Prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Hosts Expert Calligrapher As It Launches First Arabic Classes
New England-based calligrapher Hajj Wafaa tells AMT how he hopes the art of calligraphy will shed a positive light on Islam.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently invited Boston-based calligrapher Hajj Wafaa to lead an Arabic Calligraphy presentation as part of its preparations for teaching Arabic classes.
Its Global Languages department invited Hajj Wafaa, who was born and raised in Iraq and has been practicing and teaching calligraphy since 2004, to celebrate Arabic language, art and history.
The artist, who stayed to write some students’ names in calligraphy, believes that the art form can refocus interest in the beauty of Islam as “one of the most famous art pieces.” It can also help dilute some of the negativity associated with being Muslim today.
“It reflects Muslim people and the Islamic world,” he said. “Specifically right now, while the image of Muslims has been ruined by a few bad people, it’s a good time to show the art Muslims create and generate that conversation.”
Calligraphy is a unique style of writing that has a central role in Islamic art. It is commonly used to present words from the Qur’an, which is believed by Muslims to be the word of God.
Pictured: The shah?dah calligraphy on a mosque / image courtesy of Christine Osborne
Wafaa, who believes that learning calligraphy also induces a “peace and a restful mind,” is now a master in many different traditional scripts. He started by teaching himself using paper, ink and tools of his own making when he was a refugee in Rafha, Saudi Arabia back in 1991. He also benefited from the tutelage of “some of the best calligraphers” in his region, including Jasim Hamood Al-Najafi and Adnan Al-Kazaz.
Since his graduation from Sanford-Brown College, he has taught Arabic calligraphy courses at Al-Noor Academy and Worcester Art Museum. He has also displayed his work at local venues such as Arts at the Armory and the Arsenal Center for the Arts.
Pictured: Emma TengThe new classes at MIT, which were heavily supported by the Arabic Alumni Association, were about meeting demand, according to Professor Emma J. Teng, director of MIT Global Languages.
“We are very excited to finally be able to offer Arabic,” she said. “We have had long-term demand from students for Arabic, and until now MIT students have had to enroll at Harvard or Wellesley to study this language for credit.”
Wafaa established his own company, Kufa Calligraphy, nearly two decades ago, which originally began as another avenue to teach calligraphy. Since then, he has expanded its reach and provides calligraphy materials — such as pens, papers, inks and sets — for anyone interested in practicing at home.
His supplies are also sold through Amazon and Etsy.
Pictured: 10 reed (Qalam) Arabic calligraphy set sold by Wafaa on Etsy
Because Arabic is the fifth-most spoken language in the world, MIT will launch Arabic I and II in the spring semester to provide its students with “introductory skills to interact with Arabic speaking cultures, and insight into the variety of the language’s use in multiple countries and cultures.” The university also mentions that the language courses can be applied to the Other Languages Concentration and the SHASS minor and Concentration in Middle Eastern Studies.
Wafaa said MIT is considering making the Arabic Calligraphy Demonstration an annual or biannual event and he’s excited to collaborate as an ambassador for his beloved art form.
