History of Arabic Calligraphy

Pre- Islamic writing

Bishr Ibn Abdel Malek Al-Kendy was the first to introduce writing into Mecca. Al-Kendy had learned the art of Nabatian script from those Arabian tribes who inhabited the areas of Hirah and Anbar. Evidence was found that Arabs had produced written texts in pre-Islamic times; Jews and Christians at the time possessed books that were written in both Hebrew and Seryan in addition to some Arabic texts. By the beginning of the seventh century A.D, Arabic calligraphy gained a distinct style in Hegaz.

Development of Islamic Calligraphy

As Islam dawned in the Arab Peninsula, writing became a vital medium of communication. For Muslims the Quran (the Word of God) was revealed in Arabic, which therefore became the language of Islam even for non-Arab Muslims. Writing and reading became the method in which Muslims recorded and preserved Sunni instructions and Quranic interpretation. The Arabic language spread as more Muslims were encouraged to learn to write and read in order to comprehend Islamic instructions.

In Times of Muslim Caliphs

In the early stages of calligraphic development, scripts lacked discipline and elegance so they were used for daily administrative purposes only. Writing progressed with both Cursive (circular) and Geometric scripts. A system of letter-pointing had not been developed yet, which resulted in people confusing letters, words and pronunciation, specially with an increasing number of non-Arabs embracing Islam. Reform was needed to avoid confusion and a system of Naqt (letter-pointing) and Tashkeel (vowel indication) was developed by Abul Aswad al Du'ali (d. 688). Al Khalil ibn Ahmad al Farahidi (d. 786) devised a tashkeel system to replace Abu al Aswad's. His system was universally used since the early eleventh century, and included six diacritical marks:
Fathah (a), Dammah (u), Kasrah (i), Sukun (vowelless), Shaddah (double consonant), and Maddah (vowel prolongation) which is applied to the Alef.

Ummayad Caliphs

The Ummayad period was a transitional stage for Arab scripts. And writing in Kufic scripts became a profession. The Caliph Abdel Malek ibn Marawan invented a new script; he called it the Mansoob script.

Abbasid Period

Arabic scripts both flourished and developed during this period. Abu Ali ibn Muqlah, a Vizir to three Abbasid caliphs, developed the first script to obey strict proportional rules without using geometrical instruments. Ibn Muqlah developed both the Naskh and Thuluth scripts to their modern shapes and invented the Cursive Kufi script that was later developed by the Iraqi Quran scholar Ibn el Bawwab.

The Fatimid Period

By this stage, calligraphy took on a new facet. Fatimid caliphs employed calligraphy and scripts in the decoration and adornment of their palaces, mosques and thrones. The Fatimid period was known for the founding of a profession for teaching scripts and the establishment of calligraphy schools.

The Ottoman Period

Following the Ottoman occupation of Egypt, the Turks, who had been writing with Greek and Radish letters, adopted and excelled at the Naskh script. As Islam expanded into Asia, Arabic letters and scripts were adopted by Russians, Afghans and Moguls.

Arabic Calligraphy in Egypt

The most notable epitome of the significance given to calligraphy in Egypt was the manufacturing of the cover of the Ka’aba. The Khediv Ismail summoned Abdallah bek Zohdy to Egypt especially for the purpose of designing and writing on the cover of the Ka’aba. Zohdy remained in Egypt to become one of the pioneers of Calligraphic renaissance.
By the time of King Fouad calligraphy was exhibited in works of art. The renowned Turkish calligrapher Mohammed Abdel Aziz was sent for to embark on the project of writing a fully gilded and illuminated mos’haf. Abdel Aziz later on stayed in Egypt were he established a school for Arabic calligraphy and its gilding.