The entrance to the main burial chamber at Akbar's tomb

The artwork "Calligraphy on the Entrance of Akbar's Tomb" by Abdul Haq decorating the entrance of Akbar's Tomb in Sikandra represents one of the finest samples of the Mughal art, showing the combination of architecture, religion, and art. The calligraphy is written in the elegant Thuluth script and includes the verses of the Quran, which are painted in gold on the deep blue background. Thus, the inscription creates an eye-catching contrast, and visitors will notice it instantly. The inscribed verses contain the greetings to visitors, saying that God is merciful and great, and people should remember that their earthly life is temporal. At the same time, the inscription reflects the ability of the artist to create the well-balanced composition, where each character smoothly connects to other characters. The calligraphy is framed with beautiful floral ornaments and geometric patterns, thus demonstrating the Mughal taste for harmony in decoration. In addition, the inscription is the symbolical way to move from the ordinary life to the holy place, reminding the viewers about life, death, and eternity. The use of luxurious colors and fine details of calligraphy also speaks about the patronage of Emperor Akbar and about his love to arts.