Beauty

Summary

This lecture aims to explore a very important issue regarding the awareness of beauty as a universal concept which manifests itself in different ways, as well as from within the perspective of the philosophy of Islamic law (maqāṣid). The topic was delivered in an interesting and engaging way, where the philological definition of beauty was followed by the presentation of the evidences of the origin of the concept of beauty and its location within the Qurʾānic perspective - since God is beautiful and loves beauty - and that our religion commends beauty as a duty and aspiration in terms of doing and being.
Dr Esam El-Bashir proceeded to explain the foundations of the maqāṣid-based perspective on beauty; indeed, beauty is an all-inclusive concept addressing all areas and aspects of life. Moreover, it represents an absolute value, and is connected to values, in relation to the unity between outer and inner self.