A Survey on the Role of Imam Ali (P.B.U.H) in Islamic Calligraphy Through Historical and Mystical Studies

The present inquiry seeks to review the role of Imam Ali (PBUH) in Islamic calligraphy and how the origin of the art is attributed to him through historical and mystical studies. In this regard, first I review the historical role of Imam Ali (PBUH) according to the history of Islamic calligraphy and the development of various calligraphic styles used for writing the Arabic script. Then I study how the respect of calligraphers to Imam Ali found expressions in Helye nevisy, motifs of inscriptions and animated motifs. Finally, I reveal that the role of Imam Ali in calligraphy is not limited in historical or artistic bounds rather calligraphers consider a mystical and mysterious position for him and addressed him  " the first of all masters" or even metaphorically named him as period or line of the scripts. Such belief paves the way for a significant combination between Islamic calligraphy and mysticism. Moreover, Muslim calligraphers consider Imam Ali as the crossway between the two realms of art and mysticism. In addition, the present inquiry shows Islamic calligraphy is not only graphical forms or visual techniques but also a method of Islamic spirituality and mysticism that opens the gate to the hidden dimensions of the universe so like Imam Ali known as the gate of the city of knowledge.