Voice of British Muslim Women

Maha Khan, London

Many wonder whether facts and beauty can collide. Whether the workings of science can be intertwined with that of art or vice versa. Throughout history some have concluded that the line between the two subject matters is very much blurred.

When discussing such a vast subject matter, one reputable historical figure that comes to mind is Leonardo da Vinci, also known as the master of art and science. He understood the intersection between art and science and excelled in both fields. Many are aware of Leonardo da Vinci’s oh-so-famous masterpiece “Mona Lisa”, as it captivates all its admirers. The slight smile and the sideways glance gives a glimpse into her inner psychology. To accomplish this masterpiece, he carefully engineered the iconic portrait by cleverly studying the muscles and nerves of the face which is the beauty of the collision of science and art.

Art and science have most definitely coexisted, often indistinguishable from one another, across space and time. A great deal of early documented examples comes from the Islamic culture, where art and science joined in intricate star-shaped architectural geometry, and the use of “nur” (light) and material science to design utensils and lettering in manuscripts.

Nowadays, the relationship between art and science in our society is more complex: Even though scientists and artists both are driven to observe and create, they mainly are separated by a cultural divide and share opposing cultural spheres. These spheres come together through serendipity and other times intentionally.

However, the two are more intertwined than we like to believe, as both are human attempts to comprehend and describe the world around us. Though the audiences and methods may differ the end goal is fundamentally the same.

I believe that the most primal need of a human being is to understand our world, and our existence and share our knowledge with the rest of mankind. More than ever, there seems to be a pressing need for demolition of the wall that separates the world of science and art.

We have witnessed throughout history that mankind makes great progress when this barrier is removed. In the past, during periods of great enlightenment, scientific revolutions have often been accompanied by an artistic boom. A great example of this has been the Renaissance period which completely renewed Europe after a long, dark and unproductive period.

God has advanced mankind to the degree that it can make such innovations and discoveries. The Nobel prize winner, Dr Abdus Salam was a physicist who proclaimed that his muse was the Holy Holy Qur’an. He firmly claimed that there are hidden gems in the Holy Book for those who are willing to look and understand. God Almighty states:

‘In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of the night and the day there are indeed Signs for men of understanding;

Those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and ponder over the creation of the heavens and the earth: “Our Lord, Thou hast not created this in vain…’ (3:191-192)

It is bemusing to those with a curious mind that the Book which appeared 1400 years ago can hold such an important value in the scientific world. It truly is the ultimate example of the world of literature and science collaborating in an inseparable bond. The Holy Qur’an emphasizes the superiority of the alim علیم– a person endowed with or possessed of knowledge.

There are an astonishing 750 verses of the Holy Qur’an which exhort believers to study nature, to ponder, to make the best use of reason in their search for the ultimate and to make the acquiring of knowledge and scientific comprehension part of a community’s livelihood.

The study of nature whether it be through science or artistic observation has been encouraged in the religion of Islam. Islamic art has been an integral part of the architecture, paintings and other artistic mediums throughout history. There are repeating elements in Islamic art, such as the use of stylised geometric floral, or vegetal designs in a repetition known as the arabesque. The arabesque in Islamic art is often used to symbolise the transcendent, indivisible and infinite nature of God. The truth is when human minds ponder over the world that surrounds them, whether it be their conscious mind or the external realities of our existence it always leads us to the ultimate Fashioner and Creator of this universe. As a matter of fact, upon reflection, it is quite beautiful that every petal, every leaf or stone takes one back to one’s source of life, to one’s Creator.