© 2006 Haji Noor Deen Mi Guanjiang

 

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Word into art

Haji Noor Deen Mi Guanjiang (China), Ya rahim, ink on paper

Haji Noor Deen is a prominent calligrapher and was the first Chinese Muslim to be awarded the Egyptian Certificate of Arabic Calligraphy. There are more than 30 million Muslims in China out of a population of around 1.3 billion. Haji Noor Deen teaches Arabic calligraphy at the Islamic College in Zhen Zhou.

This work is in the sini (Chinese) script, which is characteristically used by Chinese Muslim artists. The large, bold and beautifully precise inscription reads 'O Merciful' (ya rahim). This is one of the 'Beautiful Names of God' (asma' al-husna) - a list of the ninety-nine attributes of God which are referred to in the Qur'an and in the Hadith, the body of traditions relating to the Prophet Muhammad.

The smaller inscription at top left gives the date when the calligraphy was done: 'Winter Month, 2000'. At bottom left, the artist has signed his name in Arabic and Chinese and added his personal seal, which bears his name in Chinese.