Syful Islam | A Dua for the Oppressed

Mohammad Syful Islam (b. 1946, Meherpur, Bangladesh) is a painter, educator, and pioneer of Islamic calligraphy painting in Bangladesh. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has worked across landscape, still life, portraiture, figurative art, Bengali and Arabic calligraphy, and modern composition. In 1982, he founded Cezanne Art School and Cezanne Art Gallery in Dhaka, mentoring generations of
artists and contributing significantly to Bangladesh's art scene. His work is inspired by Qur'anic text, the riverine landscapes and village life of Bangladesh, and a lifelong appreciation of nature.
Now based in Ontario, Canada, he continues to paint, teach, and contribute to the local arts community through exhibitions, mentorship, and art education. His practice combines disciplined composition, expressive colour, light, and calligraphic rhythm, reflecting a lifetime devoted to artistic excellence, cultural heritage, and an enduring passion for sharing art across generations.

 

Arabic calligraphy flows across an image of the Dome of the Rock, Palestinian colours and a landscape darkened by fire. The inscription carries a traditional supplication calling upon Allah - the Revealer of the Book and swift in reckoning - to overcome oppression and shake the forces of injustice. Fiery reds and oranges express grief, urgency and devastation, while luminous white and gold script rises above the scene as a sign of prayer and hope. Within 1001 Stories: Colours of Faith and Home, this work speaks for people whose homes, safety and sacred places are threatened, yet whose faith and identity continue to endure. Home is presented not only as land or shelter, but also as memory, dignity, worship and an unbroken bond with place. I hope the viewer receives the painting as a dua of solidarity, affirming that even amid destruction, faith can remain a source of courage, compassion and resistance to despair.