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Quranic Calligraphy Tradition

Type Object Region Islamic world Time c. 650

The art and ritual tradition of writing Qur'anic text in Arabic script, evolving into styles such as Kufic and Naskh and closely tied to paper, bindi…

Timeline

  1. c. 700–950Kufa · IraqEarly Qur'an manuscripts mostly employed the angular Kufic script; horizontal lines, geometric ornament, and gilded initial letters became early paradigms of sacred book aesthetics.
  2. 1031–1040Cairo · EgyptThe Fatimid court and scriptoria promoted rounded, legible Naskh manuscripts; paper binding, border ornament, and interlinear punctuation were standardized, making Qur'anic calligraphy a core visual form of elite education and religious ritual.
  3. c. 1050–1200Isfahan · IranUnder Seljuk sultanate patronage, the Persian region developed more fluid variants such as the Ta'liq script; Qur'an manuscript illustrations and title-page decoration grew increasingly ornate, influencing regional script styles across the Islamic world thereafter.

Sources