Arabic calligraphy is the most highly regarded element of Islamic art, as it is the language of Qur’an. The script has the potential for creating ornamental forms
Today, the art of Arabic calligraphy continues
For #Ramadan a thread on 15 artists redefining Arabic calligraphy…
1/ Based in London @ArtofthePen is an internationally renowned classically trained calligrapher. Her work pushes the boundaries of what is expected from this traditional art form. In 2005, Soraya was awarded the sought-after icazetname from Istanbul…
2/ Artist @WissamSh is an expert in Arabic calligraphy. He is largely self-taught, attaining mastery through book research, visits to various masters, museum & library collections. He has developed a signature style, which is referred to as Calligraform…
3/ Artist @MajidAlyousef is a calligrapher & typographer. He has a unique style, merging traditional Arabic calligraphy with contemporary visual arts. Majid’s work is inspired by abstract painting & sculpture, especially cubism, futurism & de stijl…
4/ Artist @elseed uses his distinctive style of Arabic calligraphy merged with graffiti, to spread messages of peace, & highlight the commonalities of human existence.
His calligraffiti is a tool for unifying communities, & can be found over the world…
6/ Artist @zahragulraizart uses Arabic Calligraphy in her own bold and distinctive style to spread positive energy into people’s surroundings. Along with her striking use of colours, she focuses around quotes that uplift and inspire…
7/ Lebanese Artist Ghaleb Hawila is fascinated by the endless possibilities of Arabic calligraphy, which he approaches with a new eye. Ghaleb’s work comes from a deep understanding of Middle-Eastern heritage and spiritual paths…
8/ Pouran Jinchi’s art is characterized by an innovative play on calligraphy & script. She translates despair and destruction into a beautifully ethereal visual language…
9/ British Muslim artist & brandalism activist @Teakster believes art has the power to unite people, & connects communities by challenging perceptions of space, replacing outdoor advertising with beautiful artwork…
10/ Saudi & Morrocan artist Shaker Kashgari’s work stands out due to his creativity as well as diversity. Whether a canvas with traditional scripture or a word designed in calligraffiti, Shaker has proven it is possible to be a self taught talent…
11/ For artist & calligrapher @Hatem_Arafa_ Arabic calligraphy is a kind of addiction, & practicing drawing each letter gives him unprecedented enjoyment & satisfaction…
12/ UK based artist @handofayesha expresses her love for the written word through her work. She is fascinated by the concept of culture & how this influences art. This has lead her to experiment with modern Arabic, Urdu & Farsi lettering with street art…
13/ Artist Aliya Quraishi is based in Melbourne, Australia. After studying fine art & textiles, she was inspired you to move towards specializing in Islamic art and calligraphy. Her work explores traditional futures…
15/ Born in Tehran, @snasernia began his career primarily as a calligrapher & typography artist. He talks about turning Arabic letters into an abstract language, the concept behind Crazy Kufik & deconstructing the rules of Arabic & Persian writing…
Mariam Astrulabi was a pioneering female Muslim scientist & astronomer, born in Syria during the 10th century. She is known for developing Astrolabes, an ancient astronomical computer for solving problems related to time & position of the sun & stars
A thread on Mariam Astrulabi
1/ Mariam al Astrulabi's remarkable contribution to the art of astrolabes has largely been ignored by the world. What she achieved in the 10th century consequently helped several generations of scientists to explore the concept of time and space.
Astrolabe @HSMOxford
@HSMOxford 2/ Astrolabes were beneficial in determining the position of the sun, moon, stars & the planets. They were used in astronomy, astrology & horoscopes. Muslims would specifically use it to find the Qibla, determine prayer times & the initial days of Ramadan and Eid
Did you know Mosque ceilings are designed to reflect the magnificence of the universe?
Here are spectacular details of 24 Mosque ceilings from around the world…
A thread…
1/ Jami Mosque, Andijan, Uzbekistan
The construction of the madrasah began in 1883 and lasted for 7 years. It has a gorgeous fretwork of wooden columns supporting a ceiling decorated with bright patterns made of a combination of geometrical ornaments & vegetal elements
Construction of the mosque started in 1603 and was finished in 1619. Built by the chief architect Mohammadreza Isfahani, during the reign of Shah Abbas I of Persia. Beautiful interior dome details
Ever wondered who paved the way for the age of algorithms?
It was a 9th-century Muslim genius, mathematician, geographer & astronomer, Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi - also known as the Father of Algebra
A thread on the incredible Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi…
1/ Even the term algorithm is Al-Khwarizmi translated into Latin!
The scientist and mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi lived from 780 to 850 AD in Persia and Iraq.
2/ Al-Khwarizmi's most significant contribution to mathematics was the development of algebra. His book, "Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing), introduced systematic methods for solving linear and quadratic equations.
Did you know that the Persian scholar of medicine, Ibn Sina (980-1037) suspected some diseases were spread by microorganisms.
To prevent human-to-human contamination, he came up with a method of isolating people for 40 days.
A thread on Ibn Sina & his impact on modern science…
1/ Ibn Sina, also known to the Latin West as Avicenna, was a Persian polymath and one of the most influential Islamic philosophers, physicians, and scientists of the medieval period. He was born in 980 CE in present-day Uzbekistan and passed away in 1037 CE in Iran.
2/ Ibn Sina's medical works had a profound impact on European medicine. His most renowned work in medicine is "The Canon of Medicine" (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb), considered one of the most influential medical texts in history. It consists of five books & covers a range of medical topics
‘Traveling leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller’
- Ibn Battuta
The most famous explorer in the Muslim World, Ibn Battuta, travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history - around 117,000 km!
A thread on the 14th century explorer Ibn Battuta…
1/ Ibn Battuta was born in 1304 CE in Tangier, Morocco. His travelogue the Rihla is his most important work. His journeys in the Rihla lasted for a period of almost thirty years, covering nearly the whole of the known Islamic world & beyond.
2/ Ibn Battuta travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history, surpassing Zheng He with 50,000 km (31,000 mi) and Marco Polo with 24,000 km. His total distance travelled was approximately 117,000 km (73,000 mi) (15,000 mi).
Ismail al-Jazari, a Muslim inventor from the 12th century is known as the "father of robotics" due to his groundbreaking work in the field of automata, which are self-operating machines.
A thread on Ismail al-Jazari, engineering & robotics…
1/ While robotics is considered a relatively new field of science, with the public’s consensus that it is the creation of 20th-century scientists, it would be surprising to know that the field has its roots in the medieval era nearly a millennium ago, with Ismail Al Jazari
2/ Ismail Al Jazari gained fame for his extraordinary inventions, encompassing a wide spectrum of marvels. His repertoire included robots programmed to provide guests with towels, programmable on-off switches for fountains, automated mechanical clocks & much more!
A Candle Clock from a copy of al-Jazaris treatise on automata