Chapter 1. Preserving the Canons: Kufi in The Traditional Way
The most simple and obvious way to preserve and pass on tradition is to follow the canons and insert familiar meanings. In other words, to follow in the footsteps of the masters of the past.
In terms of Kufi script, this means that today’s Arabic calligraphy masters study this ancient art form in detail, perfecting their skills over the years and following strict rules. This process involves the use of traditional materials and tools such as bamboo kalams, paper and ink, and mosaics for geometric kufi (bannai).
Surely the semantic content of the works also remains true to classical themes: it can be surahs and ayats from the Qur’an, Arabic aphorisms, proverbs and poetry quotes.
Joumana Medlej, surah Al-Kahf (18:109), 2022
Surah Al-Kahf
قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا
Say, «If the sea were ink for [writing] the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought the like of it as a supplement.» (18:109)
Muhammad Ashraf Heera, surah At-Talaq (65:7), 2020; surah Ash-Sharh (94:5-6), 2020
Surah At-Talaq
ٱللَّهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَآ ءَاتَىٰهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍۢ يُسْرًۭا
Allah does not require of any soul beyond what He has given it. After hardship, Allah will bring about ease. (65:7)
Surah Ash-Sharh
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
So, surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with that hardship comes more ease. (94:5-6)
Muhammad Ashraf Heera, Takbir (Allahu Akbar), 2020
Shamail Ahmed, surah Al-Fatihah, 2023
Sanaz Alborzi, Hilya Sharif, 2023; surah Al-Fatihah, 2021
Sanaz Alborzi, surah Al-Fatihah, 2022
Ameur Ben Jeddou, «If you follow God, God will be by your side», 2020
Ameur Ben Jeddou, «My faith in Allah protects me», 2020
Ameur Ben Jeddou, Elia Abu Madi’s work quote, 2020 (كم تشتكي وتقول إنك معدم)
(إيليا ابو ماضي) كم تشتكي وتقول إنك معدم
Oh how you complain and say you are due to a death sentence (Elia Abu Madi)
«هشّت لك الدّنيا فما لك واجما»
«Life has gotten soft to you so why can’t you speak?»
Suhail Badar, surah Al-Fatihah, 2020
Jamal Al-Kebasi, surah Hud (11:4), 2020
Surah Hud
ٱللَّهُ ۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَآ ءَاتَىٰهَا ۚإِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
To Allah is your return. And He is Most Capable of everything. (11:4)
Joumana Medlej, surah Al-'Ankabut (29:46), 2022
Surah Al-'Ankabut
ولا تجٰدلوا أهل الكتٰب إلّا بالّتي هي أحسن إلّا الّذين ظلموا منهم وقولوا امنّا بالّذي أنزل إلينا وأنزل إليكم وإلٰهنا وإلٰهكم وٰحد ونحن له مسلمون
And say, «We believe in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to you. Our God and your God is only One. And to Him we fully submit.» (29:46)
Sarina Ghazaei, surah Al-Asr, 2022
Sarina Ghazaei, surah Al-Hujurat (49:13), 2023
Surah Al-Hujurat
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَهِ أَتْقَیٰكُمْ
…the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. (49:13)
Sarina Ghazaei, surah Al-Fatihah, 2023
Jamal Muhsin, Al-Muta’ali (The Most Exalted), 78th name of Allah, 2015
Thibaut Degenne, AL RISALAH (The message), occasional table inlaid with a natural stone mosaic, 2018
ربّ صدفة خير من الف ميعاد
«One chance encounter eclipses thousands of appointments» (arabic proverb)
