Algebra Society

Every human being is coded from the moment of conception with DNA. Though this inner code remains constant throughout our lives we stay in essence the same person we are constantly evolving. In each phase of our lives, our attitudes and behaviors changes, as does our perspective. This original work of calligraphy explores that constantly-evolving yet always-grounded journey. Built around the Arabic word Hayy (meaning living being), the piece presents the word in vario...us styles. The many versions of Hayy are woven together to form what appears to be a DNA strand or maybe also a human being on the move? The Arabic calligraphy style takes traditional Kufic scripts and fuses it with stylings from ancient Syriac and ancient Hebrew stylings, which were themselves used as a model by Ali when he developed the Kufic script over 1,300 years ago. Kufic script is named after the academy town of Kufah in southern Iraq where the script was developed to beautify rudimentary Arabic script so that it might more closely resemble its sister Semitic languages Syriac and Hebrew.

The Qur’an provides two key words to describe a successful romantic partnership and relationship: Mawaddah (healing love) and Rahmah (positive vision). Mawaddah comes from the Semitic root W-D-D literally, to tear a piece off your own nice clothes to help bandage the wounds of a beloved. Mawaddah implies offering the best of yourself to empower your partner in their most vulnerable moment in order to help them heal and bring out their best. Rahmah comes from the wo...rd for womb: the place where a mother nourishes a new life-form she has never even met. The only reason a mother makes this often-painful investment is because she has an optimistic vision for the future. Applying that concept to a romantic relationship, Rahmah encourages people to envision a positive future for their partner even if their partner might not recognize that potential themself. When two partners provide this support to one another, the benefits to both can be transformative.

Just seven short verses, Al-Fatiha is considered the Qur’an’s greatest chapter and the most iconic Muslim prayer. The Algebra Society’s word of the week comes from the last word of Al-Fatiha’s 5th verse: Ihdinas Siratal Mustaqim. Mustaqim comes from the Semitic root Q-W-M, which refers to the spine’s natural state. Think of how your back rests when it is not tense. The spine is gently curved, ready to twist as needed. At the same time, the spine is your literal back...bone, keeping you upright and balanced. It is a beautiful image, suggesting the importance of being both flexible and grounded. These qualities help us move forward amidst a constantly changing environment around us one that can often be quite challenging. As we move forward into the new year of 2021, let us embrace the 5th verse of Al-Fatiha and its key word Mustaqim: Grant us serenity, natural flow & flexibility to navigate the journey of life

Sawm, the term applied to fasting, derives from "sharing bread." It relates to apportioning one's time, expertise & resources to improve the lives of others during fasting hours. Learn more https://algebrasociety.org/algebra-society-inspirational-l/