Islamic Calligraphy Connects People with Their Spirituality: Artist

TEHRAN (IQNA) – An artist says Islamic calligraphy is able to establish a connect between people and their spirituality.

According to Canada-based artist Salwa Najb, Islamic calligraphy that depicts verses from the Quran or names of respected figures in Islam “connects people with their spirituality”.

"When you see calligraphy on the walls, it is usually a religious message. You'll see verses from the Qur'an, and names of people respected in the religion. Each time people come in and see the walls, they will be reminded of those people and those verses," he told CBC while doing a calligraphy project for an Islamic center in Whitehorse.

She arrived in Whitehorse on Feb. 21 with her assistant, Ahsia Aghbari, and the two women spent a week painting multiple, elaborate pieces of Arabic scripture on the walls. 

Najb says she has spent the better part of 20 years painting Islamic architecture, and calligraphy is an important part of that. However, focusing solely on calligraphy is relatively new to her, as is working on vertical walls. 

"It's very challenging," she said. "But I like it more than I expected. It is very spiritually fulfilling, and it's even better if I can travel and meet people in remote communities like here in the Yukon."

Najm says she proposed painting various pieces of Arabic scripture from the Qur'an, and Ahmed made some additional suggestions for names of people to be included in the works.

Israr Ahmed, president of the Yukon Muslim Association, says his motivation to make this work happen comes from an Islamic value of pursuing excellence. 

"If you look around the Muslim world, you will find architectural marvels, and these are all, in essence, acts of worship because we are commanded to pursue excellence in whatever we do," he said.

"Calligraphy was also an art form that developed from that thought — that whatever you write, let it be so beautiful that it inspires people, and when you look at it you have that spiritual connection."

Ahmed says he hopes that when people walk into the mosque, they will see the murals and be spiritually nourished.

The Muslim community in Whitehorse is currently made up of close to 120 people, and Ahmed says that for them the mosque is more than a place of worship — it is a place to eat, to have conversations, and resolve disputes.

"It's a place that caters to all your spiritual needs," he said.

Source: CBC.ca