In this March 4 photo, a Palestinian worshipper reads the Holy Qur'an inside a mosque in the West Bank city of Ramallah. — AP photo IN a world overwhelmed by electronic gadgets that have changed the way we read, write and learn, the Islamic art of calligraphy has preserved its methods for generations. Parchment, feathers and “qalams,” a pen made of dried bamboo, are still used by khattats — Muslim calligraphers. Calligraphy is one of the main art forms in Islam, reflecting how central the word is to the religion. The Qur'an has played a major role in the spread of the Arabic language and alphabet. Muslim scribes say deep knowledge of religion infuses the graceful lines of their calligraphy and is essential to the art, which they say ensures the art's survival into the future — something no electronic tool will be able to bring.
