Food for the Soul

An art of making handwriting visually attractive, calligraphy is admired all over the world, particularly in Asia. Etymologically speaking, the word 'Calligraphy' comes from two Greek words combined together, kallos, meaning "beauty," and graphein, meaning "to write" — literally "beautiful writing." Earlier times, calligraphy was carved on the stones, but in this day and age, different sets of equipment are used such as paper, glass, wood, metal and cloth. Unlike the conventional form of calligraphy, digital calligraphy is carried out by using hi-tech fonts.

For the lot of upstart artisans, no specific tools are required in initial stages and a beginner can just start with commonplace material, e.g. quill, pen, marker, brush, etc. Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) once said, "The first thing Allah created was the Pen." Therefore, the importance of calligraphy as a distinctive art cannot be ruled out and one must be adept with basic skills to start with. The art of calligraphy is very popular across Asia.

Well before the invention of typewriter and computer, manual calligraphy was the norm, which is still a popular medium of calligraphy and helps connect the artist with the Creator of the world. Such modern tools as slanted pens with flat nibs are easily available in the market. Calligraphers tend to employ alphabets in an attractive style by using unique fonts.

Despite the fact that the present era is ruled by hi-tech communications wonders and fast-paced technology applications, manual calligraphy is an art to reckon with considerable demand and interest. On route to becoming a professional calligrapher, one needs to start with the basics with little baby steps. Put it into practice day in and day out and upload and promote your work on social media. While doing so, get in touch with other calligraphers and hone your skills by seeing their work and videos online and you'll get clients gradually in a while.

There are three main types of calligraphy: Western, Eastern and Arabic Calligraphy. All these types represent specific handwriting patterns and regional style. Commonly referred to as Arabic Khatt Arabic (خط عربی), the Arabic calligraphy is the most popular approach employed by calligraphers. To some extent, Islamic and Arabic calligraphic patterns are almost similar to each other. However, Kufic calligraphy also belongs to the same style category.

In Islamic calligraphy, Arabic alphabets are primarily used, comprising a set of Nashq, Ottoman, Arabic, Persian and Urdu calligraphic inscriptions. The Kufic script, based on rigid and angular strokes, was developed in Kufa in Iraq almost seven centuries before. Purity of writing is purity of the soul, says an Arabic proverb. After the spread of Islam, Nashq script (cursive style) was considered the standard calligraphy style with high aesthetic value.

Characterised by curved letters written with barbed heads, Thuluth script was refined by Ottoman calligraphy. There is a similarity between Raqaa and Thuluth script. Muhaqqaq script is one of the most beautiful scripts of Thuluth variation, while Maghribi and Sudani scripts are also part of this artwork. The Ottoman Turks invented Diwani script, which was most popular in cursive style.

Being a calligrapher, I confess the fact that the art of calligraphy is a food for the soul and is a medium of conversation with God, bringing one closer to Him in a spiritual way. It is more than an obligatory duty for calligraphers to pass on this wonderful art to others as it is the best thing we could do for the new generation.

Hazrat Ali (RA) says, "Teach your children the art of beautiful writing since it is the key to Rizq (sustenance)". So grab your pen, brush, markers or anything which you have to learn the art of calligraphy.