Traditionally, Arabic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting Arabic script to convey harmony, grace, and beauty. The early stages in morphology and glyph design were quite simplistic in comparison to the later developments.
The expansion of the Islamic civilization is one of the reasons for this development in Arabic calligraphy. However, many cultures from Africa, Asia, and Europe contributed to Arabic calligraphy and its famous calligraphers. There were also early attempts to learn to communicate across this wide area.
Many artists and scientists used Arabic scripts to spread their art and scientific theories, and throughout history, Arabic calligraphy continued to develop through the different ruling dynasties in Kufa, Baghdad, and Cairo. It was during this period that different Arabic scripts were developed, including the Kufi, Thuluth, Naskh, Muhaqqaq, Riqa'a, and Tawql.
The art is known in Arabic as khatt, which comes from the word line, 'design', or 'construction'. The practice is passed down through formal and informal education and uses the twenty-eight letters of the Arabic alphabet, written in cursive, from right to left. At first, intended to make writing clear and legible, it gradually became an Islamic art form for traditional and modern works.
The fluidity of the Arabic script opens infinite possibilities for variations, even within a single word. Different letters can be stretched and changed to achieve various motifs. In traditional calligraphy, natural materials are used for the writing instruments, such as reeds and bamboo stems for the qalam.
Ink is made from honey, soot, and saffron, and the paper is handmade and usually treated with starch, egg white, and alum. Modern calligraphy commonly uses markers and synthetic paint, while spray paint is used for calling graffiti on walls, signs, and buildings. Arabic calligraphy is also employed by artists and designers for embellishing their work, such as carving wood and marble, embroidering, and etching metal.
A variety of Arabic calligraphy is widely practiced in Arab and non-Arab countries. It is practiced by both men and women of all ages through apprenticeship and formal schools. Arabic calligraphy has been known and acknowledged for its great diversity and potential for development in terms of writing and different forms of innovative art.
Arab calligraphy has been fused with Western graffiti, and young Arab artists have re-imagined it in a new light. Many forms, such as the art of expression, have been used to spark interest in millennials, especially in regions such as the Levant, Iraq, and Palestine.