Islamic Paintings and Miniatures
Showing Mohammed in Full
Medieval Muslim artists often created paintings and illuminated
manuscripts depicting Mohammed in full. Several examples are presented here.
Other artists of the era drew Mohammed but left his face blank so as to
technically comply with the Islamic ban on depicting the Prophet; these images
are shown in the second section.
Persian or central Asian illustration showing Mohammed (on the
right) preaching.
Miniature of Mohammed re-dedicating the Black Stone at the Kaaba.
From Jami Al-Tawarikh ("The Universal History" written by Rashid Al-Din),
a manuscript in the Library of the University of Edinburgh; illustrated in
Tabriz, Persia, c. 1315.
(Hat tip: Brett K.)
The Night Journey of Muhammad on His Steed, Buraq; leaf from a
copy of the Bustan of Sacdi, dated 1514. From Bukhara, Uzbekistan. In
The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
(Hat tip for this image and the following two images: Jos.)
Muhammad's Call to Prophecy and the First Revelation; leaf from a
copy of the Majmac al-tawarikh (Compendium of Histories), ca. 1425;
Timurid. From Herat, Afghanistan. In
The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Journey of the Prophet Muhammad; leaf from a copy of the
Majmac al-tawarikh (Compendium of Histories), ca. 1425; Timurid. Herat,
Afghanistan. In
The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The Ascension of the Prophet, also from Jami Al-Tawarikh
("The Universal History").
Mohammed on his prayer rug; Persia, late medieval (date unknown).
Mohammed meets the prophets Ismail, Is-hak and Lot in paradise.
From the Apocalypse of Muhammad, written in 1436 in Herat, Afghanistan
(now in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris).
(Hat tip for this image and the image below: Buck.)
Mohammed arrives on the shores of the White Sea. Also from the
Apocalypse of Muhammad, written in 1436 in Herat, Afghanistan (now in the
Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris).
Fourteenth-century Persian miniature showing the Angel Gabriel
speaking to Mohammed.
Mohammed at Medina, from an Arab or central Asian medieval-era
manuscript.
Mohammed Received by the Four Angels; Persia, 1436.
Close-up of a medieval-era drawing showing Mohammed preaching,
along with a Christian-style halo.
A medieval illustration showing Mohammed (on the right). Source
unknown.
Mohammed with head emanating flames (a sign of holiness). Source
unknown.
(Hat tip: Steve N.)
The Birth of the Prophet Muhammad, from Jami' al-tavarikh
(Compendium of Chronicles). Tabriz, Persia, c. 1314-15. In
Edinburgh
University Library.
(Hat tip: Jos.)
Close-up of the baby Mohammed from the painting above.
(Hat tip: Nils.)
Mohammed's death. Source unknown.
Three
more
images of the full Mohammed can be found here (Hat tip:
No Pasaran!, foreign devil and Dusty).