If we take no notice of or demolish this art in the present...

If we take no notice of or demolish this art in the present day crisis ridden world, we without doubt cut Muslims away from their spiritual moorings for the reason that this art is the onward expression of the inner spirit of Islam. This inner spirit or dimension, according to Hossein Nasr, is inextricably correlated to Islamic spirituality. He further explains that the term „spirituality‟ in Islamic languages is connected to either‟ the word ruh denoting „spirit‟ or ma’na signifying „meaning‟.

In both cases the very terms imply inwardness and interiority. Consequently, it is within the inner dimension of the Islamic tradition that one must seek the origin of Islamic Art and the strength which has created and sustained it throughout the centuries.18 (P.B.U.H) and Hazart Ali (R.A) both are considered as the dominant personalities to symbolize the inner dimension of Islamic message in an articulate manner. Both Sunni and Shi„ah Muslims have great regard and affection for them.

The great masters of Islamic art have always shown a special love and devotion to them. It is only the Muhammadan grace which has made the sacred art of Islam possible; and it is the personality of Hazart Ali (R.A) who was the founder of basic arts such as calligraphy etc., and Sufi orders which has maintained the true spirit or say the mysterious teachings of Islām.19 Of all the Islamic forms we shall, at present, concentrate mainly on Islamic calligraphy, Islamic architecture, poetry (especially Sufi poetry) and music.

Pointing out the characteristic feature of a fine calligraphy, one of the most primordial Islamic art-forms, Imam „Ali ibn Abi Talib says, “The beauty of writing is the tongue of the hand” and the elegance of thought.” Similarly Abu Hayyan al Tawhidi remarks: “Handwriting is jewelry fashioned by the hand from the pure gold of the intellect.”20 In the field of Islamic art, this art-form did first emerge in Arabic script with a view to write the Words of the Holy Qur‟an.

The Arabic script rapidly developed in many styles such as Kufi, Naskh etc. proving itself as an astonishingly beautiful artistic medium. With the advent of Islam, it assumed a „sacred‟ status because of the fact that this was the script especially chosen by God (Allah) to transmit His message to all human beings. Consequently, a need was felt to record the Qur‟an and to design a beautiful style of writing for the message.