Explanation of the Relationship Between Islam and Islamic Art in the Thought of Seyyed Hossein Nasr

The term "Islamic art" is among those initially coined by Western scholars for their Orientalist studies and research. However, it did not take long for the conceptual nature of this term to be questioned. Over time, various approaches attempted to answer this question, though some denied its validity altogether. Amidst this, in the 20th century, a movement known as *Traditionalism* emerged, some of whose figures engaged in discussions on Islamic art. Seyyed Hossein Nasr is one of the contemporary Iranian Traditionalist thinkers who has dedicated some of his writings to Islamic art. The question is: What relationship does Nasr posit between Islam and Islamic art? In other words, if we consider Nasr’s thought as a coherent whole, how can we explain the relationship between Islamic art and Islam within it? The aim of this paper is to answer this question. The findings of the research indicate that, in Nasr’s thought, there is a direct relationship between Islamic art and the Islamic tradition—meaning that Islamic art is not merely the art of Muslims but rather an art deeply influenced by the Islamic tradition. To understand its related works, one must refer to this very tradition. However, since the Islamic tradition consists of multiple layers, the metaphysical and mystical dimensions play a fundamental role in this regard.