The evolution of Arabic calligraphy and the emergence of the “Jali” script.
Arabic calligraphy saw a significant development during the Umayyad period compared to the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Rashidun Caliphs. The profession of the calligrapher emerged for the first time, although the letters were not yet diacritically marked. One of the most prominent calligraphers of that time was Qutbah al-Muharrir, who combined the Hijazi and Kufic scripts to create a new style called “Jali.” This script was used to decorate mosque doors and mihrabs, and it had a profound influence on architectural arts.
The status of calligraphers and their role in decorating palaces and mosques.
Palaces and mosques during the Umayyad period were adorned with beautiful calligraphy. Calligraphers used these scripts to write official records and registers, which earned them a special status among the caliphs and princes. They would participate in their councils and assist them in writing their official documents. The influence of these scripts is still visible today in the mosques, palaces, and domes in Damascus and other distant cities.
The decline of the use of the Kufic script and the spread of the Thuluth script.
Gradually, the use of the Kufic script diminished, except in mosques, mihrabs, Qur’ans, and palaces. Calligraphers also used the Thuluth script, known as “the script of records” due to its extensive use in state registers. On the other hand, the caliphs wrote in the Shammi script and the Tumar script.
The role of calligraphers in the development of Arabic calligraphy and the most prominent names.
Calligraphers in this era played a prominent role in elevating Arabic calligraphy as an art. Among these calligraphers were: Mahdi al-Kufi, Malik ibn Dinar, Khalid ibn Abi al-Hayyaj, and al-Rashid al-Basri. Other calligraphers gained fame in regions far from the center of the caliphate, such as Abu Muhammad al-Isfahani, Abu al-Faraj, Ibn al-Hadrami, Ibn Hassan al-Mulayyih, Sharashir al-Masri, and Ibn Abi Fatima.
The role of the Umayyad caliphs in the flourishing of Arabic calligraphy.
Thanks to the Umayyad caliphs, Arabic calligraphy saw significant prosperity and became an integral part of the cultural and artistic renaissance that characterized this period. The caliphs and princes took a special interest in Arabic calligraphy, striving to develop it and expand its use in various fields, including architecture and official writing. Arabic calligraphy spread and evolved to adorn mosques, palaces, and official registers, making it a distinguishing feature of that era. This attention helped elevate the status of calligraphers, enabling them to play an important role in the cultural and political life of the Umayyad state, thus laying the foundation for the flourishing of Arabic calligraphy in the following centuries.
