Footnotes

Provenance:
Property from a private collection, Cairo
Collection of the late artist and teacher Samir El Guindy, acquired directly from Omar El-Nagdi, circa 1980's

Exhibited:
Anon Exhibition, Omar El Nagdi, Egyptian Ministry of Culture, Cairo, 1983

A rare 1983 calligraphic depiction of the Kaaba by Omar El Nagdi

"When God created your body, He placed a Ka'ba inside of it — your heart." — Ibn Arabi

The present work is a rare and magnificent early calligraphic composition by Omar El Nagdi depicting the Holiest site in Islam, the Kaaba. Nagdi's calligraphic phase is often recognised as being one of his most innovative and original bodies of work in its embrace of the abstract dimensions of the Arabic letterform and the interplay of repeated patterns, but this exceptional work stands out for its rare embrace of a recognizable form and also for the profound combination of spiritual, intellectual, and artistic elements it embodies.

Through his manipulation of Arabic letters, El Nagdi marries the mystical traditions of Islamic meditation with the technical precision of Islamic scholarship, creating a composition that bridges the physical and spiritual realms of religious practice

The Significance of Alif

A central feature of this piece out of which the scene of the Kaaba is formed, is the repeated use of the Arabic letter alif, a letter rich with spiritual connotations. As the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, the alif symbolizes the singular, divine nature of God. It stands upright, alone, and unconnected to other letters, much like the transcendence and independence of the Creator. In Islam, repetition is central to the practice of zikr, or meditation on the divine, and here, the repeated alif serves as a visual meditation on God's presence. The piece evokes this spiritual process, integrating the letter's sacred symbolism with the act of repetition, recalling the rhythmic chants of zikr, a contemplative Islamic ritual.

The Kaaba – House of God

The entire scene—constructed from the same letters that comprise the Quran, the sacred word of God—transforms the physical structures of the Kaaba, the worshipers, and the surrounding space into a fluid representation of faith. This concept marries the tangible and the intangible aspects of Islamic practice, from the physical act of pilgrimage to the Kaaba, to the inner spiritual journey of zikr and spiritual contemplation.

The composition is anchored in the elegant black cube of the Kaaba which forms the central motif of the painting, the work also includes depictions of Maqam Ibrahim (the Station of Abraham), which holds the stone that bears Prophet Ibrahim's footprints, and the Hijr Ismail, a structure adjacent to the Kaaba where Ismail and Hagar are believed to be buried.

The worshipers in the composition are depicted as a blur of flowing white letters, circling the Kaaba in perpetual movement. This blurring of form, where the physical becomes abstract and spiritual, echoes both the physical exertion of circling the Kaaba during pilgrimage and the deep spiritual devotion of those in prayer.

Art, Religion and Technical Mastery

What makes this composition even more exceptional is the way it visually resembles the ornate manuscripts and scientific treatises of medieval Islamic scholars. These manuscripts, which often focused on calculating the qibla (the direction to Mecca), were not only functional guides for prayer but also artistic works, featuring elaborate calligraphy and decorative elements. By referencing this tradition, El Nagdi's work brings together religious devotion, technical calculation, and artistic mastery in a singular, unified composition.

Omar El Nagdi's ability to blend the visual traditions of Islamic calligraphy with deep religious and mystical significance makes this 1983 depiction of the Kaaba a truly unique masterpiece. Drawing inspiration from the rich history of medieval Islamic manuscripts that combined scientific precision with artistic flourish, this composition not only celebrates the sacred act of pilgrimage but also reflects the intellectual traditions that sought to understand and navigate the physical and spiritual worlds.

This rare work stands as a remarkable union of Islamic ritual, art, and intellectual thought. El Nagdi masterfully integrates the spiritual with the practical, creating a work that invites viewers to contemplate the relationship between the sacred and the scientific, the seen and the unseen. For collectors and admirers of Islamic art, this piece offers a profound exploration of faith, rendered in a form that is as visually arresting as it is spiritually resonant.