Riq’a Script
“Riq’a‘ ” is derived from the Arabic noun , ruq’a , meaning “a patch or piece of cloth .” The script was named thus because it was frequently written on little pieces of paper to petition royalty.
It was developed from Naskh and Thuluth . Nonetheless Riq’a has a close affinity with Thuluth , Riq’a developed in various direction . Riq’a became less complicated . The geometric forms of the letters are much like those of Thuluth but are smaller with more curves . Riq’a is rounded and densely structured with short horizontal stems , and the letter alif is never written with barbed heads .
Riq’a was considered one of the favourite scripts of Ottoman calligraphers and underwent numerous enhancements at the hand of Shaykh Hamdullah al-Amasi . Later , Riq’a was revised by other calligraphers and proceeded to become the most popular and commonly used script . Nowadays , Riq’a is the preferred script for handwriting everywhere in the Arab world .