Islamic Depictions of Mohammed with Face Hidden

Islamic Depictions of Mohammed with Face Hidden


In order to sidestep the prohibition against actually depicting Mohammed, artists in Muslim societies sometimes showed him with his face blank or hidden. This way it could be claimed that they never actually drew Mohammed -- only his clothes.

(Note: Several art historians and scholars have written in to say that some of the faceless Mohammeds shown here were likely to have been originally drawn with faces that were later scratched out.)


The Prophet Mohammed in a Mosque. Turkey, 16th century, painting on paper. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The artist depicted Mohammed in very long sleeves so as to avoid showing his hands, though his neck and hints of his features are visible.
(Hat tip: Brett K.)


This is a miniature from Siyer-i Nebi, a Turkish religious biography of Mohammed completed in 1388 and later lavishly illustrated with 814 miniatures under the reign of Ottoman ruler Murad III, being completed in 1595. Many of the miniatures depict Mohammed, and this particular one shows Ali bin Abu Taleb beheading Nasr bin al-Hareth in the presence of Mohammed and his companions.


Newly born Mohammed in his mother's arms being shown to his grandfather and Meccans. From a Turkish book illustration (date unknown). University of California, San Diego.
(Hat tip: Brett K.)


Persian miniature from the mid-1500s depicting Mohammed ascending to paradise astride the miraculous horse Buraq, surrounded by angels. In Islamic lore, this event is called the "miraj," or the Night Journey.


Mohammad (head engulfed in sacred fire) returning from the Miraj. Persian. Date unknown.


The Prophet Muhammad and the Muslim army at the battle of Uhud: illustrated leaf from a manuscript of the Siyar-i-Nabi, made for Sultan Murad III, copied by the scribe Mustafa bin Vali, Ottoman, Constantinople, c.1594. Sold by auction at Sotheby's in 2001.
(Hat tip: Kilgore Trout.)


Islamic image of the Koran being revealed to Mohammed during a battle. Source unknown.


The Angel Gabriel cleansing Mohammed's heart of impurities in preparation for his ascent to heaven, while the other angels watch. From the 16th-century manuscript The Progress of the Prophet, from Turkey. Image taken from this site which not only features other images of Mohammed but also has a very informative essay about the folkloric and mythological origins of the "miraj," which is not actually described in the Koran.


Another image of Mohammed riding Buraq up to heaven. Provenance unknown; taken from the same site as above.


Allegorical scene of Mohammed riding Buraq during his "Night Voyage." Origin unknown.


Mohammed at the Kaaba. Miniature from the Ottoman Empire, c. 1595. In The Topkapi Museum, Istanbul.
(Hat tip: Jos.)



Mohammed with the Angel Gabriel. Miniature from the Ottoman Empire, c. 1595. In The Topkapi Museum, Istanbul.
(Hat tip: Jos.)



Mohammed praying at the Kaaba in Mecca. Turkish miniature from the Ottoman Empire; date unknown.
(Hat tip: S.)


The unattributed image of Mohammed sitting on a rug at a banquet was posted on the blog of a Dutch-Iranian academic.


Mohammed is depicted in this painting at the upper right, riding on a camel. The painting is called "The Day of the Last Judgment"; unsigned but attributed to the artist Mohammad Modabber. Undated, but likely from the late 19th century. In the Reza Abbasi Museum Collection (Iran). Published in the book Coffee-House Painting, by Hadi Seyf (published by the Reza Abbasi Museum).


Detail of the painting above, showing Mohammed on a camel overseeing the judgment of mankind, with other prophets on a staircase to the left.


Mohammed is depicted in the center of this painting, with his face covered. The painting is also called "The Day of the Last Judgment"; signed by the artist Mohammad Modabber, from 1897. In the Sa'd-Abad Cultural Collection (Iran). Published in the book Coffee-House Painting, by Hadi Seyf (published by the Reza Abbasi Museum).


Detail of the painting above, showing Mohammed in the lower center with his face covered, observing angels using the scales of justice. Other holy men, also with their faces covered, can be seen on the left.


Mohammed and his wife Aisha freeing the daughter of a tribal chief. From the Siyer-i Nebi. In the Topkapi Palace Library, Istanbul.


Mohammed giving his daughter Fatima in marriage to his cousin Ali. From the Siyer-i Nebi. In the Topkapi Palace Library, Istanbul.


Mohammed (in green, lower left) marching to the Battle of Uhud. From the Siyer-i Nebi. In the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, Istanbul.


The Angel Gabriel appearing to Mohammed, on Mount al-Noor (a hill near Mecca where Mohammed received his first visions; you can find it on this map of Mecca as "al-Nour," upper right). A miniature illustration from the biography of Mohammed entitled Siyar-i Nabi, by Ahmed Nur Ibn Mustafa, published in Turkey, 18th century.


Mohammed on the "Miraj," or Night Journey, riding on Buraq amidst angels. From the Khamsa of Nizami, Shirazi style of painting, Persia, 1517 AD. This is one of the clearest examples of Mohammed being painted originally with his face visible, but having it later scratched out by a religious zealot. Published in the book Islamic Art.


The Ascent of Mohammed to heaven on Buraq. From a Persian manuscript, c. 1570. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper. From the collection of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.
(Hat tip: Brett K.)


Mohammed (top, veiled) and the first four Caliphs. From the Subhat al-Akhbar. Original in the Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek) in Vienna.


Mohammed enthroned in heaven, attended by angels. Likely Persian, but date and location unknown.


Mohammed (with face not visible) lying (possibly dead) in a grotto, with anachronistic Mongol warriors looking on.


Indian or Asian painting of Mohammed receiving visions.


Mohammed preaching. Origin unknown.
(Hat tip: S.)


Mohammed flying over Mecca during the miraj, his ascent to heaven. Turkey, early 17th century. From the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.


Mohammed (seated on a white horse, head shrouded in sacred fire) destroying the idols at the Ka'aba in Mecca. From an 11th-century Persian miniature, housed in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris.


Mohammed ascending to Paradise.


Mohammed (face not visible) in an illustration of an episode from the Koran.


The Hilye-i Serif, by Hafiz Osman, 17th century. This is a calligraphic verbal description of Mohammed, as opposed to an actual representation of him. Such "word pictures" began to supplant visual depictions starting in the 1600s. In the Topkapi Palace Library, Istanbul.


This comtemporary Iranian image apparently shows Mohammed and Ali from the back.
(Hat tip: Raafat.)


This photo, taken recently by Andrew Stern at the Al-Huda squatter's camp in Baghdad, shows Iraqi children with a poster that includes what at first appears to be a portrait of Mohammed (at the lower left, with his face whited out). However, according to the author of this page, this poster -- the original of which can be viewed here -- actually shows the 12 Imams of Shi'ite Islam, starting with Mohammed's son-in-law Ali (who is also the figure depicted in the larger portraits) and culminating with the hidden "12th Imam," who is shown with a blank face (because he has not yet appeared). Even though this picture therefore probably does not depict Mohammed (as originally thought), it will remain on this page for informational purposes.
(hat tip: Rune)

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