Motifs from the Quranic script

Calligraphy is an ascetic art of writing. This abstract form is inspired by Islamic thought. The Semite began Arabic calligraphy and Islamic calligraphy is of that origin. A calligrapher makes an interaction between motifs from the Quranic script and different forms of abstract art. His product is a display of art of peace rather than an 'art for art sake' only. Thus a calligrapher's mission is to promote global peace. His job is of a missionary in the modern turbulent world. He began serving long before paper was invented or printing machine was used.

A calligrapher is a highly esteemed man in a Muslim society just like an Hafez of the Quran. Prophet Muhammad (S) recited the Quran with the help of Jibrail (A) but his nearest relative Hazrat Ali(R) read it himself and wrote it as a calligrapher. He was the calligrapher or writer of the Treaty of Hudybia. From that day onward Islamic calligraphy is going on. From the very beginning of Islamic civilisation, Muslim rulers of the world patronised Islamic calligraphy and painting for didactic use. The Abbasid rulers kept it alive by translating ancient valuable manuscripts of the past civilization. Islamic civilization flourished under their magnificent expression. They made Islamic calligraphy an art of decoration also.

In pre Islamic Arabia, the ka'ba at Mecca, at the time of 'Okaj Mela' was decorated with Arabic calligraphy. It is learnt that Shish (A) son of Hazrat Adam(A) used Arabic script and the Arabs developed it. With the expansion of Islam, Islamic calligraphy gained popularity throughout the world. In modern Bangladesh, a group of calligraphers produced excellent calligraphy out of their own interest. In the Biennial Asian Fine Arts Exhibition organised by the Bangladesh Shilpa Kala Academy one can find calligraphers' work of Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Kuwait and other Muslim countries. There are names of Sadekyn, Ar Mafi, Pyros, Rafilahhan as calligraphers of modern Muslim world.

Under the patronage of the Muslim rulers of Bengal, the art of Islamic calligraphy began in the 13th century. Specimen of those are there in the Bangladesh National Museum. Those were done on the wall of mosques or on stone slab used for mosques. The style of writing were kufic, Naskh, Sulz, Tughra and others. The motifs were either from the Quranic verses, or from the words of the Prophet(S) or names of the rulers who patronised the work or all mingled together.

The Tughra style is currently used by the calligraphers of Bangladesh. Among the watercolour painters calligraphers of Bangladesh names of Ibrahim Mondol, K.H Moniruzzaman, Monwar Hossain are worth mentionable. Calligraphic work of famous elderly painters Murtaza Baseer, Shamsul Islam Nizami, Abu Taher are there along with a bunch of promising new comers like Sabih ul Alam, Md. Rezaul Karim, Rasha, Ibrahim Mondol, Nasiruddin Ahmed, Aminul Islam Amin, Shahidullah F. Bari, Mahboob Murshid, M.A. Aziz, Md. Ameenul Haq, Md Anwar Hosain, Mubashhir Mojumdar, M.A. Rahim, Rafiqullah Gazali, Ha Mim Kifaytullah, Md. Masum Billah and others. Most of the calligraphers have used Arabic script from the Quranic verses. Famous painter Dr. Abdus Satter has used Bengali script in calligraphy. Artist Rahsa better known as sculptor has set a calligraphy in Bengali alphabet engraved on wood. Recently flourished known calligrapher Ibrahim Mondol has attained a firm place in the arena of calligraphy. He composes letters in such a way that the colour, the form, and abstract figure in painting attain excellence in unity and uniformity. There is a speciality in his art of calligraphy, which can be called Sulz style of 'Mahi'. 'Mahi' is a style where fish like form is produced in colour. In his ascetic art, the Quranic verses are used that produced aesthetic beauty.. Artist Nasir Khan has used "Allah", "Aleef laam meem" in Arabic script very successfully and aesthetically. Ameerul Huq has produced "forbidden" colourfully and successfully. He has nicely decorated leaves and shrubs, human hand and many other things as corollaries to Arabic letter painted. Calligrapher Shahidullah F. Bari is an expert of Arabic calligraphy. For presentation of Arabic alphabet he uses different background light colours for highlighting transparency and beauty of the creator. He usually uses watercolour. Mahboob Murshid has his own way of painting. He is successful in depicting impressive colourful display of words. Water colour is his medium of expression..

In the current exhibition most of the artists selected motifs from the verses of the Quran. Love for the Beauty and the Creator as well as love for humanity and nature has successfully been depicted in all the calligraphy of devoted calligraphers.

Dr. Habiba Khatun is a Professor of Islamic History and Sanskrit, University of Dhaka.