Millions of people — Muslims, Hindus and Christians, and celebrities and rulers — visit Moinudddin Chisti’s ‘dargah’ every year

Contrary to a defamatory recent article about the rise and spread of Sufism (especially the Chishtiya) in Chakranews this article from the GulfNews gives a far more accurate account and stresses the tolerance and fairmindedness of two of the Chishtiya’s most well known figures – Moinuddin Chishti and Nizamuddin Auliya. Many thanks to Talat Halman for pointing this article out on Facebook.

IndiaSymbols of tolerance in India’s Ajmer

Two shrines in India continue to cut through distinctions of faith and class because of the saints who once lived there

By Meher Murshed, Senior Hub Editor

Published:  March 16, 2012

Image Credit: Anupa Kurian

Moinuddin Chisti passed away in Ajmer in 1230, and his prayer room, where he was buried, became a shrine

It was sometime in the 1560s, a band of wandering minstrels was exhorting Moinuddin Chishti to be their guiding star, when the great Moghul emperor Akbar heard the strains of the melodious music … he knew he had to go to Ajmer.

From then on, every year, for years to come, Akbar wound his way to Ajmer in Rajasthan to pray at the shrine of the Sufi saint and distribute alms among the poor. Whether it was to celebrate a battle or pray for a son, the emperor looked to Moinuddin Chishti. Sometimes he would undertake the journey of 300km from Agra, other times from Fatehpur.

Read more of this very interesting article via gulfnews : Symbols of tolerance in India’s Ajmer.

In this Tuesday, Jan. 17 2012 photo, calligraphy expert Avraham Borshevsky practices in his studio in Jerusalem.

Jewish, Muslim scribes keep calligraphy art alive

By BERNAT ARMANGUE – Associated Press

JERUSALEM – In a world overwhelmed by electronic gadgets that have changed the way we read, write and learn, the Jewish and Islamic arts of calligraphy have preserved their methods for generations.

Parchment, feathers and “qalams,” a pen made of dried bamboo, are still used by sophers – Jewish scribes – and khattats – Muslim calligraphers. Calligraphy is one of the main art forms in Judaism and Islam, reflecting how central the word is to both religions.

The Quran has played a major role in the spread of the Arabic language and alphabet, as have Judaism’s Torah and other holy books in the preservation of Hebrew.

Both Muslim and Jewish scribes say deep knowledge of religion infuses the graceful lines of their calligraphy and is essential to the art, which they say ensures the art’s survival into the future – something no electronic tool will be able to bring.

The original story via Jewish, Muslim scribes keep calligraphy art alive – World – TheState.com includes many more very wonderful pictures of people and the process used to make the calligraphy.