We could really use some ease right now.

Hello friends and moon-faced beloveds 💗 About this account: I made this to share the beauty of Islamic literature / art & to keep up my practice of translating Classical Arabic. I use alt text to describe images and also add museum reference info there. All are welcome except haters ✨

“Surely God is All-Seeing of His servants.” — Qur’an 35:45 #quran #islam #arabic #calligraphy #khatt #maghrebi #allah #andalus

Finally, Radwa Ashour's complete Granada trilogy is available in Kay Heikkenen's English translation. Today on ArabLit, authors, translators, & scholars reflect: arablit.org/2024/12/10/a...

The poets used to say: “A situation may leave souls in distress, but there is a way out, just as knots can unravel.” #poetry #arabic #quote #syria #poem #wisdom

“There is nothing hidden in the heavens or the earth that is not written in a clear Record.” — The Qur’an, 27:75 #quran #koran #islam #islamic #quote #calligraphy #arabic #manuscript #islamicart #art #artsky

“Do good unto others, just as you would have them do good unto you.” — ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib #quote #arabic #wisdom #islamic #nahj #ali #islam #ethics

A foreign princess arrives with her entourage at the palace of Khosrow I (d. 579). Illustration done in 16th-century Iran, in The Book of Kings - a medieval epic poem in Persian. #islamic #art #artsky #history #manuscript #persian #painting #iran #shahnameh #illustration #islamicart

“If you wrong someone, fear the sting of their hatred. For whoever plants thorns will not harvest grapes.” — an old Arab proverb #quote #arabic #wisdom #proverb #poetry

“Knowledge without action is insanity, and action without knowledge is nothing at all.” — Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d. 1111) #quote #knowledge #wisdom #ghazali #learning #praxis #arabic

“Ask questions for the sake of actually learning something. Do not ask questions just to challenge someone or make them look foolish.” — ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib #quote #wisdom #islam #knowledge #education #ali

“More wisdom = less talking.” — ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

Alright *cracks knuckles* let's do this! Today I'm inaugurating an episodic Monday series titled History of Islamic Art in 100 Objects. But we have to ask the most important question first: What is Islamic art? Also, why is this even a question? 🧵 #IslamicArt100Objects

Did you know I publish a #Substack that has a large, free-to-read archive of articles based on my own research? It's called #Caravanserai: "An artist lighting her way through dark times by relearning forgotten art practices and natural ways." Check it out on majnouna.substack.com

Someone tried something like this before but when it inevitably spit out inaccurate info, people reached out to them and convinced them to stop the project. They also apologized.

al-Rahman: “the Most Compassionate, the Giver of Grace and Mercy”

“God does not guide those who do evil.” — Qur’an 2:25 #quran #islam

“The essence of religion is good character. If someone outshines you in character, they have surpassed you in religion.” — Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 1350)

“Do you want to know what has a higher degree than prayer, fasting and charity? ‎Repairing a friendship. ‎A ruined friendship cuts away at everything else.” ‎— Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ

“So, surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with every hardship, there is ease.” — Qur’an 94:5-6

“A man should not have intercourse with his wife unless he has done foreplay with her, and he recognizes desire in her eyes.” — Abū al-Layth al-Samarqandī (d. 983)

Friends, I am still around, and wishing you well. Just very very busy recently. Wonderful to see you here!

People of wisdom among the Arabs used to say: “Nothing invites ruin, curses or calamity more than upholding the wrongdoing of an oppressor.” — Abu Bakr al-Dinawari (d. 944)

“How can I help you if God has snatched mercy from your hearts?” ‎— Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ

“Sometimes the thing you ask for is not given to you, and eventually you receive something greater. The thing you wanted was pushed away by what was better for you.” — ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib

“You will not have what you seek until you let go of what you desire. And you will not attain what you love unless you can endure what you hate.” — Jesus (upon him be peace)

An artist's touch can transform the mundane into something profoundly beautiful. The text at center is not a wise saying or religious teaching. It simply says: "The letter 𝘚𝘢𝘥 (ص) with an 𝘈𝘭𝘪𝘧 (ا)." But the hand of Sultan Muhammad Nur (d. ~1536) has made it a masterpiece.

Where are the Islamic(ate) studies folks at? Any recommendations?

“Do you want to know what has a higher degree than prayer, fasting and charity? ‎Repairing a friendship. ‎A ruined friendship cuts away at everything else.” ‎— Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ

“Knowledge becomes degraded when you debate with everyone who tries to debate you, and when you reply to everyone who shares their opinion with you.” — Imam al-Shafi‘i

If you are wondering what I do with Islamic history in my historical mysteries -- and why The Sufi Mysteries Quartet is taught in university courses -- see this essay for the American Historical Association's journal "Perspectives." https://www.llsilvers.com/blog/sex-and-the-medieval-muslim-woman

Hello friends! I am also on Twitter (or whatever it's called now), where I have many more posts to see, if you're interested in following there. I hope this platform works out because things seem to be breaking down over there...

“Anyone who lacks gentleness has been cut off from all that is good.” ‎— Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ

An invocation of the Divine, from the opening page of a Persian manuscript copied in 19th-century Kashmir. "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Merciful." The most beautiful basmala I've ever seen.