Taj Mahal Calligraphy

Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World is just not known for its super imposing beauty but also for its rich history. Located at the banks of River Yamuna, Agra in India, Taj Mahal beckons tourists with its white marble structure studded with semi-precious stones, floral paintings, motifs and calligraphy. Taj Mahal is a memorial of love built for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal and he left no stone unturned to make it the most lavish and majestic monument of the world.

As you step into the Taj complex, the verses of Quran greet you; 'O Soul, thou art at rest. Return to the Lord at peace with Him, and He at peace with you' are the holy words which create a soulful environment at Taj. Like all the other aspects, calligraphy of Taj Mahal is also planned and picturesque. While the handwriting of the calligraphy is beautiful, the black inscriptions over the white marble enhance the beauty of the edifice. Jasper was filled into the white marble to create the calligraphy and the man responsible for this exquisite affair was Abdul Haq, who was also entitled as Amanat Khan by Emperor Shah Jahan; some of the pillars also bore his signatures.

The calligraphy done over the walls and pillars of Taj Mahal are written in Thuluth script and the verses are mostly taken from the holy book of Islam, Quran. The verses mainly refer to the themes of judgement and the bliss that awaits the faithful of good deeds. The verses have been chosen to match the place, like the entrance of Taj Mahal are inscribed with phrases of paradisiacal fruits, after crossing the gateways the verses are more about the judgemental day. Again when a tourist enters the mausoleum he finds verses of paradisiacal fruits.

Some of the important verses of Quran that envelope Taj Mahal are:

• Surah 91 (meaning the Sun)
• Surah 112 (meaning the Purity of Faith)
• Surah 89 (meaning the daybreak)
• Surah 93 (meaning the Morning Light)
• Surah 95 (meaning the Fig)
• Surah 94 (meaning the Solace)
• Suraj 36 (meaning the Ya Sin)
• Surah 89 (meaning the folding up)
• Surah 82 (meaning the Cleaving Asunder)
• Surah 84 (meaning the Rending Asunder)
• Surah 98 (meaning the Evidence)
• Surah 67 (meaning the Dominion)
• Surah 48 (meaning the Victory)
• Surah 77 (meaning Those Sent Forth)
• Surah 39 (meaning the Crowds)

The tomb of Mumtaz Mahal is inscribed with 99 names of Allah, while the tomb of Shah Jahan bears an inscription meaning,' He travelled from this world to the banquet hall of eternity on the night of the twenty sixth of the month of Rajab, in the year 1076 Hijri.' The upper cenotaph of the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal also consists of some eloquent recites of Quran in which the angels plead to Allah to let the faithful enter paradise.

Calligraphy of Taj Mahal hence renders a divine aspect to the monument.

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