Juadaic & Islamic

Calligraphy is a very beautiful and ornate style of writing.
It was said that "true calligraphy is the art of producing letters that capture the spirit of the text they represent. For many artists, much mental pre-planning is necessary to fully understand the text before deciding how to display it in its full beauty." To people of the Islamic faith this is a very important and revered art form. It is used not only to express the written words of their prophet Muhammand, but it also a type of devotion to Islam and it's teachings.
Islamic calligraphy is influenced by the prophet Muhammad and his spoken word recorded in their holiest book, the Qur'an. In it all aspects of the Islamic faith are explained and social and civil laws are contained there as well. It is their source of guidance on how to live as an individual and in society.
Because it is so important to Muslims hundreds of thousands of copies of it have been reproduced. He wanted his followers to rely on the Qur'an and always refer to it so literacy was encouraged for all people.
Calligraphy became more ornate because the Qur'an does not contain pictures of illustrations. It is thought to be going against God to create images or "figures of living things...that might be used as idols."
Followers of Islam were devoted to their Qur'an and through calligraphy they could express the emotion, love, and adoration they had for their holiest book.
During the Safavid dynasty (1502-1736 A.D.) some of the greatest calligraphic manuscripts were created. As the Islamic empires spread so did calligraphy. Eventually around 1526 A.D. A school of Islamic illumination was created by Mughal emperors. Both women and men could be calligraphy artists.
The letters do not have an apparent beginning or end. They are all connected; woven together.
Ibn Muqla was an important figure in the history of Islamic calligraphy. He developed geometric principles to keep letters in proportion, and also helped develop the cursive script known as Naskh.




http://www.essortment.com/all/calligraphyhist_reyt.htm
http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/learning/calligraphy.html