Created by Mohammad Adra and woven at Jaipuria Silk Mills in Bengaluru, India in collaboration with a team led by Mr. Manjunath L. (Jacquard Weaves), Ms. Anjali Barnwal (Embroidery), and Mr. Pradeep V, all under the guidance of Mr. Vikram Jaipuria, this set of tapestries brings together the geometric potential of square Kufic, the colors and textures of cotton yarn, and profound expressions of faith to create dynamic, contemporary compositions. These intricate tapestries were first woven on a jumbo jacquard loom, utilizing eight differently coloured cotton yarns in the weft. Skilled artisans then hand-embroidered elements with acrylic yarns, carefully positioned on the fabric.
The central panel embodies the phrase Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim ( ِ مي ِ رلٱ ِ نٰ َ ْ رلٱ ِ ٰ لٱ ِ مْ ِ ), ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful’ as a greeting to all visitors to the Center. It is a phrase that appears at the head of every Qur’anic surah and every pious document, and is uttered traditionally at the start of every meaningful act, and yet is deeply felt and full of mystery. This noble invocation appears as a work of art at several Ismaili Centers worldwide, in each interpreted through a unique medium and design. The smaller tapestry to the right contains the names Allah, Muhammad, and ʿAli, while the tapestry to the left is designed around the words of an ayat from Surat al-Nur (Q 24:35): ( ِ ضْرَ ْ ٱ َ و ِ تٰ َ وٰ ـ َ لٱ ُ روُ ُ لٱ) ‘Allah is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth’.
