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ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHY : AN EXTINCTION OF ART
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Malaysia is one of the famous Islamic countries in the world which consist of estimated
28.85 million people and 61.3 % of them were Muslim population (Saari, 2011). Islam is
accepted as an official religion since 1957 and it has been stated in the Malaysian Federal
Constitution. Its effect and importance are found in every area of Malaysia, in every branch of
aesthetic production or media and also in every type of art object imaginable. We can see these
influences of Islamic art in many fields such as the daily culture, the scripts, the language and
literature, the architecture and the arts. Of all categories of art, Islamic calligraphy is one of the
most neglected among Malaysian especially school students (Othman, 2006). Since calligraphy
is considered as a holy practice because it is the tools for writing the Quran, the holy book of
Islam, and the identity of Islamic culture (Sultan, 2004, p. 18), it should be perfectly expressed
through our curriculum to ensure that this unique art will be preserved to the future generations.
Since religious of Islam prohibit the making of figurative art such as human beings and
animals, Muslims artist began to create for new art form in order to deliver and express their
feelings and thought. Sometimes, the calligraphers will convey the messages and transmitting the
Quran quotations, other religious texts, poems, phrases of rules and aphorism through
calligraphy (Saylor.org). The form of calligraphy is applying geometry pattern and plantlike
elements to represent the Islamic art. The Arabic language, subsequently the art of calligraphy, is
great esteem by Muslims because it was the language which the Quran was revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century (al-Faruqi, 1984). The diffusion of Islamic artistic features
was developed and brings the Islamic artistic influences to the countries of the Arabian
Peninsula, the Iran-Central Asia, and the East Asia including Malaysia. Calligraphy has been
divided into seven categories based on the types of writing; Khat Khufi, Khat Diwani, Khat
Ijazah, Khat Nasakh, Khat Farisi, Khat Thuluth and Khat Riq’ah.
Islamic Calligraphy in Malaysia.
In Malaysia, Islamic calligraphy is so related with Jawi which both at risk of extinction
(Bernama, 2012). According to Dr. Kang Kyoung Seok, a professor of the Pusan University of
Foreign Studies regards to this script as one-of-a-kind asset of Malaysia (as cited in Bernama,
2012). To produce or appreciate Islamic calligraphy means to learn and master Jawi properly.
Islamic calligraphy is not something new for students in Johor because Jawi is an
important communication and learning tools for those who are attended for “Sekolah Agama” in
Johor. It evolved since the era of 50s and has been included in the curriculum of “Sekolah Arab
Negeri Johor”, and now formally known as “Sekolah Menengah Agama Johor”. Unfortunately,
this art has been neglected because many experts who acquainted with have retired without
replacements. There are a lot of efforts that has been done by “Persatuan Seni Khat” (Johor
Branch), to ensure that this art will remain and became as a Malaysia unique identity.
Collaboration with “Yayasan Warisan Johor” also has been done to help the community to
develop their interest in Islamic calligraphy, but it was so disappointing. Prof. Dr. Kang Kyoung
Seok agreed that without the experts, there will no one who is going to take charge of
safeguarding Jawi script (as cited in Bernama, 2012).
Jainal, the chairman of “Persatuan Seni Khat”(Johor Branch) believed that the best way
to preserve this art is by establishing a specific curriculum focused on Islamic calligraphy in
Johor Religious School or necessary elemens have to be injected into the curricular acticities (as
cited in Othman, 2006). He also suggested that development center was established as a
calligraphy workshop and collection of art for purposes of marketing, as well as referral centers
to the community and agencies to who are need the services.
Most of the youngster and Muslims no longer have interest in this art and do not know
how to appreciate it (Othman, 2006). Prof. Dr. Kang Kyoung Seok supported that Islamic
calligraphy in development world will be marginalized and if interest in Jawi is not instilled in
the young (as cited in The Star Online, 2012). It is equally important to raise the awareness
among the youngsters to the existence of this art, so that they will become the greatest echelon
towards this beautiful Malaysian identity.
Islamic Calligraphy in Education
Based on Integrated Curriculum in Primary School (KBSR) in Malaysia, calligraphy was
formally introduced since 2009 for students of Year 6. It was included in Islamic Education
(Jawi) and considered separated from Art Education curriculum because it is so related to
Islamic studies and Quran. Students at primary school received approximately 30 minutes of
calligraphy education per week. They were exposed only on two types of calligraphy; Khat
Nasakh and Khat Riq’ah. The objective of the Ministry of Education (MOE) emphasized on
calligraphy is to ensure that the young generations will know and love Jawi. By introducing this
art, it was an early exposure MOE hopes that the students will get better understanding of
Islamic calligraphy.
STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
The global transformation has brought a lot of changes in our daily life and included
various field either in education, economy, thought or culture. All these changes have affected to
the art expansion, especially in Islamic art in Malaysia. Calligraphy is one of the branches of arts
which have been marginalized because of these current modernizations. Calligraphy is the most
important art form of Islamic culture because it is the most prevalent, the most significant, the
most widely appreciated and the most recovered by Muslim (al-Faruqi, 1984).
Unfortunately, this unique art has been neglected among Malaysian, which most of them
are Muslims (Wasdi, 2011). Many who appreciate calligraphy, and even admire him by making
decorations in their homes, not realizing this art is being threatened with extinction than that of
the great calligraphy promoted in this country (Othman, 2006).
So much efforts has been made to preserve and develop this art, but yet, there were
several factors that contribute to this issue; lack of exposure on calligraphy, lack of competent
teachers to teach, too depends on the technologies, and lack of interest among the youngsters
(Othman, 2006).
Muslim artists tried (and still try) to create every art-form by invoking in them the Power
and Blessing of the Supreme Reality, in order to ensure that this tremendous art is not be
forgotten (al-Faruqi, 1984).
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this research is to:
i.
study the level of students’ and teachers’ understanding on Islamic calligraphy
ii.
explore teachers’ and students’ point of view towards their perception of exposure
of calligraphy in the education.
iii.
investigate what are the factors the factors that contributed to why Islamic
calligraphy has been neglected in Malaysia. It also will reveal what are the
impacts and effects to the Islamic art expansion in Malaysia.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The overarching question that will guide the proposed study is “Why Islamic calligraphy has
been neglected in Malaysia?” and this study will answer the specific questions:
1. What is the current situation of Islamic calligraphy in primary school at Malaysia?
2. What are the factors that contribute towards disregarded Islamic Calligraphy among
primary school’s students?
3. Is there any relationship between the factors and the effects towards the Islamic art
expansion in Malaysia?
4. To what extent does Islamic calligraphy can gives an influences towards Islamic
culture development?
OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
Islamic arts refer to the art of civilization based on Islamic religion (Saeed, 2011). It is
the result of manifestation of unity upon the plane of multiplicity. The Islamic art has a spiritual
significance and its message is also unique in character. It has its own inner meaning,
symbolism, esthetical, metaphysical and cosmological significance (Saeed, 2011).
Islamic calligraphy formally known as “Khatt”; is the one of Islamic art that has never
been influenced by any foreign artistic tradition (Tocher, 2004). The Quran’s influences made
of calligraphy the most important art form of Islamic culture (al-Faruqi, 1984). Calligraphy is
the oldest treasures in the world that belongs to the Muslims. It is not a portrait but it is a
combination of beauty words that give value and identify a person (Tocher, 2004).
According to Ismail Al-faruqi and Lois Lamya Al-faruqi (1992), Islamic calligraphy can
be described as Arabic calligraphy which relate to the artistic practice of handwriting in the
lands sharing a common Islamic cultural heritage. Claude and (Muhammad Abi Sofian Abdul
Halim, 2011) defined that calligraphy practice is the art of giving from to signs in an expressive,
harmonious and skillful manner.
Jawi scripts normally refer to Arabic alphabet. Malay usually use written the Jawi
(Arabic) for religious purposes (Susan J. Rickard Liow, 1999). Jawi Script is derived from the
Arabic Script, but it later changed its name to Jawi because in Jawi Script there are six more new
letters being added to it to represent the six Malay phonemes which are not found in the Arabic
Language (Juhari, 2008).
SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
In this study, the sample population chosen will be focused on 100 samples from primary
school students (Year 6) and also 50 teachers who are taught in government primary schools.
The location area will be concentrate on district of Tangkak, Johor.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this study is to show that Islamic calligraphy is an essential
component and element for the 21st century education; hence, the Islamic culture will be
preserved for the next generations. It also aims to educate people on advancement in education
and practice of calligraphy will certainly produce effective and valuable human capitals which
will empower the country. For students and teachers, it will help them to have a deeper
understanding to this art not only as basic education to be learned but acquisition of learning
skills. Also, this proposed study will benefits and help the future researcher as their guide.