«أنت جميل تحب الجمال فكيف عبادك لا يعشقون» (You are beautiful and love beauty, so how could Your servants not fall in love?) – Jali Diwani – Mahmoud Atef

Text: «أنت جميل تحب الجمال فكيف عبادك لا يعشقون، خلقت الجمال لنا، وقلت لنا يا عباد اتقون» (You are beautiful and love beauty, so how could Your servants not fall in love? You created beauty for us, and You told us: O My servants, be mindful of Me)

Framed size: 47×57 cm

Script: Jali Diwani

Materials: Natural ink on natural ahar (burnished) paper

Nature of work: Handmade

Symbolism and meaning: It evokes verses attributed to Abu Nuwas: divine beauty as the source of all beauty in the universe, and a reminder that love of beauty leads to love of the Creator, not to fleeting appearances. It is a balance between love and piety, and a vision of beauty as a path to guidance and light.

Artist: Mahmoud Atef