10. The Naskhi Script

With the development of sciences and arts in Islam, especially during the ‘Abbasid period, the character of script also improved and reached its zenith. Rules were formulated for the art of calligraphy and masters emerged in this art. However, since the Naskhi script was simpler than the Kufic, the former received greater attention of both the calligraphers and the common people. A group of calligraphers devoted their attention to the refinement of the Naskhi script. To it belonged Ibn Muqlah – Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Husayn ibn Muqlah (272-328/885-939).

Some even believe him to be the inventor-of the Naskhi script, though this is not true. Like all other sciences, arts and crafts, script too evolved gradually towards excellence, and hence it is not possible to consider the writing of Ibn Muqlah the beginning of the Naskhi script (fortunately manuscripts attributed to him or resembling his writing still exist). ⁵⁸

As a result of my study of the invaluable collection of Qur’anic manuscripts at Astanah-ye Quds-e Radawi and the Qur’ans preserved at Dar al-Kutub at Cairo, the Zahiriyyah Library at Damascus, the Library of Jama’at al-Qarwiyyin at Fas, and the library of Topkapu Museum, Istanbul, I have found that the Naskhi script was used even before Ibn Muqlah. This view is further affirmed by writings that preceded those of Ibn Muqlah, whose samples can be found in the following books:

1. A1-Khatt al-‘Arabi al-‘Islami by Turki ‘Atiyyah.
2. Atlas-e Khatt.
3. Intishar al-khatt al-‘Arabi by Ustad ‘Abd al-Fattah ‘Ibadah.
4. AI-Khattat al-Baghdadi by Dr. Suhayl Anwar.
5. Al-Khatt al-‘Arabi wa adabuhu by Muhammad Tahir ibn ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Makki.
6. Musawwir al-khatt al-‘Arabi by Naji Zayn al-Din. ⁵⁹
7. Ahwal wa athar-a khushnawisan by Mahdi Bayani (the section on Naskhi).

A perusal of these works would remove all doubts for the reader. Therefore, Ibn Muqlah only attempted to perfect the six styles (which include the Naskhi) which were already prevalent two hundred years before him. ⁶⁰ A study of the aforementioned works and of the Qur’anic manuscripts in libraries and museums mentioned above leads us to conclude that the Naskhi script was derived from the Kufic, not the Nabataean as claimed by some.