Sajjad Khalid
Editor
CalligraphyIslamic.Com

The need to combat with the challenges of the modern culture is being felt by the Muslim scholars. Research in all branches of knowledge is lacking in Muslim Ummah But we can not go ahead without knowing the achievements of our past. Although this is not the time to say that we, the Muslims, have contributed the major part of research in Modern Sciences and Fine Arts but to develop ourselves in the light of achievements and failures of our past plus achievements and failures of modern science.

The only way to do this task is to work within our personal field of interest and specialization.

CalligraphyIslamic is a humble step towards this goal. We're striving to collect the names of Masters of Islamic Calligraphy, its allied arts' specialists and pictures of the works with the reference of historic sequence. We're linking each master with his teachers, students and the people they are inspired by.

Encouragement of the Present Calligraphers

We feel that no promotion of the art is possible without encouraging the people working within the field. So we are enlisting the Contemporary Calligraphers from all regions of the world. We are working for a region-wise list of the calligraphers. Currently, we have provided the list of Pakistani Calligraphers to start with because we are more resourceful being Pakistanis.

Education of the Future Calligraphers

Education of the future calligrapher has two parts. First is the education through the teacher of calligraphy which is being provided by them. Second is providing them the knowledge of the different styles being practiced by the calligraphers from other regions of the world, history of Islamic Arts, artists and art pieces. Detailed articles about the spirit behind Islamic Arts are also needed to enrich the conceptual part of the subject.

Discussions and Criticism

A platform for positive criticism and appreciation of the works from different aspects is also needed to develop the artistic and conceptual value of the art works. Critical Analysis of the master pieces of Islamic Arts is also very much needed to discover the principles and elements of the art.

Comparative Study

A comparative study of the art of calligraphy with the modern art is also needed in the light of modern principles of the design like Balance, Rhythm, Emphasis, Continuity, Variety, Contrast and Unity. After doing this kind of efforts we'll be able to rediscover and redesign the principles of design which seems to be incomplete. We'll be able to discuss the art and craft formula presented by Collin Wood after doing the above said research.

Islamic Clip Art/Stock Photography

An other part of the work should be done in the field of electronic imagery. Information Technology is reforming the arts and its concepts. Islamic Arts should be an integral part of the current scene of the art and design being presented by the tools of digital publishing, web design and presentation. The software for design, layout, desktop publishing, illustration, presentation, animation, course building, word processing and gamming should be loaded with the Islamic Fonts, Clip Art, Calligraphy, Motives, Symbols, Signs, Logos, Emblems, Patterns, Pictures of Art Pieces, Architecture, Landscapes, Cityscapes, Jewelry, pottery, textile, Coins and Stamps etc.

Nastaalique Font

For the above said purpose, We are going to develop the Fonts of Traditional and Modern Islamic Calligraphy (in ttf and otf formats) and Stock of Islamic Arts. A project of Font Development in the style of Late Master of Nastaalique Script, Abdul Majeed Parveen Raqam is undergone in this regard. The next step in this part of development is to add the Fonts of the Styles of Hafiz Muhammad Yousuf Sadeedi, Sufi Khursheed Alam Khursheed Raqam, Muhammad Siddique Almas Raqam and Syed Nafees-ul-Husaini.