Qur'an Assignment Links
Memorize short passage from the Qur'an and Arabic
calligraphy assignment (10%)
i. Use the Al-Fatiha pronunciation free software program to memorize the 1st
Surah of the Qur'an or see this
link for a transliteration and English translation.
Radio Al-Islam Channel RA 100 has
audio of Al-Fatiha and other Surahs of the Qur'an, if you download the Realplayer software they suggest.
For those interested, here is a Muslim discussion of rules for memorizing the Qur'an.
ii. Read Islamic and Arabic Arts and Architecture - Calligraphy Web Site
composed by Khalid Mubireek. It is an outstanding resource on Arabic Calligraphy. See also the four very short articles
by Mamoun Sakkal (a contemporary
Arabic calligrapher) on his Art of Arabic Calligraphy web page for an overview.
For brief descriptions and examples of the 6 main styles of classical cursive
scripts, see these sites:
The Styles
section of Islamic Art and Architecture -Calligraphy
iii. Copy the letters of the Arabic alphabet and their names from a chart to be
provided, i.e Arabic alphabet or Arab_Calligraphy_Art1.html .
The Babel on-line tutorial for writing Arabic
might also be helpful, though it
doesn't present the Arabic alphabet in order.
iv. Copy by hand, as best as you can, the basmalah phrase (=the first verse of
the Fatiha) in Arabic script. You
may choose one of the scripts demonstrated on the above mentioned Web Site. You may also embellish it
artistically - using the designs
we've studied as models.
Sakkal Design's IslamiClip
Calligraphic web site also has some nice examples of
basmalahs in different types of
Arabic scripts. Of course, I want you to copy them by hand, not electronically!
v. Hand in your copy of the basmalah.
vi. 1-3 page reflection paper on both your memorization and copying of the Arabic Qur'an passages.