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Islamic
Calligraphy
ArticleGOLD: Articles Directory
By: saim
A Islamic Calligraphy has arguably become the most reverenced form of
Islamic art. It provides a link between the languages of the Muslims
with the religion of Islam. The Muslim calligraphists have great
contributions in taking this Islamic art to this zenith. The holy book
of Islam, Al-Qur’an, has played an important role in the development and
evolution of the Arabic language, and by extension, calligraphy in the
Arabic alphabet. The famous Islamic artists have created Arabic
calligraphy of supreme quality. Till today, The chief sources for
Islamic calligraphy are the proverbs and complete passages from the Holy
Qur'an. In modern times, the supply of Islamic calligraphy has also
become a flourishing Islamic art business.
Islamic calligraphy is a visible expression of the highest art of all
for the muslim. It is the art of the spiritual world. Calligraphy
literally means writing beautifully and ornamentally. Islamic
calligraphy is the art of writing, and by extension, of bookmaking. This
art has most often employed the Arabic script, throughout many
languages. Since Arabic calligraphy was the primary means for the
preservation of the Qur'an, Calligraphy is especially revered among
Islamic arts. The work of the famous muslim calligraphers were collected
and greatly appreciated throughout Islamic history. Consideration of
figurative art as idolatrous led to calligraphy and abstract figures
becoming the main methods of artistic expression in Islamic cultures.
Contemporary muslim calligraphers are also producing the Islamic
calligraphy of high artistic quality.
Calligraphic scripts
The Kufic script is the first of those calligraphic scripts to gain
popularit. It was angular, made of square and short horizontal strokes,
long verticals, and bold, compact circles. For three centuries, this
script had been mainly used to copy the Qur'an. The cursive Naskh script
was more often used for casual writing. This script had rounder letters
and thin lines. It would come to be preferred to Kufic for copying the
Qur'an as techniques for writing in this style were refined. Almost all
printed material in Arabic is in Naskh. The Thuluth would take on the
ornamental role formerly associated with the Kufic script in the 13th
century. Thuluth is usually written in ample curves as it has a strong
cursive aspect. The Persians took to using Arabic script for their own
language, Persian after their conversion to Islam. The Ta'liq and
Nasta'liq styles were contributed to Arabic calligraphy by the Persians.
Nasta'liq style is extremely cursive, with exaggeratedly long horizontal
strokes. The Diwani script is a cursive style of Arabic calligraphy. It
was developed during the reign of the early Ottoman Turks (16th and
early 17th centuries). This outstanding Diwani script was both
decorative and communicative. Finally, Riq'a is the most commonly used
script for everyday use. It is simple and easy to write. Its movements
are small. In China, a calligraphic form called Sini has been developed.
This form has evident influences from Chinese calligraphy. Hajji Noor
Deen Mi Guangjiang is a famous modern calligrapher in this tradition.
Calligrams
The most Islamic of arts in the Muslim world, has also its figurative
sides. The muslim calligraphers have produced wonderful anthropomorphic
figures by interweaving written words, made from an "Allah", a
"Muhammad", a "Bismillah", etc., or using micrography. These include ,
('Ali, the Ideal Human of mystics, a praying man, a face), (Duldul,
horse of 'Ali, horse ('Ali's Duldul), fish, stork or other bird (the
qur'anic Hudhud) and unanimated representations (a sword (Dhu al-Fiqar)
and a mosque. Calligrams are related to Muslim mysticism and popular
with many leading calligraphers in Turkey, Persia and India from the
17th century onward.
Pakistani Islamic Calligraphy
Pakistan has produced Islamic calligraphist of international
recognition. Sadeqain is on of these international fame Islamic
calligraphist. He was an untraditional and self-made, self-taught
painter and calligrapher. He did a lot of work on Quranic calligraphy.
Many other contemporary Pakistani calligraphists like Gul Gee have
created great contemporary Islamic calligraphy. These days, Islamic
calligraphies of Tufail and Uzma Tufail are getting very much popular
both in Pakistan and all over the world.
Islamic Calligrahpy as an Islamic Gift
The Muslims love to adore their homes, offices and places of their work
with the Islamic calligraphy. The Islamic calligraphies especially the
verses from the Holy Quran and the verses from the sayings of the Holy
Prophet are considered to be very sacred to muslims. Islamic calligraphy
indeed make the perfect gift for a muslim for any special occasion. A
muslim can send an Islamic gift of Islamic calligraphy to congratulate
his relative or friend on his new home or new office or on his birthday
or wedding ceremony or on Eid Festival.
It is great news for the muslims living all over the world to get the
Islamic paintings and Islamic calligraphy of their own choice. Please
visit our website at www.paintingsgifts4u.com and click the section of
the Islamic paintings. You can get Islamic Calligraphy of your choice
just by selecting the Item number of the Islamic Painting or by sending
the Holy verse of your choice. We also supply Islamic paintings and
Islamic Calligraphy from Pakistan on wholesale basis at very best
prices. We are supplying cheap Islamic paintings and cheap Islamic
calligraphies with high quality. There are great business opportunities
as well for those who wish to start Islamic art business..
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