Islamic calligraphy: Meaning and symbol

Abstract

For most of Islam’s fourteen centuries of history Arabic script has been the foremost symbol of the Muslim world. The 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet have served a multitude of purposes: direct conveyors of content, decorative forms, symbols of belief, talismans, esoteric signs, and poetic metaphors. In either religious or secular context the forms of the Arabic script, rendered in many different styles, have permeated almost all areas of the culture despite the fact that until modern times illiteracy was the norm in Muslim societies. The Muslim calligrapher has thus not only made the forms of visible language but also created the central forms of Islam’s visual culture.