This Turkish Woman completes her late husband’s unfinished Islamic calligraphy Artwork in a Mosque

A Muslim Turkish woman has completed her late husband’s unfinished Islamic calligraphy artwork in a mosque in Söğütlü, Sakarya; due to his sudden death. This got reported on Yeni Safak some days ago. The wife, Çiğdem Ak, stated:

“Honestly, I fell in love with my husband’s work. I’ve discovered my passion for Islamic calligraphy after I started to help my late husband in the mosques he was working on decorating.”

The 53-year-old woman pledged to the local Turkish authorities to finish the incomplete work of her husband as promised. The deceased Islamic calligraphy master Mehmet Ak had decorated many masjids across Turkey and devoted his life to the Islamic artworks until he died last year in November. Underlining her literature and visual arts enthusiasm, the wife expressed:

“Islamic calligraphy art is also about people’s feelings. My husband had never used pattern templates, he always created the paintings in his mind.”

So, what exactly is Islamic calligraphy? Islamic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy, based upon the Arabic alphabet in the countries of the Islamic World. This is because the people there share a common Islamic cultural heritage.

Islamic calligraphy’s development is strongly tied to the Holy Quran (see also: Al Quran Online); Surahs’ and ayah from the Qur’an are a common and almost universal text, upon which this calligraphy is based. However, Islamic calligraphy isn’t just limited to religious subjects, objects, or spaces. Like all Islamic art, it encompasses a diverse array of works created in a wide variety of contexts.

Generally in the Islamic world, Islamic calligraphy developed from two major styles: Kufic and Naskh. There are several variations of each, also in regionally specific styles. The art of Islamic calligraphy has also been incorporated into modern art beginning with the post-colonial period, as well as the more recent style of calligraffiti.

It’s just so great that even today, the love for this artwork persists and so do wives like Çiğdem Ak, who carry forward the legacy of their loved ones even though they are no subject to perfection in the respective domain. May Allah (SWT) keep all these believers doing work out of their best intentions and make them prosper always. Ameen.

See also: Duas for Thanking Allah (SWT)