white, red and black, blue, green

Evidence

"For time constrains, this thesis would only focus on color symbolism in Islamic book paintings."

Remarks

The thesis investigates color symbolism in Islamic book paintings, emphasizing that color was not merely aesthetic but had functional and symbolic purposes (p. 5-6). It reviews the development of color theory from Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Ptolemy to Islamic scholars like al-Kindi, Ibn al-Haytham, and Ibn Sina, who explored how light affects the perception of color (p. 9-12). Research by Schimmel is cited, linking white, red, and black to Quranic verses and Sufi spiritual meanings: white for purity and goodness, black for evil or the light of ecstasy, blue for mourning and asceticism, red for energy and power, and green for life and paradise (p. 15-16). The research notes the lack of distinct differentiation between blue and green in pre-Islamic Arabic terminology (p. 18).