The Arabic script is among the most beautiful in the world with its unique dots, loops, dashes, and curves. It is also an extremely flexible script, as letters can be broken to less that half their full shape or size, and can be made to blend seamlessly into each other. It is this malleability that renders the Arabic script perfect for calligraphy, the art of beautiful handwriting.
Arabic calligraphy began to realise its full potential after the advent of Islam in the 7th Century. As the new religion forbade depiction of animal and human figures, artists began to find expression of their creative talent in writing the verses of the Quran. Thus began the tradition of Islamic calligraphy – almost synonymous with Arabic calligraphy – where the verses of the Quran were written in highly evolved styles that were sublime yet striking, grand yet detailed.
