Henna in Islam

Figure 1.12 - Sayeed, F., (2019). Traditional Moroccan wedding henna.

Henna is a dye that is made form the Lawsonia Inermis plant, and is used as a natural stain for fabric (see fig. 1.13), hair, nails and skin. It was used by many ethnic groups across the world for its healing, spiritual and decorative qualities. Contemporary henna is used all over the world most commonly as decoration on the skin. Pictured in figure 1.12 is a traditional Moroccan style bridal henna applied by Farah Sayeed from the Netherlands.

Figure 1.13 - De Vloo, G., (2009) Schilderen Met Henna. Cotton fabric dyed with henna.

Although henna is not mentioned in the Quran, it is used in the majority of Islamic countries during rituals. There are, however, twenty-two Ahadith (authenticated sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) that have been recorded regarding the use of henna. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) spoke of henna in relation to the following: Men using it to colour their beards, it's medical properties, using it to explain the colour of spoiled water, and on five occasions he spoke of its decorative use for females only (Sienna, N., 2011:para 1).

Looking at henna from different ethnic groups I have found some common characteristics:

1. Most designs make use of either arabesque or geometric patterns.  
2. Henna was not used to create animated figures. This might tie back to aniconism.

Figure 1.14.1 - Adams, Z., (2019) Henna design showing arabesque pattern.

Figure 1.14.2 - Adams, Z., (2017) Henna design showing geometric pattern

Arabic Calligraphy ceramic bowls

Figure 3.25 - Adams, Z., (2018) Ceramic bowls with Arabic Calligraphy written on them. 

The bowls in this collection are made from stoneware clay and has blue and green glaze applied to it. These pieces made reference to Arabic calligraphy and antique Islamic ceramic bowls. On all three bowls, the inscriptions around the edges are a testimony of faith, which reads, "In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful".

Figure 3.26 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art, (2019). Bowl with Arabic Inscription.

These pieces served as a form of spiritual mediation for me. The message I took from the bowl in figure 3.26, is that the Arabic inscription, written in a circular manner, creates a text is endless. The deeper message that I understood from my pieces is that if you begin a thing with Allah in mind, knowing that he is the most gracious and the most merciful, then surely He will be gracious and have mercy on you regarding what follows. 



This form of Islamic art is identified by majority of Muslims simply because the holy book, the Quran, is originally in Arabic. Artists chose certain versus from the Quran which hold a special meaning and wrote it out in a stylized manner.

This is why one will find Calligraphy on walls of buildings, paintings, utensils, jewellery, ceramics and other forms of art. It is also found in different parts of the Islamic world in styles specific to that region.

This beautiful form of art can be carried gracefully through jewellery, the challenge is figuring out just how...