Depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are on display at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, home to one of Europe's best collections of Islamic manuscripts. Kitty Holland reports
The museum director says that although images of Muhammad are considered blasphemous by most Muslims, the museum shows several miniatures, particularly in manuscripts by Sufi Muslims from the Persian Empire.
Michael Ryan said the Chester Beatty was "discreet" when displaying texts or manuscripts featuring images of Muhammad which show his face obscured, either with a veil or by a bright light or a halo.
"Some have voiced concerns about the texts. But we regard these as historical documents, though when they are on display we don't shout about it. We try to be discreet," Mr Ryan said.
The Imam of the Islamic Foundation of Ireland, Sheikh Yayha Al Hussein, said he had written to the library "a few years ago to tell them it was wrong".
"But generally these are images done a long time ago by other Muslims", he added. "We don't want to protest to the Irish museum about it now, but they wouldn't be shown in a museum in a Muslim country."
One manuscript depicts Muhammad and his son-in-law, Ali. The image, Ali Taking The Fortress of Qamus, is taken from a copy of The Realm of Purity by Rawzat al-Safa and was completed in Shiraz, Iran, in AD 1595. The explanatory note beside it in the museum states: "He [ Muhammad] and Ali are easily identified by the flaming haloes that engulf their heads."
Mr Ryan said: "The representation of the human form, and even more so of prophets and especially of Muhammad is considered blasphemous by most Muslims. The Sunni Muslims in particular find the idea of an image depicting Muhammad extremely difficult." Some 90 per cent of Muslims are Sunni.
Also on display in the museum is Scene From the Story of Miqdad ibn Aswad - a Turkish and Arabic text dated AD 1594-95. "This manuscript is highly unusual in that it originally contained over 800 miniatures most of which portray the prophet Muhammad," says the accompanying explanatory note.
Summayah Kenna, spokeswoman for the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh, Dublin, said the centre would not consider protesting over the displays. "We appreciate the work of the Chester Beatty. We would just ignore those images if we went to to the Library."
Meanwhile, at a press conference in Dublin yesterday, Sheikh Yayha Al Hussein joined Dr Nooh Al Kaddo, executive director of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, and Sheikh Hussein Halawa, Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, in condemning cartoons in European newspapers depicting the prophet with bombs.
Muslims here have been "extremely offended" by the cartoons and saw them as "an attack on our prophet, an attack on our faith".