“We need to remember that often text was written to be read out loud, and legibility was of high importance. “An angular script such as Kufic is so popular because it’s clear to read,” said Tolar. This form of calligraphy is characterized by short vertical and elongated horizontal strokes. Stylistically, this bold, angular and rather strict form of calligraphy is characterized by short vertical and elongated horizontal strokes. Tolar said one of the earliest examples of the Kufic script can be found in the form of a 240-meter-long Qur’anic inscription in Jerusalem’s Dome of the Rock, dating back to 692 AD. The elaborate script also touched the surfaces of coins and inscriptions on tombstones and buildings. Its leaves would have been initially produced from calves’ and goats’ skin, also known as parchment. (Getty)Īccording to scholars, its name is derived from the southern Iraqi town of Al-Kufa - a powerhouse of Arab scholarship and cultural learning in the medieval era - where this script was created.įor a long time, the Kufic script - which reached its peak by the ninth century - was notably used for writing Qur’anic manuscripts. The Kufic script was notably used for writing Qur’anic manuscripts. From it evolved all the present pens.”ĭeveloped between the seventh and 10th centuries, the Kufic script is considered one of the oldest forms of Arabic calligraphy. It is so revered and foundational that medieval Egyptian encyclopedist Al-Qalqashandi once declared: “The Arabic script is the one which is now known as Kufic. Kufic script is one of the most recognizable and exquisite scripts of Arabic calligraphy. “If you ask any student of Islamic art what attracted them to the study of this subject, they often specify the beauty of Arabic calligraphy.” “Many consider calligraphy as quintessentially Islamic, the cultural identity of the Muslim world,” said Tolar, who teaches the history of Arab painting at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. The word Kufic is derived from the southern Iraqi town of Al-Kufa. Tanja Tolar, a specialist in medieval Islamic art, told Arab News. “Like many of my colleagues, I was thrilled that UNESCO recognized its historical importance for the heritage and culture of Islamic lands,” Prof. Saudi Arabia has declared 2020 as the Year of Arabic Calligraphy, and UNESCO has registered Arabic calligraphy on its Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage. DUBAI: Practiced for hundreds of years, Arabic calligraphy is being acknowledged on a grand scale in 2020.