Writing and Architecture

 A Historical & Visual Analysis of the Most Important Manifestation of Arabic Calligraphy in Islamic Architecture 

Dr Hāni Muhammad al-Qahtāni*

The paper traces the beginnings of Arabic calligraphy, and how the sahâba adopted this mode of writing for copying the Glorious Qur’an.

The paper also speaks about the relationship of calligraphy with the Islamic State, as it also speaks about the close ties between calligraphy and architecture. It traces the development of Islamic architecture during the Rāshidi, Omayad and Abbasid periods, and highlights the application of Arabic calligraphy in the eastern half  of the Islamic World. It then speaks in detail about how architecture flourished  during the Seljuk and Moghul periods. It also speaks about the use of calligraphy in Safavi, Ottoman, Egyptian, North African, Moroccan and Spanish  architecture.

The paper proves the existence of a strong bond of relationship between calligraphy and architecture.

(*) Dammam University, Faculty of Architecture & Planning.

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