The first stroke-by-stroke guide ever produced for learning to write Naskh, one of the six major cursive Arabic scripts. Its origins can be traced back to the late eighth century AD and it is still in use today, over 1300 years later. The Ottoman Turks considered Naskh the script most suited for copying the Qur''an and today more Qur''ans are copied in Naskh throughout the Islamic world than in all other Arabic scripts combined. This introductory workbook makes it possible for everyone to learn and enjoy the beauty of Arabic calligraphy. Based on his experience of running workshops and demonstrations at The British Museum and other cultural institutions around the UK, Mustafa Ja''far has created an easy-to-follow, teach-yourself guide.

Autorentext

Mustafa Ja'far is an Iraqi-British artist and graphic designer. His interest in Arabic calligraphy began when he studied the subject under the eminent Iraqi master calligrapher Hashim Muhammad al-Khattat al-Baghdadi between 1969 and 1971. He also studied painting and design in Baghdad and Rome and worked as an Art Director in the Gulf region between 1978 and 1990. He has conducted numerous. Arabic calligraphy workshops and demonstrations at The British Museum and many other museums and cultural institutions around the UK.

Inhalt

1 Introduction by Dr Venetia Porter; 2 Naskh script: a brief introduction; 3 The Arabic alphabet; 4 The initial, medial and final; 5 Getting started: what you need to know and do; 6 Stage One: al-Mufradat (single letters); 7 Stage Two: al-Murakkabat (joined letters); 8 Stage Three: al-Kelimat (words); 9 Gallery; 10 Naskh script: past and present; 11 Bibliography and further reading