center) is seated on the miraculous horse (often pictured, as here, with a human head) named Buraq. In both scenes, Muhammad is surrounded by angels.
Spectacular figural images such as these are comparatively rare in Islam. Figural representation continues to be one cultural area in which Islamic "custom" and local cultural custom come into conflict.