Written for The Argo by Iman Ahmed on behalf of the Muslim Student Association.

The Muslim Student Association is proud to announce that in honor of Muslim Heritage Month, they will be holding an Islamic Art Fair. This event will take place in the Campus Center Event Room on Wednesday January 31, 2024, starting at 4 p.m. Along with vendors and food, there will be interactive art stations. The stations will be based on Islamic art practices including water marbling, tote bag making, pottery, and calligraphy. 

On April 29, 2023, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a resolution, Bill SJR105, that declared January to be the official Muslim Heritage Month in New Jersey. January 2024 is the first official Muslim Heritage Month. New Jersey is home to over 320,000 Muslims making it the state with the fourth-largest Muslim population. 

During the Eid celebration that took place in Drumthwacket, Governor Phil Murphy stated, “I am proud to designate January of each year as Muslim Heritage Month as it will shine a light on the rich histories, cultures, and shared principles of Muslim Americans. New Jersey takes great pride in its diversity and we will continue to recognize and celebrate the positive impact Muslims have made, and continue to make, to the advancement of this state.”

Throughout the long, rich, and impactful history of Islam, Muslims from all over the world have had a significant influence on their way of living. From discoveries as simple as coffee, windmills, and pens to complex inventions including hospitals, universities, surgery, and even algebra, Muslim innovations shaped the modern world. 

Muslim Heritage Month allows people to educate themselves about the religion and rich culture of Muslims throughout history. For decades, Muslims have been painted in a negative light. Islamophobia directly impacts hundreds of thousands of Muslims in today’s world. Individuals must strive to better educate themselves about the truth rather than making assumptions based on what is stereotyped and/or stigmatized.

Muslim Heritage Month serves as a time for reflection, celebration, education, and appreciation of the array of diversity seen throughout Muslim communities. Muslims continue to enrich cultures all around the world via their contributions to poetry, movies, the arts, and spiritual and intellectual understanding. 

Islamic Art plays an important role in the Heritage of Muslims. Art has been used to express emotions, convey messages, and evoke thought-provoking responses, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers. Islamic Art was introduced in the 7th century by Muslim populations. Islamic Art is not limited to being created only for purposes of the Muslim faith, such as Mosques, but blends into art as well as architecture that was historically created by Muslims, for Muslims, in land ruled by Muslims. 

There are 3 components of Islamic Art, calligraphy, vegetal patterns, and geometric patterns. Out of respect for their creator, Allah, Muslims practice aniconism, the absence of direct depictions of nature in art, particularly of humans or animals. Calligraphy is the design art of writing and is achieved with writing tools. Vegetal patterns are influenced by plants and flowers that are found in the natural world. Geometric patterns are a blend of mathematical logic as well as intricate design. It is known to represent “the primordial symbol of unity and the ultimate source of all diversity in creation”.

Spirituality is a meaningful aspect of Islamic Art. Each form of art in Islamic tradition relies on the science of nature. Rather than being based on the physical appearance of things, it is consumed by their inner reality. Art plays an important role in the lives of Muslims when it becomes a remembrance of God.

Guest speaker, Asma Waheed, MFA Resident Artist at MICA, will further inform attendees of the event on the importance of Islamic Art. 

Asma Waheed is an American artist with Pakistani roots who resides in Ellicott City, Maryland, and is a proud mother of four children. Asma earned a Bachelor’s in Education from West Virginia University before pursuing a Master’s in Ceramics from Hood College, Maryland. She has showcased her artwork in several states across the US, including Maine, Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, Montana, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Maryland. Asma is pursuing her MFA in studio art at the Maryland Institute College of Arts. She has been honored with the institute’s Leslie King Hammond Graduate Fellowship and the Windgate University Fellowship award from Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.

The Islamic heritage is very important in the modern age. It is necessary that Muslims understand their rich cultural heritage, which has endured over several dynasties and historical eras. Non-Muslims should also be aware of the enduring influence that the rich traditions of Muslims have had throughout history.