Mihrab Panel

Title: MihrabClose Tooltipmihrab[mih-RAHB]a niche in a religious structure that indicates the direction of Mecca toward which Muslims turn during their prayers. Panel

Type: Architectural Element

Associated Religious Tradition: Islam

Origins

• Geography: Probably Kashan, IranClose TooltipIran[E-rAn]a country in the Middle East.
• Date: Early 14th century
• Period: Ilkhanid period

Physical Properties

• Material: Molded stone-paste; painted under glaze with color and over glaze with luster
• Dimensions: H × W × D (overall): 66.4 × 59 × 10.7 cm (26 1/8 × 23 1/4 × 4 3/16 in)

Crediting Information

• Collection: Freer Gallery of Art Collection
• Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer
• Accession Number: F1909.319

A mihrabClose Tooltipmihrab[mih-RAHB]a niche in a religious structure that indicates the direction of Mecca toward which Muslims turn during their prayers. is a niche or shallow recessed area that indicates the qibla, the direction of the Ka’ba, a cubed structure at the center of the sanctuary in the city of MeccaClose TooltipMecca[MEK-uh]Makka or Makkah [MAK-kuh] – the holiest site in Islam, located in the Hijaz region in the western part of present-day Saudi Arabia. The Ka’ba is located in Mecca.. Located in present-day Saudi Arabia, Mecca is the holiest site of Islam. The qibla is the orientation Muslims face when they offer their daily prayers, regardless of where they are in the world. By facing in one direction for prayers, Muslims are united into a virtual community. Mihrabs appear in a variety of different structures associated with Muslim religious life and rituals, such as religious schools, shrines, and tombs, but most frequently they can be found in mosques.

The Ka’ba, which is believed by Muslims to have been constructed by the prophetClose Tooltipprophetan intermediary who speaks to humanity on behalf of God. Abraham, represents Islam’s physical and religious center. One of the five principal duties, or pillars of the faith, for Muslims is to undertake a pilgrimage (hajjClose Tooltiphajj[HAJ]pilgrimage to Mecca at a specific time of the year; one of the five pillars of Islam.) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. The other pillars are prayers (salatClose Tooltipsalat[sah-LAHT]act of prayer; one of the five pillars of Islam.) five times a day; financially helping members of the community (zakatClose Tooltipzakat[zuh-KAHT]a form of almsgiving to support the needy; one of the five pillars of Islam.); fasting (sawnClose Tooltipsawn[SAHN]act of fasting; one of the five pillars of Islam.) during the month of Ramadan, the lunar month the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur’an; and proclaiming the profession or “witness” (shahadaClose Tooltipshahada[shuh-HAH-duh]Muslim profession of faith; one of the five pillars of Islam.) of faith: “I bear witness that there is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”

The large ceramic panel was originally part of a larger mihrabClose Tooltipmihrab[mih-RAHB]a niche in a religious structure that indicates the direction of Mecca toward which Muslims turn during their prayers. panel that once stood in a fourteenth-century mosque in the city of Kashan in central IranClose TooltipIran[E-rAn]a country in the Middle East.. It is made from stone-paste, also known as fritware—a mixture of clay, ground quartz (finely ground pebbles or sand), and glass, which results in a hard white body. To create the reliefClose Tooltipreliefa sculpture with a slight projection from a flat surface. vegetal design and inscription, potters would have used a mold for the tile. The surface is painted in brown luster (an iridescent metallic pigment), while the decorative motifs and the inscription appear in blue and turquoise glazes. A verse from the Qur’an in the thuluthClose Tooltipthuluth[thoo-LOOTH]a cursive script reserved primarily for monumental inscriptions on buildings or objects or as titles in manuscripts. script, which is usually reserved for monumental inscriptions, frames the central panel. Appropriately chosen for a mihrab, the inscription begins in the lower right corner with “In the name of God, the Most Merciful, Most Compassionate” and continues with the 114th verse of chapter (suraClose Tooltipsura[SOO-rah]literally, “chapter,” in the Qur’an.) 11: “And establish regular prayers / at the two ends of the day / And at the approaches of the night; Surely good deeds take away evil deeds.”

The city of Kashan in central Iran has been long associated with ceramic production. In fact, the word for tile in Persian is “kashi,” a term derived from “Kashan.” The tile was originally part of a larger panel located in a mosque built during the reign of the Mongol IlkhanidsClose TooltipIlkhanids[il-KHAAN-idz]a Mongol dynasty that ruled over Iran and Central Asia from 1256 to 1335., who ruled Iran and Central Asia from 1256 to 1335. The dynasty was founded in 1256 by Hülegü, a grandson of Genghis Khan, the Mongol conqueror. The Mongols embraced many different religious traditions, but the rulers converted to Islam in the late thirteenth century.

One of the fundamental duties of Muslims is daily prayers, which occur five times throughout each day (dawn, afternoon, late afternoon, after sunset, and nighttime). The daily prayers are called salatClose Tooltipsalat[sah-LAHT]act of prayer; one of the five pillars of Islam. in Arabic. In preparation for prayer, Muslims perform a ritual of washing. They wash their faces, hands, arms, and feet. Next, Muslims face in the direction of MeccaClose TooltipMecca[MEK-uh]Makka or Makkah [MAK-kuh] – the holiest site in Islam, located in the Hijaz region in the western part of present-day Saudi Arabia. The Ka’ba is located in Mecca.. Today, if they are not in a mosque and cannot find a qibla wall, other methods for finding the direction include Qibla Finder apps available on a smartphone. If possible, Muslims pray together in a congregational setting on Fridays. The prayer is called Yawm al-Jum’a, or the “Day of Assembly,” and is often accompanied by a khutbaClose Tooltipkhutba[KOOT-bah]a sermon. (a reflection on prayer, scripture, or social justice) given by the religious leader of the community. Muslims also offer personal prayers in silence and on their own.

1. What do you see as you look at this object? How many different and distinct patterns do you notice? What do you notice about the colors? What materials were used to make this object?
2. This object is called a panel, and it is part of a larger object. What do you think the larger object looks like? How does this panel fit the larger object like the piece of a puzzle?

1. Why is knowing the direction of MeccaClose TooltipMecca[MEK-uh]Makka or Makkah [MAK-kuh] – the holiest site in Islam, located in the Hijaz region in the western part of present-day Saudi Arabia. The Ka’ba is located in Mecca. so important to the Muslim practice of prayer?
2. Are there any special places in the world that are important to you or to your family? How do you call these places to mind (through photos or other special objects)?

Britannica. “Il-Khanid Dynasty.” Updated February 23, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Il-Khanid-dynasty

Harvard University. “Islam.” The Pluralism Project. https://pluralism.org/islam

Weisbin, Kendra. “Introduction to mosque architecture.” Smarthistory. https://smarthistory.org/introduction-to-mosque-architecture/

Yalman, Suzan. “The Art of the Ilkhanid Period (1256–1353).” Department of Education, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Based on original work by Linda Komaroff. October 2001. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ilkh/hd_ilkh.htm