Acupunturist Sharing Wonders Of Islamic Calligraphy With Book Lovers

KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 (Bernama) -- An acupuncturist and Muslim revert from China is intent on introducing Islamic calligraphy (khat) to the public as a medium for spiritual outreach and emotional healing.

Now residing in Malaysia, Dr Hassan Bai, 57, shared with Bernama that while in university, he was drawn to the art of Chinese traditional painting.

"…later I taught myself Arabic calligraphy through YouTube and Facebook, and practised daily," he said when met recently at his MUHA International booth at the Kuala Lumpur International Books Festival (KLIBF), the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

He said khat could not be separated from a deep appreciation of the meanings of Quranic verses, adding that to produce accurate and respectful writings, one must have both knowledge and a profound understanding of the verses.

"We will be more careful when we understand the meaning of the verses. There is no room for mistakes. You must be serious and patient when writing. This isn't ordinary writing but God's words," he said, adding that every stroke of ink is a form of spiritual reflection.

Hassan's artworks have found homes across the world in countries such as Australia, Europe, and several in Southeast Asia, including Brunei and Singapore, with buyers coming from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.

"I have buyers from Estonia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. This art is for everyone who appreciates beauty and meaning," he said, adding that the human touch remains valuable despite technology opening possibilities for digital printing.

"Printed calligraphy might cost RM10, but handwritten pieces can go for RM100 or even RM1,000 because each work is unique. This is the result of the heart and hand of a human," Hassan said, drawing on his 12 years of experience in calligraphy.

However, Hassan acknowledges the challenges, particularly in attracting the younger generation's interest in traditional arts that are fading into obscurity.

"This (calligraphy) is culture. People bring food to a festival, I showcase khat. I want people to see the beauty of Islam and art—not just letters," he said, adding that he also creates a fusion of khat in Arabic and Chinese scripts.

Meanwhile, a buyer of Hassan's work, Noor Nizreen Osman, 50, said that as a calligraphy enthusiast, she is willing to spend hundreds of ringgit to purchase calligraphy pieces.

"I have always been passionate about khat and once purchased a calligraphy piece for RM500. So far, I have collected around 20 calligraphy works.

"Most of the calligraphy pieces in my possession are from artists in Malaysia and Turkiye, but it's rare for me to find calligraphers from China. So, when I happened to come across his booth at the book fair, I bought his work immediately," she added.

-- BERNAMA