Where were images of people and animals sometimes allowed in Islamic art?

While Islamic art is generally governed by the principle of aniconism—the religious prohibition against representing living creatures—this rule has historically undergone various modifications and exceptions.1

Images of people and animals were sometimes allowed in the following contexts:

• Private Spaces: Figurative depictions were often tolerated when confined to private apartments, palaces, and harems, such as those belonging to the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties, as well as in Persian and Turkish contexts.1
• Secular Art and Literature: Human and animal figures frequently appeared in miniature paintings used to illustrate literary works, historical chronicles, and epic poetry, such as the Shāh-nāmeh.12
• Decorative Elements: Figures were sometimes combined with ornamental designs, such as arabesques, where their function was considered decorative or symbolic rather than representational.1
• Specific Cultural Traditions: The Shi'ah tradition, in particular, produced numerous pictorial representations of Muhammad and his family. Additionally, secular objects like carpets and certain palace decorations incorporated animal and human motifs.13