DEARBORN — Does Islamic art reflect the faith of Islam? Is there such a thing as Qur’anic iconography and how is it related to Biblical iconography?  What is the role of the muqarnas (geometric design) and Arabic calligraphy in Islamic architecture? How can we identify Islamic art? As Henry Ford Community College continues to provide quality education, the Fine Arts Division offers ART of Islam (ART 224) every winter semester. The course is an opportunity for students to learn about not only the history of the visual arts and architecture of Islam, but also about the religion, culture and history of the Muslim peoples. Students will also learn about the forbidden human forms (figurative) in Islamic art and its theological and historical background in relation to Byzantine iconoclasm. According to the course instructor, Dr. Hashim Al-Tawil, this year the course will contain two new sections.  The first is coverage of the arts and architecture of contemporary cultures of early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque Gothic, and Renaissance communities and the interaction among these cultures and the Islamic world through peaceful means and wars. The second is a focus on the Muslims in Europe-Spain and Italy (8-15th centuries). Much of the information and materials in this section are the result of Dr. Al-Tawil’s recent Fulbright research, conducted in Italy during the summer of 2007. Students in this course will learn about major Islamic monuments and their history, such as the Ka’aba in Mecca, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the Great Mosque of Damascus, the Great Mosque of Cordoba, and many other religious and secular buildings in the Islamic world. The class will also have a field trip to visit the Islamic Center of America and participate in an actual calligraphic decoration of the interior of the mosque by a Lebanese professional decorator. The class is three credit/hours and meets evenings from 6:10-9:00 p.m. every Wednesday starting on January 9, 2007. The course is transferable to local colleges and universities including the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. For further information call 313.845.6489 or e-mail hal-tawil@hcc.edu. You can also register on line at  //www.hfcc.edu/.