Islam and the Concept of Umma

Islam as a religion defines not only faith but also ritual practices and religious norms, which have an impact on society. The birth of Islam went alongside the creation of a concept of umma in which different communities share a common religion and values up to the present day. MIA’s permanent galleries are presently undergoing a rehang with the purpose of adding a stronger educational aspect to the visitor trail providing more context and background information to its objects and making the stories more relevant to a larger audience and to the present day.

MIA’s rehang project includes a whole section dedicated to the developments related to Islam with a specific storyline on prayer. This section narrates the geographical diversity of the material culture associated to the mosque and other objects of the museum that reflect the complexity of pious expressions and practices in Islamic lands.This paper will present the curatorial approach to this complex theme, yet essential not only from the perspective of a museum implemented in a Muslim country, but also from the significance of addressing the general audience with the multiple social aspects related to the Islamic art production.

The presentation will be supported by objects from the collection, including prayer carpets, elements of minbars and mihrabs, as well as prayer books and artefacts associated to the different forms of prayers in the Islamic world.