In a religion where figural representations are considered to be an act of idolatry, it is no surprise that the word and its artistic representation have become an important aspect in Islamic art. The most important religious text in Islam is the Qur'an, which is believed to be the word of God. There are many examples of calligraphy and calligraphic inscriptions pertaining to verses from the Qur'an in Islamic arts.
9th century Qur'an
This early Qur'an demonstrates the Kufic script, the earliest form of Arabic calligraphy noted for its angular form.
The earliest form of Arabic calligraphy is kufic script, which is noted for is angular form. Arabic is read from right to left and only the consonants are written. The black ink in the image above from a 9th century Qur'an marks the consonants for the reader. The read dots that are visible on the page note the vowels.
However, calligraphic design is not limited to the book in Islamic art. Calligraphy is found in several different types of art, such as architecture. The interior of The Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem, 691), for example, features calligraphic inscriptions of verses from the Qur'an as well as from additional sources.
Interior view of The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 691.
The interior of The Dome of the Rock features many calligraphic inscriptions, from both the Qur'an and other sources, demonstrating the importance of calligraphy in Islamic art and its use in several different medias.
As in Europe in the Middle Ages, religious exhortations such as Qur'anic verses may be also included in secular objects, especially coins, tiles, and metalwork. Calligraphic inscriptions were not exclusive to the Qur'an, but also included verses of poetry or recorded ownership or donation. Calligraphers were highly regarded in Islam, reinforcing the importance on the word and its religious and artistic significance.