Arabic calligraphy – Arabic Calligraphy

Story of Arabic Calligraphy

Ahmed Kandilo 2024 — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:58:55 +0000

Story of Arabic Calligraphy

Writing has been invented by human being for thousands of years ago has invented writing to express ideas. So it can be kept for a long time and shared by generations. Remembering man’s ideas extends life even after death. Writing is a Unique activity that done by human being only rather than other creatures living on the Earth. Writing registers, the human civilization indicates human’s history and development. Throughout such human history Arabic calligraphy has been created, developed by the time and formed in such outstanding beauty, expressing different civilization starts from China borders to Western Africa, the heart of Asia and southern Europe. Scripts have many Styles and types literally such as the races and genders of calligraphers themselves, but scripts are similar in using such kinds of well-known and beautiful curves with valuable meanings.

Inception

Writing has started in two civilizational centers, Mesopotamia (land of rivers) and Nile River, Sumerians have invented a specific type of writing called Sumerian script.

At the same time Egyptians have invented a type of writing called hieroglyphic script. Writing has many phases started with visual symbolic, syllabic styles, and ended with alphabets which replaced with the symbolic representations of sounds and letters. Alphabets had two branches: Musnad alphabet, which spread out in Arabian Peninsula.

Other branch is the Phoenician alphabet which spread out in Levant, Phoenician alphabet also has several scripts including Aramaic script, which branched into Nabataean alphabet. Through the last developed style of Nabataean writing, Arabians have derived their own scripts.

Turning point

Although calligraphy in emerged in Arabian Peninsula, but it has been used only in commercial correspondences. Revelation of the Holy Quran the (first revealed word of the first verse is “read” ) was a turning point in the development of Arabic calligraphy.

As reading and writing are related, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has paid special attention to writing, for its importance in spreading knowledge including writing the holy Quran. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has urged all members of community including women to learn how to write and read, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had calligraphers to right down the revealed Quran and letters to Kings.At the early Islamic era Madani script has been used through three styles; circular, triangle and Ta’am.

Rashidun Caliphs Era (632 -661 AD / 11-41 AH)

Collection of the Holy Quran has substantially impacted on developing writing and drafting relevant rules, consequentially solecism and confusion have led Arabians to add Arabic diacritics (Tashkil ) as known at the Holy Quran, then illustration doting has been emerged, to differentiate between similar letters, till they replaced diacritics with small letters; development speeded with the emergence of calligraphy schools in Kufa, then extended into all areas.

Kufi script name derived from Kufa area. Decoration has been emerged early. It started with Mashq, so letters have become a key element of decoration. Beautiful calligraphies could be seen as decoration for domes, minarets and mosques (worshiping places) as well as palaces.

Abbasid Era (750- 1258 AD / 132- 656 AH.)

In Abbasid era the minister Ibn Muqla has ruled calligraphy developed the rules and standards, the Arabic calligraphy became an art and science with distinctive features, he invented Thuluth script, which gives calligraphy more smoothness and streamline motion, by the end of Abbasid era the number of calligraphies has exceeded 80 scripts, indicating how much Arabic calligraphy technically developed at that time.

Al Andlaus (1492 AD – 711 AH)

Caravan still provide creations and innovations. This caravan is now in Al Andalus, Andalusian has developed Kairouan calligraphy, and then invented calligraphy so-called Andalusian and Al Qirtobi calligraphies.

Ottoman Era. (1923 AD – 1299 AH)

Ottoman era is deemed as the maturation era for Arabic calligraphy, it could be called the Golden Era for Arabic calligraphy, some Caliphs learnt from calligraphers, and knew the rules of Arabic calligraphy through them, with beautiful calligraphies Ottoman mosques and buildings filled, and decorations created by the greatest calligraphers. Other relevant Industries such as papering, illumination and the decoration have been flourished as well.

Modern Era.

Modern calligraphers developed more beautiful dimensions for Arabic calligraphy, so it became graphic art with distinctive features and components, that can be shared between Arabians and Non-Arabians, arts lovers became proud of this art, and for which exhibitions are held all over the world !.

Arabic calligraphy and decorations produced glamorous masterpieces that decorate the Two Holy Mosques, mosques and large gathering rooms and halls. Development story of Arabic calligraphy doesn’t tell only beauty and creation trip, but also tell impressive meaning along with a story civilization and superior spirit.

What is Arabic Calligraphy?

Ahmed Kandilo 2024 — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 09:23:02 +0000

What is Arabic calligraphy?

Calligraphy (from the Greek words καλλος kallos “beauty” + γραφος grafos “writing”) is the art of penmanship that ranges from functional writing and handwritten letters to the visual arts, where creating a decorated handwritten character is often more important than the readability of the text. Calligraphy is different from typography. Individual characters are erratic and spontaneous, and include unique improvisation at the moment of writing.

Modern calligraphy continues to flourish in the forms of fonts, graphic designs, various announcements, invitations, memorial documents, etc. Most calligraphy these days is far from the original art of unique writing. Instead, it is more like simple penmanship that attracts attention because of its peculiar style. More noteworthy is Japanese or Arabic calligraphy, which gives a whole new perspective to the audience (if the audience can understand the characters). It is a common art, often used as decoration on walls, sometimes thematically for seasons (for example, in the hot summer “cold” and conversely).

Arabic calligraphy is artistic paintwriting. It is the art of neat and decorative writing. The advantage of Arabic calligraphy is the natural disposition of Arabic characters to decorative writing. The main impulse for the development of Arabic calligraphy was the holy book of Muslims – the Koran. But Arabic calligraphy is not limited only to Islam. Over time it has become an inseparable part of modern Arabic graphics and design.

Development of Arabic calligraphy

Originally the text of the Koran was written calligraphically on sheets of gazelle parchment. When paper was invented in the middle of the eighth century, the Koran began to be written on colored sheets of paper in golden ink. The holiness of the Koran was soon carried into Arabic writing since it was the language of God’s word. Also, calligraphers who spread the Koran through Arabic writing were widely praised.

The exceptional craft of calligraphy

Calligraphers were held in great respect and their social status was higher than the status of other craftsmen and artists. The exclusive stance of Arabic writing as a carrier of God´s word was an impulse for the rich development of calligraphy. Arabic calligraphy soon came to be a noble and glorified craft and it was professed even by sovereigns and rulers. Most of the calligraphic texts were written on paper by fountain pens or brushes.

What Impact of has calligraphy had on world art?

It has a huge impact as literal images are usually forbidden and so words become the primary expression of art

Arabic Calligraphy Learning

Ahmed Kandilo 2024 — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:17:36 +0000

Arabic Calligraphy Learning

There are two essentials for learning Arabic calligraphy and becoming a successful calligrapher, study and practice. The learner must study critically the form to be produced and then practice the form faithfully in order to realize it. It is using the well-known combination of mind and muscle memory to achieve the desired product. Neither will do so alone; the two must go hand-in-hand at all times. To execute superior calligraphy, both perception and performance are essential.

Study the Form

The hand cannot well perform that which the mind does not perceive. On the contrary, the hand unconsciously endeavors to follow the dictates of the mind. In other words, the thoroughly and carefully trained hand becomes the ready servant of the will and intellect. Poor writing owes its existence quite as much to poor perception as to poor performance. This perception is just as difficult to achieve as the ability to execute. To achieve superior calligraphy, eye training is therefore just as important as muscle training , and just as tedious to attain.

Before beginning to practice any exercise, principle, letter, or word, study it carefully, noting the relative height and width of each letter; then carefully note the main divisions of the letter; and finally take into consideration “the little things”, such as turns, angles, beginnings, endings, strokes, etc.

Practice Perfectly

Draw the letter carefully and perfectly, just as perfectly as you can perceive it, using a well-sharpened reed pen and good ink to get what you perceive. If you can get a better idea of the ideal form by looking at a reproduction as you draw/write, do so. Calligraphers, in their striving for perfection, work for hours attempting to draw the perfect letter before trying it in a word. You will do well to utilize the same method. Much unnecessary effort is expended and not a little paper wasted in writing practice after only superficial observation and study.

Success!!!

You will make no mistake by having a clear form in mind before placing it on paper. A sage very wisely once said that you must think good writing before you can hope to execute it. Truer words were never spoken.