Recent news reported on an outcry to preserve Islamic calligraphy art. It was Okasha Sahal, multilingual calligrapher and chairman of the Okasha Calligraphy Foundation that urged the government to take the needed steps to prevent this ancient art form from dying out. The argument behind his request to the government to take the needed steps stems from the rich historical and cultural heritage this Islamic art form presents. It tells the story of a glorious past and is rich in cultural heritage.
When you visit the online store of the Shabina Gallery, you’ll see that this talented artist devotes a lot of her time to create Islamic paintings on canvas to keep this art form alive. She says that she uses her art to create much more than an aesthetic experience but also want to deliver a testimony of her religious believes and showcase the deeper meanings of symbols behind Islam.
"The art of calligraphy dates back many centuries and it is often the center of my art. In certain works, the calligraphy serves as the artform itself, while in others it plays a supportive role. However, regardless of whether it is the most predominant part of the work or merely a few brush strokes, these words have such a deep meaning," says Shabina Suhail, the artist, and owner of Shabina Gallery. What she refers to is the fact that this Islamic calligraphy art is representing words from the Qur'an. The Qur'an is a representation of the words of God to the Prophet Muhammad. Thus, it is of immense spiritual value.
“Losing the art of calligraphy will present a major loss in the cultural heritage of Islam. The predominant reason why this is at risk is that these words are mostly in Arabic and many Muslims are unable to understand the text. This might be the cause of the lacking interest and popularity of the art form,” Shabina further expands.
This is a sentiment that she shares with Sahal as he too is concerned about the immense loss that it would mean to Islam if the interest in the words of wisdom gets lost. For centuries these words played a vital role in the lives of intellectuals and rulers and aided them to reach their height of perfection and it is a cultural heritage. Just like Sahal, Shabina also wants the government to patronise the artform to preserve it as they have done in the past with other art forms that were dying out.

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Art is not just a reflection of outstanding talent when it comes to the works you can find on the website of the Shabina Gallery. No, to this creative genius, every work she has on offer is a religious testimony of her faith and devotion to Islam. Islam has been the guiding light she followed throughout her entire life and it is a reflection on this journey that she shares with the world in the form of a wide selection of formats, each printed from original works. Visit the gallery https://www.shabinagallery.com/ or contact her via email and allow yourself to be transported on a journey of religious insight and inspiration presented in the most talented format.