2016 "Longing for the Divine" Calendar

Longing
2016
for theDivine
andalusian arts | award-winning calendar

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 tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
“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 alwayson
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
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
27 28 29 30
16 17
18
19
21
22
20 31 1 2
New Year’s Day
3 4
23 24 25 26
5
6
27
8
7 28
29
9
10
11
12
30 1 2 3
13
4 14
5
15
6
16
Rabi‘ II
17
18
19
7 8
9 10
20
21 22
11 12
13
23
Martin Luther King
Day
24 25 26
14 15 16
Australia Day
27 28 29 30
18 19
17 20
21
31
1 2 3
22 23 24
Abu Dhabi
© Lucie Debelkova
DECEMBER 2015
FEBRUARY
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5 6
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
27
28
29
30
31
28
29
JANUARY 2016
Rabi‘ I/Rabi‘ II

Enwrap me
in the comforting embrace
of Your Light
ibn ‘arabi
21
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
1 2 3 4 5 6
22 23
24 25
26 27
31
7
8
28 29 30
14
15
5 6 7
Presidents Day
9
16
11 12 13
1 2
Jumada I
10 3 4
17 19 20
8 9
18 10 11
12
21
22
13 14
23
24 25 26 27
15 16
17 18
19
28
29
1 2 3 4 5
20 21
22
23 24 25
26
6
27 7
8 9
28 29
Muharraq
© Lucie Debelkova
JANUARY
MARCH
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2
1 2 3 4 5
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
27
28
29
30
31
31
February
Rabi‘ II/Jumada I

How incredible!
that the Ocean
woos the drop
rumi
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
28 29
19 20
21 22
24
25
1 2
23 3 4 5
6 7
8
26 27 28 29
9
1
10 11
2
3
12
Jumada II
13
14
4 5 6
15
7
16
8
17
9
18 10
19
Daylight Savings Time
begins
20 21
22
11 12
13 14
23
24 25
15 16
Good Friday
(Canada, UK, Australia)
17
26
27 18 19
20
21
22
24
Easter
Easter Monday
(Australia)
28
29
30
31
23 1 2
25
3 26 4
5 6
27 28
Konya
© Lucie Debelkova
FEBRUARY
APRIL
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
28
29
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
March
Jumada I/Jumada II

In every breath
we are sustained
by the Beloved
saadi
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
27 28 29 30 31
18 19
20 21
22
24
1 2
23
25
3 4 5
28 6 7
26 27 29
8 9
1 2
Rajab
3
10 11 12
6 13
4 5 7
14
8
15
9
16
10
17
18
19
20
11 12 13
14
21
22 23
15 16
17
24 25 27
18 19 20 21
26
28
29 30
22 23
Anzac Day
(Australia)
24
1
25
2
3 4
26 27
Chebika
© Lucie Debelkova
MARCH
MAY
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
27
28
29
30
31
29
30
31
April
Jumada II/Rajab

From the core of your being
express your longing for the Divine
baqir
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
4
24 25 26 27 28
30
1 2 3 5
Early May Bank
Holiday (UK)
Night Journey
(Al-Isra’ wal-Mi‘raj)
29 6 7
8 9 10
1 2 3 4
5
Sha‘ban
11
12
6
13
7
14
Mother’s Day
15
16
17
18
8 9 10 11
12
19
13 20
14
21
Night of Salvation
(15 th of Sha‘ban)
22
23 24
25
15 16 17
18
19
26
27 28
20 21
29
30
22 23 24
31
25
1
2 3 4
27
26 28
Memorial Day (US)
Spring Bank Holiday
(UK)
6
5 8
29 1
2
3
7
Istanbul
© Sohail Nakhooda / KRM
APRIL
JUNE
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
5
12
19
26
6
13
20
27
7
14
21
28
1
8
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
3
10
17
24
4
11
18
25
May
Rajab/sha‘ban

22
Heartfelt remorse over misdeeds
eradicates them
while pride over good ones
spoil them
imam ‘ali
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
29
23
30
24
31
25 26
1 2
3 4
27 28
5 6 7
29 1 2 3 4
Ramadan
8
9
5
10
6
11
12
13
14
15
7 8 9 10 11
16
12 17
13
18
19
20 21
22
14 15 16
17 18
Father’s Day
23
24 25
19 20
26
21 22 23
27 28 29
24 25
30
26 1
27
2
28 29
3 4
5 6
30 1
Jeddah
© Lucie Debelkova
MAY
JULY
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
29
30
31
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
June
sha‘ban/Ramadan

Every atom in the universe
radiates the Names of the Adored
‘alawi
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
26 27 28 29 30
21 22
23
25
26
27
24 1 2
Night of Power
(Laylat al-Qadr)
3 4 5 6
28 29 30 1
Independence Day
Shawwal
‘Eid al-Fitr
2 7
Canada Day
8 9
3 4
10 11 12
5 6 7 8
13
9
14
10
15
11
16
17
18
19
12 13 14 15
20
16
21
17 22
18
23
24
25 26
19 20 21
22
27
23
28
29 30
24 25
31
26 27
1
2 3
28 29
Sanaa
© Lucie Debelkova
JUNE
AUGUST
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 5 6
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
26
27
28
29
30
28
29
30
31
July
Ramadan/Shawwal

You and I are but clear glass
And a single Light
shines through us
shabistari
26
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
31
1 2 3 4
27 28 29 1
Dhul Qa‘da
5 6
2 3
7 8 9
10
4 5 6 7 8
11
9
12
10
13
14
15
16
17
11 12 13 14 15
18
16 19
17
20
21
22 23
24
18 19 20
21 22
25
26 27
23 24
28
29
25 26 27
30
28 31
29 1
1 2
2
3
3
4
4
5
6 7
5 6
Kerman
© Lucie Debelkova
JULY
SEPTEMBER
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2
1 2 3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
August
Shawwal/Dhul Qa‘da

There is no good in excess
nor excess in good
abu hanifa
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
28 29
25 26
28
29
2
30 31 1 2 3
27 1
Dhul Hijja
4 5 6
3 4 5 6 7
7
8
8
9
9
10
Labor Day
(US/Canada)
Day of ‘Arafat
11
12
13
14
10 11 12 13 14
15
15 16
16
17
‘Eid al-Adha
18
19
20
21
17 18 19
20 21
22
23 24
22 23
25
26 27 28 29 30
29
24 25 26 27 28
30
1
1
2
2
3
4 5
3 4
Alexandria
© Lucie Debelkova
AUGUST
OCTOBER
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
1
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
28
29
30
31
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
September
Dhul Qa‘da/Dhul Hijja

A heart that’s alive
is a sky
pouring light
hafiz
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
25 26 27 28 29
24 25
26 27 28
30
29 30 1
2 3 4 5 6
1 2
3 4 5
Muharram
7 8
6 7
New Islamic Year
1438 ah
8 9
9 10 11
Columbus Day (US)
12
10 11 12
Ashura
13
13
14
14
15
Thanksgiving Day
(Canada)
16
17
18
19
15 16 17 18 19
20
20 21
21
22
23
24
25
26
22 23 24
25 26
27
28 29
27 28
30
31
29 30 8
1 2
1 2
SEPTEMBER
NOVEMBER
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3
1 2 3 4 5
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Isfahan
© Lucie Debelkova
25
26
27
28
29
30
27
28
29
30
October
Dhul Hijja/muharram 1438

There are two rules
for the Path:
Begin
and never, ever stop
unknown
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
27 28 1
29 30
1 2 3
Safar
2 3
4 5
4 5
6
6 7
9
8
7 8 9 10
10
11
11
12
12
Daylight Savings Time
ends
Veterans Day (US)
Remembrance Day
(Canada)
13
13
14
15
16
14 15
16 17
17
18 18
19
19
20
21
22
23
20 21
22
23 24
24
25
25
26
26
Thanksgiving
27
27
28
28
29 30
29 1
Rabi‘ I
2
1
3
2
4
3
5
4
6
5
6 7
7 8
OCTOBER
DECEMBER
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1
1 2 3
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Tunis
© Lucie Debelkova
23
30
24
31
25
26
27
28
29
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
November
safar/Rabi‘ I

A kind word is charity
prophetic tradition
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
27 28 30 1
27 28
29
1 2 4
29
3 2 3
4 5 6
5 6 7 8 9
7
8
10
9
11
10
11
12
13
14
12 13 14 15 16
15
17 16
18
17
The Prophet’s Birthday
(Milad al-Nabi)
18
19
20
21
19 20 21
22 23
22
23 24
24 25
25
26 27 28 29 30 31
1 2
26 27 28 29 30
Christmas
Hanukkah
1
3 4
Boxing Day
(UK, Australia)
2
Christmas Holiday,
Boxing Day Holiday,
and Proclamation
Day (Australia); Bank
Holiday (UK)
3 4
5 6
St. Petersburg
© Lucie Debelkova
Rabi‘ II
New Year’s Eve
NOVEMBER
JANUARY 2017
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
27 28 29 30
29 30 31
December
Rabi‘ I/Rabi‘ II

Abu Dhabi
© Lucie Debelkova
s m t w t f s s m t w t f s
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5 6
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
27 28 29 30 31
28 29
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)
january • Abu Dhabi february • Muharraq march • Konya
april • Chebika
may • Istanbul
june • Jeddah
“beautifully designed and produced … visually compelling, and
the quotes inspiring”
— Rochelle Kessler, LA County Museum of Art
“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
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
july • Sanaa
augusT • Kerman
september • Alexandria
sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday
16 27 17 28 18 29 19 30
21
22
3 4
23 24 25 26
5
6
20 31 1 2
27
New Year’s Day
8
7 28
29
9
10
11
12
30 1 2 3
Rabi‘ II
13 4 14
5
15
6
16
17
18
19
7 8
9 10
Martin Luther King
Day
20
11 21 12 22
13
23
24 25 26
14 15 16
Australia Day
27 18 28 19 29 30
17 20
21
31
1 2 3
22 23 24
deC emB er 2015
feB ruary
JANUARY 2016
Rabi‘ I/Rabi‘ II
october • Isfahan
november • Tunis
december • St. Petersburg
SAN 257-053X
Andalusian Arts
www.AndalusianArts.com
• info@AndalusianArts.com
© “Longing for the Divine” 2002-2016 Andalusian Arts
US Tel: 310-694-3762
Printed in Jordan