Laura Bashraheel Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Arabic calligraphy has flourished throughout history as an art form that adds value and beauty to literature. The development of sophisticated calligraphy as an art form is not unique to Islamic culture. In the Islamic world, however, calligraphy has traditionally been held in high regard. The energy and value given to the copying and writings of the Qur'an elevated Arabic calligraphy to the status of an art. Arabic is written from right to left, like other Semitic scripts, and it consists of 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet. Short vowels are not part of the alphabet but rather small signs placed above or below the consonant or long vowel that they follow. Having these short vowel signs around the letters combined with the fact that there are no capital forms of letters, gives the Arabic script its character and beauty in calligraphy. For writing, the Arabic calligrapher employs a reed pen (Qalam) with the working point cut on an angle. This feature produces a thick down stroke and a thin upstroke with an infinity of gradation in between. Sultan Balubaid, a 31-year-old calligrapher from Jeddah, started practicing calligraphy since childhood after observing Arabic calligraphy on banners and signs. There are countless beautiful Arabic fonts used in calligraphy but according to Balubaid, the Kufic script is considered the oldest and was used in the initial scripts used to write the Qur'an. “In modern times, however, the most common fonts used are the Thulth, Naskh , Riq'a, Diwani, Jili Diwani, Ta'liq (Persian script) ) and the Kufic script. There are also other scripts such as the Moroccan one which is often used mainly in Morocco. Personally, I love the Thulth, which is one of the most beautiful and most difficult Arabic fonts. I also enjoy using Nuskh, which is characterized by its agility and ease of reading as well as the font used in writing the Qur'an,” Balubaid explained. When it comes to tools, Arabic calligraphy, just like any other forms of art, has its own tools. Designs with calligraphy were created out of many different materials. Yet calligraphy often imitates the technical effects of pen on paper. Before the invention of paper, vellum or parchment was the highest quality writing material available. Typically, a reed pen, with the tip cut at an angle and filled with ink, would have been used. Though Balubaid uses a curare (taken from bamboo trees) and a special kind of ink handmade by calligraphers, he sometimes also uses a special kind of paper when writing plates. “Nowadays, there are different kind of pens one of which is called “Slayat” and it is used in the writing of small texts and in the writing of the Qur'an. There are also high-quality inks that are made in Germany and China,” he said. With recent technologies and design software, Arabic calligraphy has become more apparent. “Modern technology has helped greatly in bringing out and publishing this original form of art, especially social networking sites which have contributed to publicizing exhibitions and workshops for anyone in the world interested in Arabic calligraphy,” Balubaid added. The popularity of Arabic calligraphy has evolved over time from only being used to write the Qur'an and in architecture to being printed on t-shirts and even stationary. This trend has increased the exposure it gets and made it apparent in everyday life.
