``In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Read: in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created, Created man out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood; Read: and thy Lord is Most Bountiful, He Who taught (the use of) the Pen, Taught man that which he knew not.’’ (Qur’an 96:1-5)
This revelation, which would continue for 23 years would be known as the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book, encapsulating the Islamic faith and God’s final revelation to mankind. Islam is the Arabic word for ``submission’’ and is taken from the same root as the Arabic word for ``peace.’. In this sense, it is submission to God that can yield peace in this life and the afterlife.
The Qur’an, was revealed in the Arabic language and is written from right to left. Many regard Arabic as a divine language since it was the chosen language by God to be revealed in the Qur'an. Arabic script originated from the Aramaic Nabataean alphabet. It contains 28 letters of which mainly the consonants are represented with the optional use of marking vowels. The Qur’an has remained unaltered and entirely authentic to this very day. Although the Qur’an has been translated into several languages, scholars believe that the true meaning and beauty of the divine script is lost in the translation. Non-Arab Muslims and newly converted Muslims find that learning Arabic is imminent in understanding the true word of God.
Islamic Calligraphy
The rise of Islam brought forth the beginning of a new form of art that was unparalleled before its time. Aside from the beautifully constructed mosques that Islam inspired throughout the world, Islamic calligraphy emerged throughout the centuries as a major expressive art form joining visual image and the written word. Where other faiths used figural images to express their religious convictions, the Islamic faith frowned upon images of animals or human beings which were thought to be idolatrous. Instead were used letters and words in various shapes and sizes to visually present the divine message and inspiration of Islam. Islamic calligraphy can be found on many kinds of objects, from a simple vase to the interior or exterior of a mosque. The Islamic calligraphy that is found on various objects is not only taken from verses in the Qur’an but also from the sayings of the Prophet, called Hadith. (An entire verse from the Qur'an, Surat al-Fatiha, is pictured horizontally above, under the title).
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