1. Written In Stone: Inscriptions from National Museum of Saudi
The ink made by the Persians, Indians, and the Turks would stay fresh for a considerable amount of time. Ink preparation could take several days and involve many complex chemical processes. Although techniques varied from one place to another, most inks were based on soot or lamp-black mixed with water and gum-Arabic. Other ingredients are indigo, minced gall-nuts, and henna. The final stage of preparation involved straining the ink through silk. Also, the ink might be perfumed if desired (Art of Islam: Language and Meaning, 48-50).
The teaching of writing was the responsibility of a master, who began by drawing letters in the sand with his finger. The pupils imitated him, then rubbed it all out and started afresh. Later, smooth wooden tablets coated with clay were used. Each pupil drew a few lines, and then had to keep them until he knew them by heart. .
At the end of the seventh century, Arabic and its script became official, and were adopted in the administration of all Muslim countries. The script evolved into two main forms, a rounded flowing (cursive) one called nashki and a stiff angular one called kufi. These two styles gave rise to a multitude of others. .
In the eighth century the Arabs learned the secret of paper-making from the Chinese. That was a turning point in the art of writing. Paper would play a major role in countless subsequent inventions and would reform Arabic calligraphy. This new medium of written communication had a decisive impact on every aspect of Islamic civilization. Every corner of the far-flung Muslim empire had its own style, reflecting its culture and tastes.
Paper was made from cotton, and sometimes from silk or other fibers, but not from wood pulp. The paper was polished with a smooth stone like agate or jade before the calligrapher began to write. Guidelines were inscribed with a point. The script stood on these barely visible lines or sometimes was suspended from them.
The calligraphy found on Islamic architecture utilizes the use of the Arabic lettering. ... Since Arabic is such an exclusive language this type of calligraphy is already unique compared to others in the world because of the language barrier. ... The same style of calligraphy is normally repeated through the entire structure. ... This type of Arabic lettering placed on this tomb is extremely stylized Arabic lettering. ... Another element of calligraphy that makes Islamic architecture unique is the stone calligraphic bands found on many buildings. ...
The gestural curves of the Aramaic alphabet evolved into Hebrew and Arabic alphabets. The 2 primary forms of Arabic writing are Kufic (Kufa, Mesopotamia) and Naskhi, a more cursive style which evolved into the modern Arabic script. Arabic is the second most used alphabet used today. ... In 280 BCE, Li Ssu created the third phase in the evolution of Chinese calligraphy called Hsiao Chuan (small seal) style, which had thicker lines and flowed more....
Her calm face is divided by the starkness of the cold, steel weapon and is laced with Islamic calligraphy symbolic of the Niqab, a more extreme veil that an Islamic woman must wear as it signifies her obedience to the male supremacy in Islamic culture. ... The Arabic inscriptions that create the veil act as a barrier. ... He combines a long standing fascination with classical Chinese calligraphy with a contemporary take on universal concerns that cross cultural and ethnic boundaries. ... Gu's 1994-96 work "Pseudo Characters Contemplation of the World"" is a series of ink paintings in whic...
The main aspects of decoration consists of calligraphic panels with quotations from the Quran on themes of worship, divine forgiveness and, above all, religious orthodoxy. ... It was said that, The gold Arabic foundation inscription over the main entrance gives the dates of construction as 1550 to 1557, and sums up Suleimans claim to universal rule by both secular and divine right. ...
Role of Women in Islam The actual role of a woman in a particular Muslim community may vary according to the part of the world she lives in; nonetheless all Muslim women abide by the same fundamental rules and regulations that the religion clearly defines (Badawi.) Both the Quran and the Hadith ...
This report is about the rise and fall of a Turkish Sultan named Selim III. Selim was born into power and was put to death by an angry revolting power within his own people. Just as Sultan Selim was an amazing modern reformer, he also fell short of his expectations. Selim III was born December 2...
