kufic script in islamic calligraphy -
Kufic - Wikipedia
Kufic is the oldest calligraphic form of the various Arabic scripts. The proclaim of the script derives from Kufa, a city in southern Iraq which was considered as an literary center within the in front Islamic period. Kufic is defined as a extremely angular form of the Arabic alphabet originally used in upfront copies of the Qur’an. Sheila S. Blair Kufic script (Arabic: الخط الكوفي) is a style of Arabic script that gained prominence before as regards as a preferred script for Quran transcription and architectural decoration, and it has before become a reference and an archetype for a number of other Arabic scripts. It developed from the Nabataeans of Iraq alphabet in the city of Kufa, from which its publish is derived.[1] Kufic script is characterized by angular, rectilinear letterforms and its horizontal orientation.[1] There are many interchange versions of Kufic script, such as square Kufic, floriated Kufic, knotted Kufic, and others.[1]Calligraphers in the beforehand Islamic grow old used a variety of methods to transcribe Qur’an manuscripts. Arabic calligraphy became one of the most important branches of Islamic Art. Calligraphers came out like the extra style of writing called Kufic. Kufic is the oldest calligraphic form of the various Arabic scripts. The reveal post of the script derives from Kufa, a city in southern Iraq which was considered as an researcher center within the before Islamic period. Kufic is defined as a severely angular form of the Arabic alphabet originally used in yet to be in advance copies of the Qur’an. Sheila S. Blair suggests that "the publish Kufic was introduced to Western scholarship by Jacob George Christian Adler (1756-1834)."[2] Furthermore, the Kufic script plays an important role in the encroachment of Islamic calligraphy. In fact, "it is the first style of Islamic get older writings in which the manifestation of art, delicacy and beauty are explicitly evident" says Salwa Ibraheem Tawfeeq Al-Amin.[3] The declare set for this writing was about the angular, linear shapes of the characters. In fact, "the rules that were defined at the outset of the Kufic tradition essentially remained the same throughout its lifespan" says Alain George.[4]
The main characteristic of the Kufic script "appears to be the transformation of the ancient cuneiform script into the Arabic letters" according to Enis Timuçin Tan.[5] Moreover, it was characterized by figural letters that were shaped in a exaggeration to be nicely written something like parchment, building and decorative objects later than lusterware and coins.[6] Kufic script is composed of geometrical forms subsequently straight lines and angles along subsequently verticals and horizontals.[7] Originally, Kufic did not have what is known as a differentiated consonant, which means, for example, that the letters "t", "b", and "th" were not distinguished by diacritical marks and looked the same.[7] However, it is yet nevertheless used in Islamic countries. In well ahead Kufic Qur'ans of the ninth and to the fore tenth century, "the sura headings were more often designed similar to the sura title as the main feature, often written in gold, subsequently a palmette extending into the margin " comments Marcus Fraser.[8] Its use in transcribing manuscripts has been important in the forward movement of Kufic Script. Earlier kufic was written in this area manuscripts as soon as accurateness which contributed to its development. For instance, "the precision achieved in practice is all more remarkable because Kufic manuscripts were not ruled" says Alain George.[9] Moreover, he explains that Kufic manuscripts were laid out with a stable number of lines per page, and these were strictly parallel and equidistant.[9] One impressive example of an further on Qur'an manuscript, known as the Blue Qur'an, features gold Kufic script re parchment dyed with indigo. It is commonly endorsed to the before Fatimid or Abbasid court. The main text of this Qur'an is written in gold ink, correspondingly the effect all but looking at the manuscript is of gold on blue. According to Marcus Fraser, "the political and artistic sophistication and financial expense of the production of the blue Qur'an could abandoned have been contemplated and achieved by a ruler of considerable capability and wealth".[8]
The Qur'an was first written in a plain, slanted, and uniform script but, next its content was formalized, a script that denoted authority emerged.[12] This coalesced into what is now known as Primary Kufic script.[12] Kufic was prevalent in manuscripts from the 7th to 10th centuries. all but the 8th century, it was the most important of several variants of Arabic scripts later than its austere and fairly low vertical profile and a horizontal emphasis.[13] Until practically the 11th century it was the main script used to copy the Qur'an.[14] Professional copyists employed a particular form of Kufic for reproducing the primeval enduring copies of the Qur'an, which were written something like parchment and date from the 8th to 10th centuries.[15] It is distinguished from Thuluth script in its use of decorative elements whereas the latter was designed to avoid decorative motifs.[16] In place of the decorations in Kufic scripts, Thuluth used vowels.[16]
The Kufic script is inscribed roughly speaking textiles, coins, lusterware, building and so on.[17] Coins were categorically important in the proceed of the Kufic script. In fact, "the letter strokes going on for coins, had become perfectly straight, once curves tending toward geometrical circularity by 86" observes Alain George.[18] As an example, Kufic is commonly seen more or less Seljuk coins and monuments and going on for upfront Ottoman coins. Its decorative tone led to its use as a decorative element in several public and domestic buildings constructed prior to the Republican grow old in Turkey. Also, the current flag of Iraq (2008) along with includes a kufic rendition of the takbir.
Similarly, the flag of Iran (1980) has the takbir written in white square kufic script a tally of 22 period on the order of the fringe of both the green and red bands. Kufic inscriptions were important in the emergence of textiles too, often lively as decoration in the form of tiraz bands. According to Maryam Ekhtiar, "tiraz inscriptions were written in Kufic or floriated Kufic script, and later, in naskhi or throughout the islamic world." [19] Those inscriptions intensify the read out of God or the ruler. As an example, the inscription inside the Dome of the Rock is written in Kufic. Throughout the text, we can broadcast the calligraphic line created by the reed pen which is usually a steady lawsuit when various thicknesses based vis-а-vis the changes in processing of the bustle that has created it.[20] There is square or geometric Kufic is a no question simplified rectangular style of Kufic widely used for tiling. In Iran sometimes entire buildings are covered once tiles spelling sacred names later than those of God, Muhammad and Ali in square Kufic, a technique known as banna'i.[21] Moreover, there is "Pseudo-Kufic", also "Kufesque" which refers to imitations of the Kufic script, made in a non-Arabic context, during the Middle Ages or the Renaissance: "Imitations of Arabic in European art are often described as pseudo-Kufic, borrowing the term for an Arabic script that emphasizes straight and angular strokes, and is most commonly used in Islamic architectural decoration".[22]
Square Kufic (Arabic: ٱلْكُوفِيّ ٱلمُرَبَّع), along with sometimes known as banna'i (بَنَائِيّ, "masonry" script), is a bare Arabic writing form that developed in the 12th century.[23][24] The calligrapher Mamoun Sakkal described its press on as an "exceptional step towards simplification in Kufic styles that evolved towards more complexity in the preceding centuries."[23] Square Kufic was originally created in architecture behind bricks and tiles committed as pixels.[24] Legibility is not a priority of this script.[24]
Geometric Kufic sample (Surah 112, al-Ikhlas or "The Surah of Monotheism", of the Qur'an), way in clockwise, starting at bottom left (begins when the Basmala).
Another example of geometric or square Kufic script, showing four instances of the declare Muhammad (in black) and four time epoch Ali (in white); often used as a tilework pattern in Islamic architecture
Bifolio of Surat Al-An'am in the "Nurse’s Quran” (مصحف الحاضنة), commissioned by a patron named Fatima deadened the Zirid Dynasty in the ahead of time 11th century.[25]
Drawing of an inscription of Basmala in Kufic script, 9th century. The indigenous native is in the Islamic Museum in Cairo (Inventar-Nr. 7853)
