In the form of a bird appearing to drink

In the name of Allah, A Bismillah

Iran, second half of the 19th century

Gulzar is defined by Safadi (1979) in Islamic Calligraphy as the technique of filling the area within the outlines of relatively large letters with various ornamental devices, including floral designs, geometric patterns, hunting scenes, portraits, small

script, and other motifs. Gulzar is often used in composite calligraphy where it is also surrounded by other decorative units and calligraphic panels.

Zoomorphic Calligraphic Type

In zoomorphic calligraphy, the words are manipulated and structured into the shape of a human figure, a bird, an animal, or an object. Safadi notes that Thuluth, Naskh, and Nasta'liq scripts are extensively applied to create such calligraphic

compositions.

Ottoman Turkey, Istanbul, 1845 AD

Tughra is a unique calligraphic device that is used as a royal seal. The nishanghi or tughrakesh is the only scribe specialized in writing Tughra. The emblems became quite ornate and were particularly favored by Ottoman officialdom.

Page from a manuscript of the Qur’an

Tunisia, probably Qairawan, early tenth century Gold and red ink on parchment dyed blue

Two leaves from a manuscript of the Qur’an

Abbasid caliphate, ninth to tenth century Ink and gold on parchment

Naskhi Script (18th Century)

An Ottoman manuscript

Ta'liq Script

By al-Qandusi, from his remarkable 12-volume Qur'an (completed 1849)

A Bismillah

Collage. Arches surrounding inscriptions of thuluth script. Extract from the Dakhira of the Sharqawa

Thuluth Script

Alternation and juxtapositioning of a supple, cursive style with rigid, angular kufic lettering. The combination of stylized floral ornamentation, geometric interlacing and the richness of the polychrome treatment highlight the individual words and invocations.

Kufic Lettering

Fragment of a page from the Qur'an, copied on colored silk.

Andalusian maghribi script

A typical example

Andalusian maghribi script

Signature by 'Arif Hikmat

Sumbuli script

The name of Allah.

Interwoven floral kufic script

Bringing a message to the mystic Abdelqadar Jilali, known as the 'White Hawk'. Calligram in relief on an unidentifiable ground.

A Bird

The double letter lam and alif

Maghribi script

With diacriticals in red, written on gazelle skin

Maghribi Kufic

From al-Qandusi's Qur'an

The opening of the Surah Maryam

In mirror images, by Subail Anwar, Istanbul

The name of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)

A larger version of diwani.Composition by Muhammad 'izzat al-Karkuki

Jilli diwani

Star on the threshold, 1984

Qotbi

Untitled

Rashid Koraishi

The name of Allah