The Relationship between Industry and Art in the Thinking of Qutbuddin Shirazi

The term 'industry' now signifies art in today's common understanding. Historically, 'industry' was employed in a broader sense rather than referring to art, and it underwent analysis and scrutiny by thinkers. For instance, in literary texts, it was depicted as a virtue, and in Islamic wisdom and Sufism, it was denoted as a profession imbued with sanctity, encompassing both physical and spiritual dimensions. Each Islamic sage and philosopher interpreted it similarly, leading them to view the creation of artificial works from a spiritual perspective. Undoubtedly, the primary source of discussions on industry, including the views of pre-Socratic critics, can be traced back to Greek sources. Qutb al-Din is undeniably indebted to these profound ideas within the realms of philosophy, ethics, and spirituality. This study, utilizing a descriptive-analytical approach, seeks to address the following questions: What is the relationship between industry and art in Qutbuddin's works? How does Qutbuddin's conception of industry differ from the contemporary understanding of art? The findings indicate that Qutbuddin's industry was associated with a profession, with a broad application, and he approached it from a perspective of spiritual conduct. According to this sage, the concept of art differs significantly from its contemporary interpretation. Allameh's classification of industries acknowledges that they all stem from knowledge, emphasizing that one lacking manufacturing knowledge would be unable to produce industries.