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The writings were created using various shapes and sizes of the letters and numbers and they led to the formation of pieces of art that combined the teachings of the deity with the comprehension capacity of the humans (Osborn, 2008).
The Arabic calligraphy as such played a dual role -- on the one hand, it preserved the religious values; on the other hand, it, in its essence, represented a form of art and a representation revealing the religion, but also in the same time, being different from the messages it transmitted. In this setting, the calligraphy became sufficiently able to replace imagery in the Islamic arts.
Yet, the complete elimination of imagery from the texts and works of art in the Islamic world was impossible at an exhaustive level. In some instances then, this translated into the combined usage of imagery and calligraphy. In other words, calligraphy sometimes developed to also include imagery elements, and to transmit complex messages. For instance, some of the symbols and works were difficult to decipher and this was explained by the fact that the pieces contained not only letters, but also other shapes that transmitted the tones, the patterns or the emotions in the representations (Osborn, 2008).
Another important angle from which to assess the importance of the Arabic calligraphy for the Islamic arts is represented by the writings on the mosques. These writings contained elements from the Qur'an and depicted them in an aesthetic manner. The shapes were turned and arranged in a melodic manner and they resulted in a work of art that not only transmitted the divine message, but also enchanted the eye of the viewer.
The absence of imagery from the Islamic arts is often associated with the artistic inferiority of the Muslim world. And this is best viewed in relationship to the Renaissance in Europe, when arts flourished and paintings...
Images of the mosques circulate throughout the entire globe, through various media, and people from around the world cherish these images, and even come to visit them. In other words then, the calligraphy on the mosques has propelled the Islamic art and has aligned it with the European art; has made its beauty comprehensible to the non-Muslim community as well.
In a nutshell then, the Arabic calligraphy represents the means of preserving the teachings in the Qur'an; it played an important role in the social construction of the Muslim community and it represents a crucial element of the means in which the Muslim community is seen outside its borders. It as such ensured the preservation and the status of the Muslim art through centuries and throughout the world.
All in all, "Arabic calligraphy is a symbol representing power and beauty. Its history is the integration of artistry and scholarship" (Mubireek, 2000).
References:
Caroll, B.J., Arabic calligraphy and Muslim art, World Religions Professor, http://www.world-religions-professor.com/arabic-calligraphy.html last accessed on February 14, 2012
Curtis, E.E., 2010, Encyclopedia of Muslim-American history, Vol. 1, Infobase Publishing, ISBN 0816075751
Hazen, W., 2002, Inside Islam, Lorenz Educational Press, ISBN 0787705268
Mubireek, K., 2000, Arabic calligraphy -- introduction, Islamic Art, http://www.islamicart.com/main/calligraphy/intro.html last accessed on February 14, 2012
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