2016 "Longing for the Divine" Calendar

Longing Divine for the

andalusian arts | award-winning calendar

2016

ANDALUSIAN ARTS presents its award-winning 2016 Longing for the Divine calendar. In a world where change is the norm, these aphorism-photo pairings suggest that some things—like the quest for the Divine—are timeless. We hope that each month's display reflects this sense of the Sacred wherever the calendar is exhibited.

ANDALUSIAN ARTS is a producer of print and gift items for both the Islamic corporate and retail markets. Our product line includes calendars, premium greeting cards, and commissioned prints. We offer customized product designs to embassies, corporations, and non-profits; these have been successfully used as fundraisers, purchase incentives, patron appreciation for non-profits, corporate giveaways, and as a component of a larger company branding strategy.

Our clientele/partners/retailers include: Borders Bookstores Inc.; Calendars.com; Partners West; TNT; Guidance Residential; the Intercontinental Hotel (Middle East); Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism (London); UMMA Community Clinic (Los Angeles); Averroes Academy (Chicago); the Marriott Hotel (Middle East); Astrolabe Islamic Media (N. Virginia); Islamic Society of North America (ISNA); and the Unity Center (Greater Michigan).

All photographs are protected by the indicated copyrights • “Longing for the Divine” © 2002–2016 Andalusian Arts, LLC • Produced by Mohamed Marei • Designed by Sohail Nakhooda • Additional design by Maher Yusuf • Special thanks to Hani Samman, Omar Samman, Zeina Shahzada, Nidal Al-Qudairi, Imad Nimer, and Anaya and Nafisa Marei • Islamic dates used throughout the calendar are based on the Umm-ul-Qura calendar, which has been accepted by the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), and the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) • Holidays are based on data provided by Khalid Shaukat’s moonsighting.com • Due to the nature of lunar calendars, actual dates may vary by one and, rarely, two days.

Longing for the Divine sunday

monday

“The blank space in the modern heart is a God-shaped blank” –Julian Huxley Within each of us is a faculty that quests for something beyond itself. A colorful gallery of psychiatrists, anthropologists, poets, and others have reflected on this insistent urge to grasp at something larger than our own identity. For Muslims well-versed in the letter and spirit of their tradition, this thirst has been identified as the desire to know our Creator, the Divine.

Allah—the Arabic word for God—hasn’t left us to our own devices in this lifelong journey.

The task of all prophetic messengers from Adam to Jesus to Muhammad (peace and blessings upon them all) was two-fold: first, to reveal or revive manners of conduct that would bring us in harmony with the universe, and second, to develop our hearts and souls so that we may fall in love with Him: “My servant approaches me with nothing more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory on him, and My servant keeps drawing nearer to Me with voluntary works until I love him. And when I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give to him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him.”

Some reflection points to the value of this sacred tradition, words that convey an explicit methodology for traversing the path. This, among other things, underscores the Islamic worldview: a practical prescription of how to live a saintly life in the midst of a busy world, exemplified in the person of the Prophet (God bless him and give him pace). In a world gone mad with eighty-hour work weeks and always-

tuesday

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on communication, it is this call to calm hearts and restore them to sanity that is most needed.

There is an old tale of the sun and the wind competing with one another as to who would succeed in getting a young man to remove his jacket. The wind blew and blew, all to no avail; each violent puff, more insistent than the one that preceded it, prompted the man to wrap himself ever more tightly. The sun, on the other hand, did what it does best: it simply smiled.

The coat came off immediately.

We are taught that Allah is beautiful, and that He loves beauty. Throughout the fourteen centuries of Islamic civilization, evidence of this beauty has been amply evident: the geometric pattern painted on the ceiling of a mosque, the rhythmic motions of prayer beads in saintly hands, or a lover absorbed in prostration, where nothing matters except his Beloved, his Lord.

The Prophet (God bless him and give him peace) supplicated, “I ask You for the longing to meet You,” and this singleminded determination to transcend a life of automation and routine is a high aspect of the Prophetic Way. A traditional saying approaches it from a slightly different angle: “I was a hidden treasure and I longed to be known, so I created the world that I may be known.”

We journey seeking the Divine for no purpose other than to fulfill destiny, for this longing is the very purpose of creation. The path has been paved and is well-worn. What remains is to travel.

“And I hastened to You, my Lord, to please You” (Qur’an 20:84).

You reflect that which you search for abu sa‘id monday

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tuesday

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wednesday

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thursday

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New Year’s Day

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Rabi‘ II

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Martin Luther King Day

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Australia Day

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Abu Dhabi © Lucie Debelkova

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JANUARY 2016 Rabi‘ I/Rabi‘ II

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Enwrap me in the comforting embrace of Your Light ibn ‘arabi monday

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Jumada I

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Presidents Day

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Muharraq © Lucie Debelkova

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February

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How incredible! that the Ocean woos the drop rumi monday

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Jumada II

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Good Friday (Canada, UK, Australia)

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Easter Monday (Australia)

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Konya Š Lucie Debelkova

March Jumada I/Jumada II

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In every breath we are sustained by the Beloved saadi monday

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Anzac Day (Australia)

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Chebika Š Lucie Debelkova

April Jumada II/Rajab

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From the core of your being express your longing for the Divine baqir monday

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25 Early May Bank Holiday (UK)

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Night Journey (Al-Isra’ wal-Mi‘raj)

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Sha‘ban Mother’s Day

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Night of Salvation (15th of Sha‘ban)

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Memorial Day (US) Spring Bank Holiday (UK)

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Istanbul © Sohail Nakhooda / KRM

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Heartfelt remorse over misdeeds eradicates them while pride over good ones spoil them imam ‘ali monday

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Father’s Day

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Jeddah © Lucie Debelkova

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June sha‘ban/Ramadan

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Every atom in the universe radiates the Names of the Adored ‘alawi monday

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Shawwal

Independence Day

‘Eid al-Fitr

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Sanaa © Lucie Debelkova

July Ramadan/Shawwal

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You and I are but clear glass And a single Light shines through us shabistari monday

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tuesday

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wednesday 29

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Kerman © Lucie Debelkova

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August

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There is no good in excess nor excess in good abu hanifa monday

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tuesday

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wednesday 28

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thursday

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friday

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1 Dhul Hijja

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Day of ‘Arafat

Labor Day (US/Canada)

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Alexandria © Lucie Debelkova

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September Dhul Qa‘da/Dhul Hijja

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A heart that’s alive is a sky pouring light hafiz monday

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Muharram New Islamic Year 1438 ah

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Columbus Day (US)

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Ashura

Thanksgiving Day (Canada)

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NO V EM B ER

SE P TEM B ER S

Isfahan © Lucie Debelkova

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October Dhul Hijja/muharram 1438

There are two rules for the Path: Begin and never, ever stop unknown monday

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Daylight Savings Time ends

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Veterans Day (US) Remembrance Day (Canada)

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Thanksgiving

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Rabi‘ I

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O C TO B ER S

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Tunis © Lucie Debelkova

November safar/Rabi‘ I

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A kind word is charity prophetic tradition

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sunday 27

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tuesday 29

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The Prophet’s Birthday (Milad al-Nabi)

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Christmas Hanukkah

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Christmas Holiday, Boxing Day Holiday, and Proclamation Day (Australia); Bank Holiday (UK)

Boxing Day (UK, Australia)

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New Year’s Eve

Rabi‘ II

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St. Petersburg © Lucie Debelkova

December Rabi‘ I/Rabi‘ II

J ANUARY 2 0 1 7

NO V EM B ER S

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2003-2014 Calendar Marketing Association Awards for “Longing for the Divine” • Gold, Best Subject (Corporate) • Gold, Best Subject (Customized) • Gold (2x), Best Finishing Technical Achievement • Silver, Best Subject (Retail) • Silver, Best Non-Profit (Customized) • Bronze, Best Typography • Bronze, Best Color Separations • #1 Amazon best-seller (2014)

“beautifully designed and produced … visually compelling, and the quotes inspiring” — Rochelle Kessler, LA County Museum of Art

january • Abu Dhabi

february • Muharraq

march • Konya

“a calendar that will lift your heart and open your mind” — Robert Arndt, Editor, Aramco World “this exquisite and elegant calendar reminds us of the breathtaking beauty and tranquility that typifies traditional Islam” — S. A. Schleifer, Director, Adham Center, American University in Cairo “I am not a Muslim; but as I gaze on these beautiful photographs … peace comes to me” — Pamela Nice, Associate Director, Center for Faculty Development, University of St. Thomas

april • Chebika

may • Istanbul

june • Jeddah

Following its double-category, #1 Amazon best-selling 2015 calendar, Andalusian Arts presents the 2016 edition: Twelve stunning images captured by world-class photographers of the spiritual tapestry of the Muslim world, coupled with the wisdom-words of scholar-saints such as Hafiz, Rumi and al-‘Alawi...a colorful glimpse into the living universe of traditional Islamic spirituality.

You reflect that which you search for abu sa’id monday

sunday 16

27

17

tuesday

28

wednesday

29

18

19

30

thursday

31

20

friday

saturday

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New Year’s Day

july • Sanaa

augusT • Kerman

september • Alexandria 23

30

3 10

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25

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5 12

26

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Rabi‘ II

7

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Martin Luther King Day

14

24

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25

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26

29

19

Australia Day

21

31

22

1

23

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Abu Dhabi © Lucie Debelkova

deCemBer 2015 s

SAN 257-053X

october • Isfahan

november • Tunis

Andalusian Arts

december • St. Petersburg

www.AndalusianArts.com • info@AndalusianArts.com © “Longing for the Divine” 2002-2016 Andalusian Arts US Tel: 310-694-3762

Printed in Jordan

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JANUARY 2016 Rabi‘ I/Rabi‘ II

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