1. Slide Show by Dr. A.S. Hashim
Quran Calligraphy
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Slide Show by Dr. A.S. Hashim

2. Prelude
Muslim scholars have preserved lists of literate men and women in both centers of the early Islam.
This information outlines the circle of those who could have taken part in the process of the writing down of the Quran.
and it deserves a close analysis irrespective of our position concerning its authenticity and reliability.

4. Mecca in Earliest Times Artist Rendering

5. Monotheistic circles and Arabic script
The Arabic script was originally brought by the monotheistic circles:
to the still pagan Arabs in order to spread their own faith
and to pave way for their scripture
but in the long run it helped the new faith (Islam) to conquer ground and to make its own scripture.
In fact the process of the spread of literacy in Mecca and Medina
turned out the first but not the last example of the fruitful cooperation of the three monotheistic religions
in spite of the initial intentions of the participants.

6. Story of the Arabic script
According to this story the Arabic script was brought to Mecca by a Christian named Bishr ibn Abdul Malik;
His brother Ukhaydhir was a leader from Damat al-Jandal; an oasis in the North Western part of Arabia along the road to Syria.
Two Meccans learned writing from Bishr:
Sufyan Ibn Umayya who was a generation older than Muhammad. And
Abu Qais Ibn Abd Manaf
They visited Ta’if and taught it over there too.
From this Sufyan the art of writing spread in the next generation and the first to learn it were members of Benu Umayya clan

7. Poem on Behalf of Bishr ibn Abd al-Malik
Do not deny Bishr’s favors to you                           
He was a man of open blessed wisdom
He brought you al-Jazm calligraphy until you saved  
the money that was plenty and scattered
You then moved the pens back and forth
as skilful as scribers of Kisrá and Qaysar              
And had no need to Musnad of father Ḥimyr            
and whatever the Himyrite kings wrote on pages        

9. Early alphabets
Table of rough shapes of characters for few early alphabets

10. 100 years before Muhammad’s birth: A photo released by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities shows some of the stelae found in the Kingdom with Arabic inscriptions.
The script, which was found on stelae that has been preliminarily date to 470 AD, corresponds to a period in which there was a missing link between Nabatean writing and Arabic writing.

11. Literacy and Benu Umayya
The Umayya clan
Almost half of the literate population belonged or were related to the clan of Umayya (10 out of the 17 persons).
This fact is corroborated by the story of the invention of the Arabic script and of how it was brought to Mecca which al-Balatheri  cites in the version transmitted by al-Kalbi family

12. Benu Umayya early literacy
By the advent of Islam:
Three families of the Umayya clan were (it seems) especially noted for literacy
 the family of Harb ibn Umayya: 5 persons
the family of Uthman ibn Affan: 3 persons
Another Umayya family: 2 persons
Others not of Umayya Clan: 7

13. Literacy and Benu Hashim
The clan of Hashim to which Muhammad belonged presents a completely different picture.
there were no literate people in this clan prior to the rise of Islam.
The only literate male member of Muhammad’s household was Ali
Ali learned to read and write after his conversion to Islam;
probably with the aim to act as a scribe for the Prophet
whom he accompanied since the beginning of his mission and till his death.
Of Muhammad’s wives:
at least three of them (A’isha; Umm Salama) were literate;
and two of the wives learned to read and write after they were married to Muhammad and on his initiative.

14. Badr captives teach 10 Muslims each
Muslims took 70 prisoners after Badr battle.
Some of these captives were literate.
The prisoner could convert to Islam and thus win his freedom;
Others could pay ransom and win their freedom;
The literate one could earn his freedom by teaching ten Muslims the art of reading and writing
The offer was taken gladly and suddenly a good many Muslims became literate.
This means that 10 captives had taught 100 Muslims the art of reading and writing within a few months

15. Early Arabic Kufi inscription
Early Arabic Kūfī inscription on a rock in Ṭa´if, Saudi Arabia. Dated to early decades of Islam.

16. Imam Husain - Karbala
Arabic Kufi inscription found near Karbalā´, Iraq, dated 60 Hijrī calendar (683 CE) ‎Notice the use of Wāw in Allah Akbar on the second line

17. Script on parchment: No diacritics
From a page in one of the earliest Quran (Surah 10:59) on parchment, written in early undotted Kufi style in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

18. With diacritics

20. Arabic Script: A Brief History
Derived from the Aramaic Nabataean alphabets, the written form of Arabic existed prior to Islam.
However, the calligraphically rendered Arabic scripts have been progressively developed along with the rise of Islam, from the early 7 th century onward.
As the divine message of the Quran spread, calligraphy's main function has evolved into:
artistically recording and preserving the new revelation,
where calligraphers became committed to beautify, balance, and perfect their product in a way worthy of God's own words.
Calligraphy had to turn into a disciplined profession, while its art became intertwined with science and spirituality.
It was no surprise for the Islamic legend to have produced a popular saying such as: calligraphy is the geometry of the soul expressed through the body.

21. Throughout the early stages
Throughout the early stages, numerous revisions were required to finalize the structure of the alphabet and its vocalization.
The most important of these revisions were the contributions of
Abul-Aswad Al-Du'li (d. 688) and
Al-Farahidi (d. 786) in devising and refining the system of the points and other diacritical signs (An-Nuqaat wal Harakat).

22. The Earliest script
Historical references indicate that the script used in the first written Quran was Jazm,
which may have been scribed by Zaid ibn Thabit
and released during the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan
Jazm came in different styles representing different regions such as the Hiri, Anbari, Mecca, and Medina.
In addition to the Jazm, many other scripts were developed.
Some were popular to have continued and evolved into something else such as the Ma'il,
which is considered the predecessor of the Kufi script,
while other less popular scripts such as the Mukawwar, Mubsoott, and Mashq discontinued after some time

23. Evolution of the Script
As the Islamic state developed and expanded,
a new group of scripts to face the increasing demand on the administrative and commercial correspondence.
According to Safadi (1992), two of Benu Umayya calligraphers in Damascus are credited for their contributions,
Qutba Al-Muharrir for developing and improving the early secular cursive scripts.
He was also credited for writing the magnificent Jalil on the Mihrab section in the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.
Khalid ibn Al-Hayyaj
Masjid Qubat al-Sakhra or the Dome of the Rock mosque.
Al-Hayyaj is also credited for scribing many large Qura'ans in Tumar and Jalil.

24. In Kufa
The Iraqi city of Kufa, gradually turned into a religious and cultural center.
Many scribes were attracted to the right atmosphere where calligraphy flourished, and a new script was born.
The Kufi script, evolved from the early Mai'l
is non-cursive, purely geometrical, and mostly ornamental.
Its development reflected the growth of a generation versed in calculus and geometry.

25. Calligraphy during the Ottoman reign
The shining star of calligraphy was during the Ottoman reign, especially during its most stable era ( ).
For more than four centuries, calligraphy reached perfection at the competent hands of a long line of outstanding masters of Istanbul.
They invented more scripts such as Diwani, Jeli Diwani, Tughra'a, and Siyaqat.
At the top of this remarkable line of calligraphers were Shaikh Hamadullah Al-A'masi, Alhafuth Othman, Mustafa Raqim and others.
The last three giants were Mustafa Halim, Nejmiddin Okyay, and Hamid Aytac Al-Amadi.
The dazzling calligraphy we know today would have not been possibly achieved if it were not for the brilliance and dedication of those masters.

26. classical Islamic calligraphy
There is no doubt that the core of the classical tradition in Islamic calligraphy has been primarily attributed to two highly influential schools:
The early Baghdadi school ( ), and
the later Ottoman school ( ).
It can, therefore, wisely be said that Islamic calligraphy was born and grew up in Baghdad, but matured in Istanbul.

27. Thuluth The Thuluth is one of the earliest and most adorable scripts.
It is written with a pen, the nib of which measures one-third as wide as the nib of the Tumar pen, hence the name.
Thuluth is rich, majestic, and imposing. It is considered the most difficult to master, and therefore,
can serve as the best criteria in reflecting the artistic ability or a well-rounded calligrapher.
The structure of this script, and the way it is laid out offer higher plastic qualities and better aesthetic treatments.
It is no wonder that this script has been called The mother of all scripts.
It has been known for centuries that if a calligrapher wants to prove his competence, he would have to be able to write an excellent Thuluth.

29. Samples of Thuluth

30. Kufi:
The Kufi, attributed to the city of Kufa in Iraq, is also one of the earliest scripts.
It is distinguishable by its mathematical proportions and complex geometry,
which has made it amenable to soaring creativity, and
widely elevated its applications, especially on large surfaces such as the architectural installations.
Because it is highly ornamental, the Kufi script is naturally attuned with the use of Arabesque in all applications from paperwork, metalwork, to pottery and tiles.

31. Samples of Kufi:

32. Diwani and Jeli-Diwani:
The Diwani script was developed by the Ottoman Turks in the late 15th century.
According to Safadi, its invention was attributed to:
Ibrahim Munif, and further refinement to Shaikh Hamadullah.
It was originally used for secretarial and governmental purposes. It is heavily cursive and can be dramatically interlaced.
The Jeli-Diwani is an ornamental variety, the development of which was attributed to Alhafuth Othman.
It is distinguishable by the heavy use of the diacritical marks and dots, which fill the spaces around the letters.

33. Diwani and Jeli-Diwani:

34. Ta'aleeq:
The Ottomans and in Persia developed the Ta'aleeq script at the beginning of the 9th century.
It is renowned by its graceful curves, which flow enchantingly like a snake slithering through the sand.
It is lustrous, glamorous and captivating like a romantic melody.

35. Samples of Ta'aleeq:

36. Naskh: Naskh is also one of the earliest scripts.
It has a special air of esteem that made it so admirable to dominate the writing of the Quran for centuries.
It has also been widely used in daily life.
Naskh enjoys an optimal combination of artistic and functional characters, no other script possess.
Unlike other scripts, Naskh cannot be interlaced or intertwined for it was designed with deliberate simplicity and straightforwardness,
that makes it radiate with unique beauty and charm of its own.

37. Samples of Naskh:

38. Samples of Diwani

46. Finally, Read Surah Al-Asr Together
I swear by the time,
وَالْعَصْرِ
Lo! man is a state of loss,
إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
Except those who believe and do good, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other patience.
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ

47. Thank you and may Allah Bless you.
Be in Allah’s Care
Thank you and may Allah Bless you.
Dr. A.S. Hashim