Lessons in decoration from the Qur’ānic Sūrah al-Zukhruf (Gold Adornments)

• Main Author: Omer, Spahic
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IIUM 2021
• Subjects: Islamic decoration
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/88452/1/88452_Lessons%20in%20decoration.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/88452/; https://journals.iium.edu.my/al-burhan/index.php/al-burhan/about

This paper discusses three lessons in decoration from the Qur’ānic chapter, or sūrah, al-Zukhruf (gold adornments). The lessons recognise and deal with decoration as an intrinsic human pursuit, a means of deception, and a means for enhancing and promoting the truth. Each lesson is discussed in a separate section. The sections are titled in the manner of the essence of the lessons. The paper concludes that the realm of decoration is inborn and instinctive. Its potential impact on human emotions and psyche is such that it can influence man’s behavioural pattern. As a weak and wavering creation, it will be too much for man to bear if too much of worldly beauty, splendour and prosperity is placed at his disposal. Thus blinded, most persons would lose sight of all moral and spiritual considerations and become egocentric, insatiable and cruel. The meaning of inherent beauty, splendour and wealth will then be lost forever in the process. The three lessons are entwined with the nucleus and main emphasis of the sūrah, that is, the exposition of the contrasts between the beauty and glory of the truth and revelation and the false glitter of other counterfeit alternatives. The contents of the lessons represent the gist of the Islamic tawḥīdic (God’s Oneness) worldview.