Complete list of originals for sale, silkscreen and other prints in my Calligraphy Catalogue. Commission info here.
I want to stress this again: it's not possible to give a single, final translation for the divine attributes, due to the subtlety of the Arabic: as they are outside any context, each evokes a whole cloud of meanings, and one can meditate on a name then return to it later and understand it in a different way. When I choose a single English word to stand for one, it expresses a personal outlook, not the final and only translation. Other translations: The Acceptor of Repentance, The Oft-Forgiving, The Ever Returning, The Ever Relenting.
The book Physicians of the Heart describes:
"At-Tawwab التوّاب is the forgiveness that enables you to turn away from grudges, and perceived individual defects, toward the perfection of Allah.... At-Tawwab conveys the real meaning of repentance, the turning from the limitations of the false self and toward the perfection of your immortal soul, which is not separate from the divine reality."
This then is the archetype that facilitates this turning of the heart by being eternally welcoming of it, passing no judgement on what preceded it. I find that the figure of the father in the story of the Prodigal Son provides an exact illustration of this.
The notion of "turning" being central to this concept, I made sure to introduce shifts in the solid and unmoving 8-pointed star that is the basis of the design, creating a visual rotation. In addition, the design is lifted from the background so that it takes on a helix shape. This is my first venture into a 3D approach to this kind of work, or at least in giving literal depth to it. It makes it much harder to take good photos, but there are close ups and different angles on the blog: [link]
Lovely work Majnouna! I really like the blue and white, the square the rectangle nature of the piece does have really nice turning quality. The little red and gold pieces do remind me of hearts too, I'm not sure why though. Thank-you for the information about the sacred calligraphy too always good to to have context.
Before the greatest damage could be done by the estrangement of Islam and Christianity caused by the Crusades, St. Francis of Assisi went to Egypt to make overtures of peace. Such was his authenticity, the Caliphate allowed his order to be permitted to establish itself in the Holy Land. Many of his his words traveled wide and came to the attention of the Sufi saint Jemal who adapted Francis' own words to his meditations and to appeal to the common man, wrote it in his native Turkish. It was later adapted by singer Peter Murphy:
In the name of God, the, Most Compassionate & Merciful, O Lord, grant that we may make peace wheresoever we may go. Grant us companionship, not divisiveness. May we sow love where there is hatred, forgiveness where there is suffering, belief where there is doubt, hope where there is none, light where there is darkness and happiness where there is sorrow- O Lord, Grace us with these qualities.
Help us to be of those who cover faults rather than those who see them, who give consolation rather than seek it, of those who are understanding rather than those who expect understanding and of those who love rather than those who want to be loved.
May we be like rain, without discrimination, giving life wherever it flows, Like the sun, without discrimination, enlightening the whole of creation, Like the soil, whilst everything steps upon it, gives unsparingly of its bounties & Like the night, covering all that is at fault and shameful - O Lord help us to be thus!
May it be our portion to join the ranks of those hands which give and not take. Who are forgiven because they are forgiving, who are, Born with Truth Living in Truth Dying in Truth and being reborn into eternal life O Lord grace us that we may be amongst the ranks of those whose lives are thus!
I bet the original is gorgeous The pictures of different angles and golden stars made me smile. The joy of crafting (and meditating upon the meaning) is immediately obvious in them
Hayley
In the name of God,
the, Most Compassionate & Merciful,
O Lord, grant that we may make peace wheresoever we may go.
Grant us companionship, not divisiveness.
May we sow love where there is hatred,
forgiveness where there is suffering,
belief where there is doubt,
hope where there is none,
light where there is darkness
and happiness where there is sorrow-
O Lord, Grace us with these qualities.
Help us to be of those who cover faults
rather than those who see them,
who give consolation
rather than seek it,
of those who are understanding
rather than those who expect understanding
and of those who love
rather than those who want to be loved.
May we be like rain, without discrimination,
giving life wherever it flows,
Like the sun, without discrimination,
enlightening the whole of creation,
Like the soil, whilst everything steps upon it,
gives unsparingly of its bounties &
Like the night,
covering all that is at fault and shameful
- O Lord help us to be thus!
May it be our portion to join the ranks of those hands
which give and not take.
Who are forgiven because they are forgiving, who are,
Born with Truth
Living in Truth
Dying in Truth
and being reborn into eternal life
O Lord grace us that we may be amongst the ranks
of those whose lives are thus!
Amen!
i heart your language and the imagery it evokes so so much!