Stock Photo Description: Arabic Calligraphy Lion, This image of a lion originates from Lahore, Pakistan and is part of a rich tradition of zoomorphic calligraphy. This practice, developed in the sixteenth century, employs the flexibility and beauty of Arabic script to delineate living forms such as tigers, parrots, ostriches and cockerels. This is done without disobeying religious injunctions that prohibit their direct depiction. Texts themselves might constitute verses from the Quran and include puns relating to the word-picture, particularly in Shia iconography. A famous example contains a prayer to Ali, the Prophets son-in-law, also known as Haidar or lion. The prayer called "the 'nad-i 'Ali'" written in Arabic, This calligraphy (Lion or Tiger) was created in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, in the 19th century by Unknown artist, now this calligraphy piece in Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Ali is the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, and he called by his mother Haydar “Lion” and by his followers Haydar alkarar “Invincible Lion.”, and this is “a praise for Ali”, the “Invincible Lion”, in Shia calligraphy the shape of a calligraphic image is related to its content. Translation "Call upon 'Ali in whom miracles are made manifest. You will find him a help to you when misfortunes occur. All anguish and sorrow will be dispelled through your closeness [to God] oh 'Ali, and your prophethood, oh Muhammad. The text of the prayer starts at the lion's nose, but is there after randomly dispersed throughout the body."