Art and Architecture --- The Islamic World

Koran Page w/ beginning of Surah 18, al-Kahf (The Cave), late 9th-early 10th century.

A page from one of the oldest extant Korans, Kufic manuscripts such as these helps transform Arabic into the language of the Islamic empire. The fine lines seen here are in a rich and elegent Kufic style. Calligraphy was considered the preeminent art form of Islam. This was due to most calligraphy involving recording the Koran which was considered the literal word of God (Arabic script does predate Islam however). Because the Koran is an essential part of Islam, literacy was very high throughout the Muslim world in comparison to their European counterparts. In the form of a codex, its horizontal format helped distinguish it from bibles and other Arabic texts. As Korans proliferated, the palmette, seen at the top of the page containing the chapter title, would grow more elaborate (typical Islamic vegetal design). Koran creation would aprallel European manuscripts however any depiction of humans would be notably absent.

from theenlightenedphilistine.tumblr.com/post/11883999316/koran-page-w-beginning-of-surah-18-al-kahf-the


A joke says, ït takes at least one thousand and one nights to learn the basics of Arabic language.

Recuerdos de la Alhambra