There are 28 letters in the Arabic alphabet.
Adapted from IslamicArt site
Welcome to Horace Mann's webpage on:
Introduction: "Calligraphy" means "beautiful writing" (or writing as a form of art). During the Middle Ages, the Muslims respected calligraphy as the highest art form because the Qur'an was written in Arabic and it represented the word of God. So calligraphy decorated the mosques and holy books of Islam. Writing was not only an artistic expression, it was a religious expression as well.
Over the centuries Arabic calligraphy expanded to include different styles of writing. Just like in English where there are many kinds of handwriting (printing, cursive, and even "graffiti style" writing), many respected writing styles in Arabic developed.
I. The Arabic Alphabet
There are 28 letters in the Arabic alphabet.
Adapted from IslamicArt site
They are read from right to left (but some single letters are written from left to right!). Here are some examples of how the letters are formed. Follow the arrows to form the letters:
from Babel
site
Learn to write Arabic Online:There are four lessons in writing Arabic from Babel: Arabic on-line course Writing of each letter of the alphabet is shown in animation on the IslamicArt site. Click on the "Arabic alphabet" link in the third paragraph to get the animation of all the letters! |
II. Calligraphy Was Used to Decorate Architecture
- To them, portraying people was considered something like making of idols. Muslim traditions did not allow for painting or sculpture (making of statues) to decorate mosques. Statues, especially, reminded them of the Greek and Roman statues showing naked gods and goddesses! According to one Hadith (saying of the Prophet): "Angels do not enter the house in which there are portrayals or pictures." So never would there be paintings or statues of people in a mosque!
- Here are some examples of how calligraphy (of sayings from the Qur'an) is used in mosques as an art form:
. . 
III. Calligraphy in Decorating the Qur'an, other books, and everyday objects
Plate showing Kufi script 
A copy of
the Qur'an
An illuminated page of
the Qur'an
This book shown above is an "illuminated manuscript" because there is gold in the paint and is very shiny.
- Even everyday objects are often decorated with quotations from the Qur'an, popular poetry, and even sayings to bring good luck. (IslamicArt) Click on each picture to get an enlargement.
- Calligraphy is even sold today over the internet! See how much one of these examples costs!
IV. Questions:
A. What did the early Arabs use for writing tools?
The typical tools for a calligrapher included reed and brush pens, scissors, a knife for cutting the pens, an ink pot, and a sharpening tool. The reed pens were from 9.5 to 12 inches in length with a diameter of about a half-inch.
Paper was introduced in 751 from China via Samarqand. That was a turning point in the art of writing. Before that, writing was done on animal skin (called vellum) or on papyrus, as was done in ancient Egypt.
Early paper was made from cotton, and sometimes from silk or other fibers, but not from wood pulp like today. The paper was polished with a smooth stone before the calligrapher began to write. Guide lines were inscribed with a point. The words were written on these barely visible lines.
Learn more at "Writing Instruments and Materials" [IslamicArt site]
B. Why is Arabic calligraphy such a respected art form? Why is calligraphy the main form of art in a mosque?
Arabic calligraphy is so highly respected because it shows the "word of God" in the Qur'an. Arabic calligraphy is closely connected to the Qur'an and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.
No human or animal figures can be shown in a mosque. Therefore, patterns, designs, and calligraphy are the only art forms that add beauty and decoration to mosques.
C. What did the calligrapher (the writer) have to do in order to prepare for copying the Qur'an?
Calligraphy is thought of as an expression of man's spiritual state, and purity of writing comes from a pure heart. Therefore, the calligrapher had to pray and fast before beginning an important work of translation of the Qur'an or a work of art. One poet said that one needs more than skill. One must also have "ink as black as my fortune, a pen restless as my eyelashes which always shed tears, and a writing style as beautiful as the down of my beloved." (In other words, he said one needed inner purity and much experience to feel the words that were written.)
D. Is calligraphy hard to learn?
Calligraphy requires practice. Faqir Mir 'Ali (sultan who lived about 1530) told about the importance of daily practice. "If anyone sits for a moment without practicing - Calligraphy goes from his hand like the color of henna."
E. Which other languages used the "Arabic" script to create their own alphabets?
Persian (Farsi) used the Arabic script to create its own alphabet with 32 letters.
Urdu (a northern Indian/Pakistani language) developed from Arabic, also with extra letters.
Classical Turkish used the Arabic script to create its own alphabet. The Ottoman Turks used the Arabic alphabet until 1929, but now the Modern Turkish alphabet uses letters similar to the Latin alphabet, but it has 29 letters.
You are here at Page One: Calligraphy
Go to Page Two: Styles of Calligraphy as Art
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