Farhang Mozaffar, Ahmad Aminpoor, Ahmad Reza Okhovat, Atefeh Poursalehi,
Volume 5, Issue 4 (3-2018)
Abstract
In Islamic standpoints, many issues are expressed about the beauty. When it comes to talk about beauty in Islam and the Holy Quran context, the first step towards creating perception and defining the criteria for beauty is perhaps attaining a logical and specific system of definition from the beauty concept in the so called context. By referring to the written texts in this field by philosophers, theoreticians, and Aestheticians, various definitions of beauty are attained that confuses the reader. Since sometimes the beauty is dignified in a way that it stands next to the God name and elsewhere is defined as the coordination of components in an object or it is considered to depend on the human perception whether is understood sensible or rational. This discrepancy in the levels of beauty definitions is such that finally the reader does not know where to find beauty. As a result, no specific criterion is achieved for the evaluation of beauty.
By studying the verses including the word “Hosn” and its derivatives, it is concluded that beauty and “Hosn” are explained at different levels in Quran verses. So the main issue of this article is the discrepancy in beauty definition levels in the Islamic context and the lack of a specific definition system in this field along with the ambiguity of the relationship between beauty and admiration with art in this standpoint.
The purpose of this article is to attain a specific definition system to organize the definitions of beauty upon which a criterion for beauty evaluation and suitable relationship between beauty and its admiration can be gained.
Methodology: For this purpose, the method of gathering the verses containing “Hosn” and its derivatives was implemented by considering verse-oriented meaning of the word derived by full inductive reasoning. Then the analysis method and classification of the verses based on the derived subjects were used to find the different levels of beauty. Finally, using the accordance of these levels with existing definitions in the field of beauty, the classification of the levels and then deriving the levels of “Tasdiq” or confirmation and beauty admiration were done.
Defining firm levels for the beauty and proving this hypothesis with full inductive reasoning from the Quranic verses and the correspondence of these levels with the definitions of beauty is presented for the first time as a novelty. These levels are defined by gathering all the verses containing the word “Hosn” and its derivatives in the Holy Quran in a way that one can claim that no verse about “Hosn” exists unless it can be classified in these levels, and furthermore, all the levels also include some verses.
Results: By contemplation on the verses of the Holy Quran, it seems that five levels of “Hosn” exist. Based on these levels the concept of beauty also has levels. These levels enable us to classify the presented definitions of beauty by the experts in these five levels. In other words, wherever beauty is mentioned, the desired level could be specified and evaluated. Looking at “Hosn” at different levels, creates more accurate and more detailed insight which makes possible any theoretical and applied addressing of “Hosn” more functional and scientific. About the definition of “Hosn” and beauty in the Holy Quran according to the expressed levels, perhaps it can be mentioned that:
1st level: Existential emanation of “Hosn” at “Asma-ol-Hosna”.
2nd level: Emanation of “Hosn” and beauty in creatures and creations.
3rd level: Comprehension, recognition, and perception of “Hosn” and beauty with human Fitrah or premordial human nature.
4th level: Freewill human expressions from “Hosn” and beauty in behavior, actions, and speech.
5th level: The effects of “Hosn” and beauty in the destiny and the consequences of the human deeds.
Also some levels of “Tasdiq” or confirmation and beauty admiration could be expressed based on the beauty levels:
“Tasdiq” or confirmation of the existentiality of “Hosn” and Admiration of the entity.
“Tasdiq” or confirmation of the manifested “Hosn” in the existent and the well admiration of “Hosn” manifestation.
“Tasdiq” or confirmation of the wellness of “Hosn” and admiration of “Hosn” perception.
“Tasdiq” or confirmation of the wellness of good deeds and admiration of “Hosn” expression in the humankind.
“Tasdiq” or confirmation of the wellness of the good destiny and Admiration of the effectiveness and fruitfulness of “Hosn”
The levels of “Hosn” and admiration of the beauty in the art can have practical aspects; such that the artist can reflect the desired level of beauty in his artwork according to the audience needs. Also the critics of artworks can have more accurate evaluation by implementing the levels of “Hosn” as one of the fundamentals of evaluation. Besides, the cultural directors of a society by acquiring the knowledge of “Hosn” and beauty levels along with considering the needs and the growth of specific audiences can take more accurate actions towards choosing artworks for displaying to the audience based on the guidance and nurturing capability of art with Quranic fundamentals.
