Arabic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy based on the Arabic alphabet. It is known in Arabic as khatt (Arabic: خط). Arabic calligraphy is the most important and pervasive element in islamic art. It has always been considered the noblest form of art because of its association with the Qur'an, the muslim holy book, which is written in arabic. Arabic calligraphers (khattat) are the most highly regarded artists in Islamic culture.
Arabic calligraphy, was elevated above all other art forms in the Islamic world because Allah, or God, revealed the divine word of Islam to the Prophet Muhammad (570–632) in the Arabic language.
The word calligraphy derived from greek words kallos (beauty) and graphos (writing). And the word خط (khatt) has so many meanings. It can mean 'line', or 'design', or 'construction' or handwriting calligraphy in general or it can be used to refer to a certain type of Arabic calligraphic cursive style. But all these words are translated to the word خط (khatt) in Arabic. The person who masters the different Arabic Calligraphic Cursive styles is called a khattat ( خَطّاط ).
There are 6 main calligraphy cursive styles from which other cursive styles were derived. Some of these Arabic Calligraphy Cursive styles have variations too, and some of the new Calligraphy Cursive Styles are a mix of two styles or more. These styles are used as a type of art even nowadays, and we can see them present in Islamic Architecture.
These styles need a specific type of pencil and ink to write them, but some people use specific markers as well, although the traditional pencils and ink are preferable.
The six main Calligraphic Cursive styles (الخطوط العربية) are: Kufi, Naskh, Diwani, Farisi, Thuluth and Ruqa’aa.
1. الخط الكوفي Kūfi Calligraphic
It’s the oldest Arabic calligraphic cursive styles. Its name is derived from the city of “Kūfa” in Iraq, which is the region in which it originated. It dates back to the 2nd Century of the Hijri calendar (corresponds to the 12th century AD in the Gregorian calendar).
It’s one of the most beautiful styles; however it needs a lot of writing space, and it has so many angles and straight lines which means that the artist would need to rely on a ruler and certain measurements.
It was widely used in Egypt, in the era of Fatimid Caliphate.
Examples:
2. Naskh Calligraphic خط النسخ
The word Naskh means “to copy”, and as the name suggests, it was used widely in copying books and manuscripts because it was simple to write and it was easy to read. It appeared during the Abbasid Caliphate Dynasty.
This script can also be found on the internet, in newspapers, and in books.
Even nowadays, it is still the most widely used font, and it’s what I suggest that beginners in calligraphy start with.
Examples:
3. Ruqa’aa Calligraphic خط الرقعة
One of the easiest styles to write, and it doesn’t have too many rules which is why it is widely used as the style for handwriting by students in schools for examples and in and handwritten correspondence in many Arabic Speaking countries (especially in the Levaint and Egypt). It is used sometimes in printed documents.
As mentioned before, Ruqa’a style is considerably easy and fast to write, and most of it is written on the line. It doesn’t need a lot of writing space. The reason why it is called “Ruqa’a”is because it was written in small (رقاع ), which means rags and small pieces of paper, and the name Ruqa’a is derived from the word رُقاع.
It is the only cursive style that has remained the same and wasn’t used by the calligraphers to derive new writing style from it.
Examples:
4. Thuluth Calligraphic خط الثلث
Thuluth is one of the most difficult calligraphic cursive styles to master, and it takes a lot of time to write, and the calligrapher needs to be extremely accurate to make sure they don’t make any mistakes because it follows a lot of strict rules. Because of its difficulty, a calligrapher does not quality as one unless he has mastered it, and it needs years and years of studying and practice to be able to master it.
Thuluth has some variations, and it is used in Islamic Architecture, like in mosques for example and in the beginnings of Mus-hafs (a copy of the Quraan). It is also used as newspaper headers and in some books or in praying rooms.
The meaning of the word Thuluth is “a third” and it was named like that because the edge of the pencil that is used for Thuluth is cut into one third (1/3) of the radius of the pencil.
Example:
5. Diwani Calligraphic الخط الديواني
The word Diwan means council, and this cursive style was named that way because it was vastly used by the writers of Offiicial Government Diwans in the Ottoman Empire.
It’s a very beautiful cursive style, and it’s pretty flexible. The words are written on the same line.The sentences written in Diwani style were very jammed and have little space between them, this complication was intended because it does not allow anyone to alter the official documents by adding a single letter. Credit goes to the calligrapher Mustafa Ghazlan for making this cursive style easier to read and leaving more space between the words and sentences.
Example:
Farisi Calligraphic cursive style الخط الفارسي [audio]
The word Farisi means Persian, which is the region in which this cursive style has originated in the 7thHirji Century (13th A.D.). This is the normal writing style in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.It’s one of the most beautiful cursive styles and it’s very simple and easy to read. The rules of writings it is very flexible which allows the calligraphers to be creative when they write in it. It was many variations to it as well.
Example :
Arabic calligraphy, was elevated above all other art forms in the Islamic world because Allah, or God, revealed the divine word of Islam to the Prophet Muhammad (570–632) in the Arabic language.
The word calligraphy derived from greek words kallos (beauty) and graphos (writing). And the word خط (khatt) has so many meanings. It can mean 'line', or 'design', or 'construction' or handwriting calligraphy in general or it can be used to refer to a certain type of Arabic calligraphic cursive style. But all these words are translated to the word خط (khatt) in Arabic. The person who masters the different Arabic Calligraphic Cursive styles is called a khattat ( خَطّاط ).
There are 6 main calligraphy cursive styles from which other cursive styles were derived. Some of these Arabic Calligraphy Cursive styles have variations too, and some of the new Calligraphy Cursive Styles are a mix of two styles or more. These styles are used as a type of art even nowadays, and we can see them present in Islamic Architecture.
These styles need a specific type of pencil and ink to write them, but some people use specific markers as well, although the traditional pencils and ink are preferable.
The six main Calligraphic Cursive styles (الخطوط العربية) are: Kufi, Naskh, Diwani, Farisi, Thuluth and Ruqa’aa.
1. الخط الكوفي Kūfi Calligraphic
It’s the oldest Arabic calligraphic cursive styles. Its name is derived from the city of “Kūfa” in Iraq, which is the region in which it originated. It dates back to the 2nd Century of the Hijri calendar (corresponds to the 12th century AD in the Gregorian calendar).
It’s one of the most beautiful styles; however it needs a lot of writing space, and it has so many angles and straight lines which means that the artist would need to rely on a ruler and certain measurements.
It was widely used in Egypt, in the era of Fatimid Caliphate.
Examples:
2. Naskh Calligraphic خط النسخ
The word Naskh means “to copy”, and as the name suggests, it was used widely in copying books and manuscripts because it was simple to write and it was easy to read. It appeared during the Abbasid Caliphate Dynasty.
This script can also be found on the internet, in newspapers, and in books.
Even nowadays, it is still the most widely used font, and it’s what I suggest that beginners in calligraphy start with.
Examples:
3. Ruqa’aa Calligraphic خط الرقعة
One of the easiest styles to write, and it doesn’t have too many rules which is why it is widely used as the style for handwriting by students in schools for examples and in and handwritten correspondence in many Arabic Speaking countries (especially in the Levaint and Egypt). It is used sometimes in printed documents.
As mentioned before, Ruqa’a style is considerably easy and fast to write, and most of it is written on the line. It doesn’t need a lot of writing space. The reason why it is called “Ruqa’a”is because it was written in small (رقاع ), which means rags and small pieces of paper, and the name Ruqa’a is derived from the word رُقاع.
It is the only cursive style that has remained the same and wasn’t used by the calligraphers to derive new writing style from it.
Examples:
4. Thuluth Calligraphic خط الثلث
Thuluth is one of the most difficult calligraphic cursive styles to master, and it takes a lot of time to write, and the calligrapher needs to be extremely accurate to make sure they don’t make any mistakes because it follows a lot of strict rules. Because of its difficulty, a calligrapher does not quality as one unless he has mastered it, and it needs years and years of studying and practice to be able to master it.
Thuluth has some variations, and it is used in Islamic Architecture, like in mosques for example and in the beginnings of Mus-hafs (a copy of the Quraan). It is also used as newspaper headers and in some books or in praying rooms.
The meaning of the word Thuluth is “a third” and it was named like that because the edge of the pencil that is used for Thuluth is cut into one third (1/3) of the radius of the pencil.
Example:
5. Diwani Calligraphic الخط الديواني
The word Diwan means council, and this cursive style was named that way because it was vastly used by the writers of Offiicial Government Diwans in the Ottoman Empire.
It’s a very beautiful cursive style, and it’s pretty flexible. The words are written on the same line.The sentences written in Diwani style were very jammed and have little space between them, this complication was intended because it does not allow anyone to alter the official documents by adding a single letter. Credit goes to the calligrapher Mustafa Ghazlan for making this cursive style easier to read and leaving more space between the words and sentences.
Example:
Farisi Calligraphic cursive style الخط الفارسي [audio]
The word Farisi means Persian, which is the region in which this cursive style has originated in the 7thHirji Century (13th A.D.). This is the normal writing style in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.It’s one of the most beautiful cursive styles and it’s very simple and easy to read. The rules of writings it is very flexible which allows the calligraphers to be creative when they write in it. It was many variations to it as well.
Example :
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