Arabic Calligraphy - More than Just Writing the Qur'an
Based on the Arabic alphabet in lands sharing a common Islamic heritage, written with dried bamboo dipped in ink on parchment, derived from the resplendent and marvelous Islamic civilization, the Arabic calligraphy transmits Islamic culture and art. It contains and demonstrates cultures, traditions, and life of the people influenced by Islam.
Arabic calligraphy is mainly written with qalam, a pen made from dried reed or bamboo with a pointed end which is dipped in ink. The thickness and the angle of the pointed end also differ between different types of qalams.
“When writing, the whole edge of the pointed end needs to touch the paper. “ explained Said Al Mohtadi, a Moroccan calligraphist and calligraphy teacher.
The ink in which the qalams are dipped in is often in color, and its intensity, which can vary greatly, affects the strokes of composition. More than just parchment, papyrus, and paper, the Arabic calligraphy is used in varied and imaginative ways. It can be used as an artistic and decorative element on carpets, coins, tiles, vessels, and inscriptions.
In pre-Islamic times, most literature was transmitted orally, though many Arabic dialects were spoken and some were written down.
“Even the Qur’an was written down only after the death of Mohammed the Prophet.” said Said, “Before that it was only preserved by oral transmission.”
It was important at that time that the Arabic script be standardized.
The oldest and first formal form of Arabic calligraphy is kufic. Kufic is named after the town of Kufa, which was established in Iraq around the 7th century. This form of script was the main script for copying the Qur’an till the 10th century. Since the 11th century, kufic gradually disappeared from general use. The kufic style emphasizes geometric features: angular, linear shapes and short, thick, and square letters. It developed towards a more knotted, plaited, and foliated style as it became more decorative. It was used for writing on paper, metal, or stones, for carving and painting on walls of mosques. It was also used as a decorative element on ceramics and astrolabes.
Al-Qarawiyyin library
The Al-Qarawiyyin library, locate in Fez, Morocco, is the oldest working library in Al-Qarawiyyin University, the world’s oldest existing, continually operating educational institution, which was founded in 859 by a woman named Fatima al-Fihri.
The library contains about 4,000 manuscripts. There is a 9th century Quran written in Kufic calligraphy. The Al-Qarawiyyin library underwent renovations many times and was recently reopened for visitors.
(The image on top is the reading room of the Al-Qarawiyyin mosque, and the image on the bottom is the 9th century Quran written on leather in Kufic calligraphy).
Another cursive script, called naskh, meaning “copying”, coexisted with kufic and first appeared in the 10th century. In the early stages, the script was quite rhythmic, but lacked discipline and elegance. Later, after being standardized and reformed by several famous calligraphers, naskh became the most commonly used cursive scripts. It was used in private correspondence, official decrees, and even writing the Qur’an. Naskh is an elegant script, with well balanced stems, depths, and lengths. It has straight and vertical uprights, full and deep curves, and generally well spaced words. It is small, yet clear and legible.
Naskh also has several variations. Thuluth, meaning “one third”, was developed for religious texts to decorate scriptural objects. It has long, curved letters with barbed heads. Ruq’ah is a simple script with short strokes and simple curves. It derived from naskh and thuluth and first appeared in the 9th century. Muhaqqaq is one of the most majestic, beautiful, yet difficult scripts. It is used to copy short phrases and texts from the Qur’an.
There are also other calligraphy styles that gradually developed in China, Persia, and Turkey along with the spread of Islam. Nastaliq, a light and elegant style for Persian languages and especially for literary works, was developed in Iran around the 15th century. Literally meaning “hanging”, the words go in steep lines and make the letters with long, broad horizontal strokes look as if they are hanging. Another style, diwani, was developed during the reign of the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century. Letters are close to each other and gradually go upwards from right to left, which makes it difficult to read and write. Diwani was used for writing court documents because of its heavy stylization, and therefore insurance of confidentiality and prevention of forgery. There is also a style developed in China and heavily influenced by Chinese calligraphy, called as sini. Instead of pens made of reed or bamboo, a horsehair brush is used to write sini.
As an aesthetically appealing form of art, the Arabic calligraphy has been preserved from the 7th century till now, spreading and developing alongside Islam, with new ideas and elements added to it overtime. Considered as an important element of the Arabic language and the Islamic culture, the Arabic calligraphy, with its particular, mystical, yet appealing artistical quality, has attracted many people to learn more about it. Nowadays in Morocco, there are many study and exchange programs for local and international students who are interested in Arabic calligraphy to learn about the art, culture, and history that it contains.
“Arabic calligraphy is still an important element, of not only the Arabic language, but also the Islamic culture and heritage.” said Said, “It is still valued nowadays, and young people learn and inherit from the masters.”
Depending on different styles of Arabic calligraphy, it can be used for varied purposes: decoration on ceramics, inscription on the walls of mosques, copying the Qur’an, official decrees, and personal correspondences. From the very first script developed to record the Qur’an to modern day calligraphy influenced by western designs, the Arabic calligraphy kept its artistic and cultural features and characteristics, demonstrating the life of people living in lands sharing a common Islamic heritage.
Sources:
http://www.moa.ubc.ca/spiritofislam/unity/calligraphy_styles.html
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/calligraphy-in-islamic-art/
http://mohamedzakariya.com/history/
http://islam.ru/en/content/story/history-calligraphy
Said Al Mohtadi. Personal Communication. 30 Jan. 2017
Image(s) source: http://www.trtworld.com/art-culture/a-walk-through-the-worlds-oldest-library-in-fez-morocco-142811
