Islamic calligraphy

Islamic calligraphy
Name	Islamic Calligraphy
Origins	7th-century Arabian Peninsula
Famous practitioners	Ibn Muqla, Ibn al-Bawwab, Yaqut al-Musta'simi, Hamid al-Amidi
Related	Islamic art, Arabic script, Manuscript illumination

Islamic calligraphy. It is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy based on the Arabic script, which serves to transmit the Quran and other religious and literary texts. This art form, known in Arabic as *khatt*, evolved from a practical script into a highly venerated central element of Islamic art, avoiding figurative representation to focus on spiritual and aesthetic expression. Its development across the Muslim world, from Al-Andalus to Southeast Asia, has produced a diverse array of scripts and masterpieces that define visual culture in Islamic societies.

History and development

The origins are deeply tied to the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century, with early efforts focused on preserving the holy text. Under the Umayyad Caliphate, particularly during the reign of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, the script was standardized for administrative use. The Abbasid Caliphate witnessed a major transformation, with calligraphers like Ibn Muqla in Baghdad developing proportional rules. This golden age continued under later empires such as the Timurid dynasty, Safavid dynasty, and Ottoman Empire, where calligraphy flourished in centers like Herat, Isfahan, and Istanbul. The art form was further disseminated through the expansion of Sufism and trade routes across Africa and Asia.

Styles and scripts

A complex system of scripts developed, categorized broadly into the geometric Kufic script, early forms of which adorn the Dome of the Rock, and the cursive, rounded scripts known as *Naskh*, *Thuluth*, and *Muhaqqaq*. *Naskh*, perfected by Ibn al-Bawwab, became the standard for Quran transcription, while the majestic *Thuluth* was favored for architectural inscriptions like those in the Süleymaniye Mosque. Regional variations proliferated, including the elongated Persian script used for poetry, the Diwani script of the Ottoman court, and the Maghrebi script distinctive to North Africa and Al-Andalus.

Materials and tools

Traditional practice relies on specific instruments, primarily the *qalam*, a pen cut from a dried reed. Inks were historically crafted from soot, gum arabic, and other natural materials, often achieving prized colors like gold. The primary support was parchment and later, paper, whose manufacture spread following the Battle of Talas. For important manuscripts, such as those commissioned by the Mughal emperor Akbar, pages were polished with agate burnishers and adorned with gold leaf and lapis lazuli in intricate illumination.

Role in Islamic art and culture

It transcends mere writing to become a primary visual expression, intimately connected to the divine word of the Quran. This centrality explains its omnipresence on the walls of mosques like the Great Mosque of Cordoba and Shah Mosque, on everyday objects, and in official documents of the Ottoman Empire. The art form is deeply intertwined with Sufism, where the visual repetition of God's names becomes a meditative practice. It also served a legitimizing function, prominently featuring on the currency and architecture of rulers from the Seljuk Empire to the Mamluk Sultanate.

Notable calligraphers and works

The tradition honors many masters. The systemization by Ibn Muqla was refined by his successor, Ibn al-Bawwab, whose extant Quran is a landmark. The 13th-century calligrapher Yaqut al-Musta'simi developed distinct schools in Baghdad. Later luminaries include Sheikh Hamdullah in the Ottoman Empire, Mir Ali Tabrizi in the Timurid court, and Mustafa Rakim under Sultan Mahmud II. Famous works include the monumental Blue Quran, the lavishly illustrated Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, and the calligraphic compositions (*muraqqa*) of the Safavid and Mughal periods.

Contemporary practice and influence

While rooted in tradition, it remains a vibrant art. Modern masters like Hassan Massoudy and Nja Mahdaoui explore abstract expression, and institutions such as the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture in Istanbul promote its study. Its aesthetic principles profoundly influence modern Arabic typography and global art movements, seen in the works of artists like El Seed. International exhibitions, including those at the British Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, alongside dedicated museums in Sharjah and Tunis, continue to showcase its enduring legacy and evolution.

Category:Islamic art Category:Calligraphy Category:Arabic script