Talk:Aniconism in Islam

[edit] Ibric's book

Incorrect. Das Bilderverbots is very unique book with lot of new information like pre islamic tendencies for aniconism in islam etc.

I was eager to read Ibric's book and still think that writing it was a laudable enterprise. So pace Ibric. However there are numerous points that make this publication not very helpful if you are interested in aniconism (which should be the focus of the book), in regard with what you can find elsewhere. An important part of the work explains in which conditions the Arabs lived, what Islam is, what Islamic mysticism is - all this would be fine if it where done on a lesser number of pages that those devoted to questions on anicionism. Most information in Ibric are from other authors, many from pre-1950s publications, some quite outdated (or, not balanced with newer studies). The ideas advanced (particularly on the Bedouin life of Arabs) are simplistic and archaic (you have the feeling of reading somebody living in the 19th century going to explore the wild deserts of Arabia). However brief an introduction to aniconism should be given, where its general aspects could be presented and hints provided to particularities across cultures. Regarding aniconism in the pre-Islamic era, it doesn't bring too much useful data that is not already known. There is also no mention of the existence of strong figurative arts in Yemen (statuary). Given that there are more informative publications on aniconism (Clement, Paret, Goody) we should point to these in an Encyclopedia which should be a reference work. / Abjad 11:08, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

I think this work is is first work ever wich handle question of aniconism in islam in philosophical way. There are lot of ideas of philosophicaly views of aniconism in islam and theorys in that book are very unique. Only first part of the book is about pre islamic era, but there is also written about first islamic destroying of pictures/statues wich is for the first time in that book described. And also, the idea of atomism in connection with aniconism. I think this book is the first book ever wich brings us so much information and also the idea about halifa connections with chinese sheg term. so i think you should read this book again and think about philosophical terms in it because the books your menioned are just arthistoric or juristicals disputes about aniconsim in islam.