Pilgrimage

Compass of Faith

About Compass of Faith

The astrolabe was one of the most important tools in the Islamic world. Muslim scholars used it to determine the direction of the Kaabah and the times for prayer. The precision and ingenuity that went into developing it was extraordinary, and it came from a deep commitment to getting worship right.

What I find fascinating is that same need exists today. We just open an app on our phone or check our watch. The technology has changed completely but the intention behind it is exactly the same. That continuity, centuries of Muslims finding their way to the Kaabah, is what this painting is about for me.

The painting is built on a black canvas. The astrolabe is rendered in intricate gold and copper, its circular form filled with layered geometric patterns and fine lines radiating outwards from the centre. The Kaabah sits at the heart of it, a simple black cube, surrounded by all of that detail. A pointed form rises above it, like a compass needle finding its direction. Everything in the composition points inward, towards that one fixed point.



Dimensions: 100×120cm


Textured Acrylic on canvas

The astrolabe, developed to determine prayer times and the direction of the Kaabah, stands as a testament to the confluence of science and religion in Islamic history. A reflection of a rich intellectual heritage.

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