Arabic Script: Styles, Variants, and Calligraphic Adaptations

by Gabriel Mandel Khan

One of the world's major forms of writing, Arabic script became widespread as a result of Islamic conquests of much of the world. The Koran places great importance on writing, and in the first verse of the holy book, reading and writing with the calamus, or reed pen, are praised as the source of all knowledge and all spiritual or scientific paths of change. For this reason the Islamic world is known for its reverence for books, as well as its love of writing. Eventually Arabic script gave rise to calligraphic art, which became an art form of astonishing beauty. More highly regarded than painting, Arabic calligraphy is approached aesthetically like music, with its own rules of composition, rhythm, and harmony. This enlightening book helps us discover an alphabet that throughout the centuries has been linked to the secular and religious worlds of Islam. The text explains the history and meaning of each letter, as well as its philosophical, theological, and cultural significance, and 300 two-color and black-and-white pictures illustrate the letters, their variants, and calligraphic adaptations. An ideal book for linguists, graphic designers, and collectors of Islamic art, Arabic Script will also prove handy for travelers who wish to become familiar with the rudiments of the alphabet.

Genres: Reference, History, Writing, Art

180 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

was an Italian psychologist, writer, and artist of Afghan descent. He was also known by the names of Gabriele Mandel Khān and Gabriele Sugana. He was also a Sufi guide (shaikh) in the Jerrahi Order.

Reviews

[Romany Arrowsmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly comprehensive given how short this is. There's a lot of mystical stuff you have to take for granted; each letter of the alphabet gets its own write-up, so e.g. the letter Alif is said to stand for the unity and oneness of God, but is also said to stand for Satan because it is a letter that does not bow, and is associated with the element of fire. A charming thought, but who is the audience who thinks this? Is this common knowledge/interpretation for Muslims and/or Arabic speakers today, or from way back, or only Qur'anic scholars?

[꧁ 0xiela ꧂]

<3

[Shuli · Rating 4 out of 5]

You'll probably want to at least have some passing familiarity with the Arabic alphabet but if you know your alifbaa, this book is a great introduction to the huge world of Arabic calligraphy. The author, a calligrapher himself, goes letter by letter through the alphabet giving several variants of the letter in different styles and giving a few paragraphs discussion of the letter (including some interesting, but not super useful, mystical interpretations of the letters, as other reviewers have mentioned). There isn't a ton of text so if you're looking for lengthy discussion in English about Arabic calligraphy, this probably isn't the book for you. I think it's likely best for students of the Arabic language who want to expand their eye for calligraphy (you'll definitely want some spare paper to practice with!)

The final section of the book contains a compendium of examples of Arabic calligraphy, ranging from the classical to the modern. I found this section really helpful as an Arabic student because he gives examples that are relatively easy to read as well as some incredibly stylized examples that were breathtaking (and indecipherable for me). There were also many zoomorphic examples, which are my personal favorite!

image:

Ok but for real, my favorite favorite part of the examples section?? There's an example of a calligraphic astrology chart!

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lyrical text and beautiful images are inspirational and educational both, even to someone like me who is ignorant of Arabic and always reading in translation. Still, learning a bit about the different styles and schools, watching some of the stylistic changes over time, and spending time with the Arabic alphabet was very illuminating! Highly recommended.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to Arabic script