Let's Learn About Arabic Calligraphy

نتعلم عن الخط العربي I put this book together because I wanted to share my enthusiasm about this fascinating topic. I am in no way a calligrapher but I wanted to pass on what I have learned so others can be inspired to try this beautiful, rewarding and useful art too. Above all it should make us appreciate what the earlier and later calligraphers have done for us in striving to learn the art of Arabic calligraphy and then using their skills to pass on the revelation and the Islamic texts for centuries of people to benefit from. This was before the printing press and mass production of books. Reading the mushaf (copy of the Qur’aan) now means much more when you appreciate that someone has written every single letter of the 604 pages by hand in a precise manner that has been repeatedly checked for accuracy. I have given a very brief overview of Arabic calligraphy so that you (and your children) can be inspired to delve deeper into the art at a later stage. This is the reason the title uses ‘About’ as I do not claim I have covered everything in depth nor that you will become an expert calligrapher by just reading (and tracing over the letters in) this book. I have covered the tools needed, famous calligraphers today and how the Qur’aan was recorded with the ‘Uthmaanee spelling system. Then I have provided computer assisted examples of each of the main scripts so you can have a taste of the differences. I have finished off with examples of calligraphy on some Islamic books and a quiz based upon the information in this book. There are plenty of links at the back to take you further in your new interest and hopefully new hobby inshaa’Allaah.