Arabic Calligraphy: Major Components Of The Islamic Culture

Arabic Calligraphy

1. Introduction

One of the major components of any culture is the way in which its constituents communicate among themselves. With respect to structure, Arabic calligraphy is considered to be a dynamic and versatile language that is used for the conveyance of form, space, and meaning. The artistic representation of its characters typifies Arabic calligraphy as an “elegant handwriting exhibited by the correct formation of characters, the ordering of various parts and harmony of proportions” (Arabiccalligraphy.com). It links the literary heritage of the Arabic language with the Islamic religion.

It is an artistic tradition that dates back to the Ottoman age and beyond. However, any attempt to trace the development of Arabic

Modern Arabic calligraphy has over the years managed to create coexistence between traditional elements and modern technology. For centuries, Islamic calligraphy did not only continue to grow its significance in Islam, but also continued to evolve, which resulted to the emergence of different styles such as the Kūfī (c. 7th century – originating from Kufa, Iraq), the Maghribi (8th Century), Thuluth (originated in Turkey in the 11th Century), the Ta‘līq and Nasta‘līq (14th-15th centuries – originating from Iran), and the Dīwānī (16th -17th centuries – originating from Turkey), which is a complex style of intertwining characters. These styles have continued to evolve over the years as a result of continuous influence of different styles of art from different regions. However, the importance of calligraphy in Islam has never

However, with the advancement of technology, sophisticated computer programs have been developed to facilitate different shape variations per character, which opens up new and creative possibilities of Arabic calligraphy. In addition, modernism in Arabic calligraphy has simplified the process of creating sophisticated Arabic literature. In fact, there is currently a number of computer software that gives artists/calligraphers the ability to enhance their designs. It is worth noting that the injection of modernity has revived Arabic calligraphy. The availability of a wide variety of materials and the used of new techniques, such as the employment of different colour schemes, have revived this great tradition and in the process enhanced a sense of cultural