la ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasulu-Allah

“There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”

In my calligram project design, I chose to represent the shahada (or a derivative of it without the word “ash’hadu”) to make a masjid (mosque) structure. I decided to use the Shahada to do the calligram because I think it is an important phrase that conveys the oneness of Allah. I also specifically chose to illustrate the shahada as a Masjid because it is a part of the Athan, which is the call to prayer that is usually recited from the Masjid. Therefore, having a part of the athan as a representation of the Masjid also represents communal gathering, as the Athan is commonly viewed as being a source of unity among Muslims. In many Muslim countries, when the Athan is called, people put their work down and make their way to the Masjid to pray together. For me, this is one of the most beautiful parts of Islam; the way it brings people from all different backgrounds together several times a day reminds us of the value of love for the community. 

I chose the Kufic script because of its block-like lettering which makes it well-suited to create an architectural design like a masjid. For example, I used square-shaped letters to make the columns and the dome. I also chose to make ‘Allah’ the dome as well as one of the largest words in the left half of the masjid to emphasize the centrality and oneness of Allah. I chose the color green as it has become associated with Islam over time. It is supposedly the favorite color of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) but it is also associated with nature (such as trees, grass, plants, and other organic life) which is another miracle of Allah. Finally, I chose to add the crescent on the top because it is a common symbol of Islam, as it represents the start of a new month in the Lunar, or Hijri Calendar. The crescent is also cited as a symbol of the greatness of Allah’s creation as well, and it is commonly found in Masjids.