Lines of Faith
Eastern
& Western
Instruments
"Lord of the two
Easts and Lord of the two Wests" (55.17)
Although instruments such as qibla-indicators are purely
Islamic, others were also common in Europe, such as astrolabes. Islamic and
European astrolabes can differ in many ways, even though they were used for
similar purposes, and have a common origin. The Islamic need for finding prayer
times, and determining the direction of Mecca inevitably led to markings on
instruments which are not found on Western examples. Islamic instruments also
tend to be of a highly decorative nature in contrast to the European trend
towards functionality. This is in order to fulfill the duty of Muslim craftsmen
to produce beautiful works, and hence serve God.
The Islamic
association of instruments with religion was sometimes mirrored in European
examples. Instruments such as dials, although not used for any specific purpose
associated with Christian worship, could be shaped as crucifixes, or contain
reliquaries - small compartments in which to place religious relics.