Improving Islamic Junior High Students' Writing Abilities through the Art of Calligraphy: A Study on Tahsin Al-Khaţ

Abstract

This study examines Qur’anic calligraphy as a lived expression of the Qur’an within mosque spaces, focusing on its aesthetic reception, educational function, and socio-religious significance. Employing a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach, this study is framed within the Living Qur’an perspective, which emphasizes the manifestation of the Qur’an in social and cultural practices beyond textual interpretation. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews with mosque administrators, religious teachers, calligraphers, and congregants, as well as visual documentation of calligraphic inscriptions. The findings reveal that Qur’anic calligraphy functions not merely as decorative art, but as a symbolic medium that reinforces religious identity, enhances spiritual experience, and serves as an informal tool of religious education. The selection of calligraphic styles and Qur’anic verses reflects a balance between aesthetic beauty, readability, and theological intent. Furthermore, calligraphy mediates the relationship between sacred text and social life, allowing the Qur’an to be experienced visually, emotionally, and communally. This study contributes to Living Qur’an scholarship by demonstrating how Islamic art operates as a dynamic form of religious engagement within contemporary Muslim communities.