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''Thuluth'' ( ar, ثُلُث, ' or ar, خَطُّ الثُّلُثِ, '; fa, ثلث, ''Sols''; Turkish: ''Sülüs'', from ' "one-third") is a script variety of
Islamic calligraphy Islamic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy, in the languages which use Arabic alphabet or the alphabets derived from it. It includes Arabic, Persian, Ottoman, and Urdu calligraphy.Chapman, Caroline (2012). ...
. The straight angular forms of Kufic were replaced in the new script by curved and
oblique Oblique may refer to: * an alternative name for the character usually called a slash (punctuation) ( / ) *Oblique angle, in geometry *Oblique triangle, in geometry * Oblique lattice, in geometry * Oblique leaf base, a characteristic shape of the b ...
lines. In ''Thuluth'', one-third of each letter slopes, from which the name (meaning "a third" in Arabic) comes. An alternative theory to the meaning is that the smallest width of the letter is one third of the widest part. It is an elegant,
cursive Cursive (also known as script, among other names) is any style of penmanship in which characters are written joined in a flowing manner, generally for the purpose of making writing faster, in contrast to block letters. It varies in functionali ...
script, used in medieval times on
mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...
decorations. Various calligraphic styles evolved from ''Thuluth'' through slight changes of form.


History

The greatest contributions to the evolution of the ''Thuluth'' script occurred in the
Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University ...
in three successive steps that Ottoman
art historians The history of art focuses on objects made by humans for any number of spiritual, narrative, philosophical, symbolic, conceptual, documentary, decorative, and even functional and other purposes, but with a primary emphasis on its aesthetic visu ...
call "calligraphical revolutions": *The first revolution occurred in the 15th century and was initiated by the master calligrapher Sheikh Hamdullah. *The second revolution resulted from the work of the Ottoman calligrapher Hâfız Osman in the 17th century.Ali, Wijdan.
From the Literal to the Spiritual: The Development of Prophet Muhammad's Portrayal from 13th Century Ilkhanid Miniatures to 17th Century Ottoman Art
". In ''Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Turkish Art'', eds. M. Kiel, N. Landman, and H. Theunissen. No. 7, 1–24. Utrecht, The Netherlands, August 23–28, 1999, p. 7
*Finally, in the late 19th century,
Mehmed Şevkî Efendi Qur'an copied by Mehmed Şevkî Efendi. Sakıp Sabancı Museum Mehmed Shevki Efendi ( ota, محمد شوقي افندي; Modern Turkish: ''Mehmed Şevki Efendi''; 1829 Kastamonu–1887 Istanbul) was a prominent Ottoman calligrapher. He is ...
gave the script the distinctive shape it has today.


Artists

The best known artist to write the ''Thuluth'' script at its zenith is said to be Mustafa Râkım Efendi (1757–1826), a painter who set a standard in Ottoman calligraphy which many believe has not been surpassed to this day.Journal of Ottoman Calligraphy :: RAKIM: “Mustafa Rakim” (1757 - 1826) :: April :: 2006


Usage

''Thuluth'' was used to write the headings of
sura A ''surah'' (; ar, سورة, sūrah, , ), is the equivalent of "chapter" in the Qur'an. There are 114 ''surahs'' in the Quran, each divided into '' ayats'' (verses). The chapters or ''surahs'' are of unequal length; the shortest surah ('' Al-K ...
hs,
Qur'an The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , si ...
ic chapters. Some of the oldest copies of the Qur'an were written in ''Thuluth''. Later copies were written in a combination of ''Thuluth'' and either Naskh or Muhaqqaq. After the 15th century Naskh came to be used exclusively. The script is used in the Flag of Saudi Arabia where its text, ''Shahada al
Tawhid Tawhid ( ar, , ', meaning "unification of God in Islam (Allāh)"; also romanized as ''Tawheed'', ''Tawhid'', ''Tauheed'' or ''Tevhid'') is the indivisible oneness concept of monotheism in Islam. Tawhid is the religion's central and single m ...
'', is written in ''Thuluth''.


Style

An important aspect of ''Thuluth'' script is the use of ''
harakat The Arabic script has numerous diacritics, which include: consonant pointing known as (), and supplementary diacritics known as (). The latter include the vowel marks termed (; singular: , '). The Arabic script is a modified abjad, where s ...
'' (''"hareke"'' in Turkish) to represent vowel sounds and of certain other stylistic marks to beautify the script. The rules governing the former are similar to the rules for any Arabic script. The stylistic marks have their own rules regarding placement and grouping which allow for great creativity as to shape and orientation. For example, one grouping technique is to separate the marks written below letters from those written above.


Scripts developed from ''Thuluth''

Since its creation, ''Thuluth'' has given rise to a variety of scripts used in calligraphy and over time has allowed numerous modifications. ''Jeli'' ''Thuluth'' was developed for use in large panels, such as those on tombstones. '' Muhaqqaq'' script was developed by widening the horizontal sections of the letters in ''Thuluth''. ''Naskh'' script introduced a number of modifications resulting in smaller size and greater delicacy. ''
Tawqi ''Tawqi‘'' ( ar-at, التوقيع, al-tawqī‘) is a calligraphic variety of the Arabic script. It is a modified and smaller version of the '' thuluth'' script. Both scripts were developed by Ibn Muqlah. The ''tawqi‘'' script was further re ...
'' is a smaller version of Thuluth. '' Ruq'ah'' was probably derived from the ''Thuluth'' and Naskh styles, the latter itself having originated from ''Thuluth''.


Gallery

File:Khalili Collection Islamic Art qur 0497 fol 34b-35a.jpg, Double-page from the Qur'an in thuluth copied for the
Zangid The Zengid dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Oghuz Turkic origin, which ruled parts of the Levant and Upper Mesopotamia on behalf of the Seljuk Empire and eventually seized control of Egypt in 1169. In 1174 the Zengid state extended from Tripo ...
Qutb ad-Din Muhammad (1198 - 1219). Khalili Collection of Islamic Art File:Thuluth - Yaqut al-Mustasimi.jpg, Line in thuluth written by
Yaqut al-Musta'simi Yaqut al-Musta'simi (Persian: یاقوت مستعصمی)(Arabic: ياقوت المستعصمي) (also Yakut-i Musta'simi) (died 1298) was a well-known calligrapher and secretary of the last Abbasid caliph. Life and work He was probably of Gr ...
(d. 1298).
Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The libra ...
File:محراب اولجایتو.jpg,
Mihrab Mihrab ( ar, محراب, ', pl. ') is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the ''qibla'', the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca towards which Muslims should face when praying. The wall in which a ''mihrab'' appears is thus the "qibla ...
in the winter prayer hall of the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan with inscription in carved
stucco Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...
in thuluth designed by
Haydar Haydar ( ar, حيدر), also spelt Hajdar, Hayder, Heidar, Haider, Heydar, and other variants, is an Arabic male given name, also used as a surname, meaning " lion". In Islamic tradition, the name is primarily associated with Ali ibn Abi Talib ...
(d. 1325/1326) File:Khalili Collection Islamic Art gls 0172.4.jpg,
Mamluk Mamluk ( ar, مملوك, mamlūk (singular), , ''mamālīk'' (plural), translated as "one who is owned", meaning " slave", also transliterated as ''Mameluke'', ''mamluq'', ''mamluke'', ''mameluk'', ''mameluke'', ''mamaluke'', or ''marmeluke'') ...
enamelled flask. Its shoulder bears a wide band with a dedication to an unnamed sultan in thuluth. Egypt or Syria, first half of the 14th century. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art File:Illuminated opening of the Mamluk Qur'an (National Library of Egypt Masahif Rasid 14, ff.1b-2a).jpg, Opening pages from the Mamluk Qur'an with first verse of
Al-Fatiha Al-Fatiha (alternatively transliterated Al-Fātiḥa or Al-Fātiḥah; ar, ألْفَاتِحَة, ; ), is the first '' surah'' (chapter) of the Quran. It consists of 7 '' ayah'' (verses) which are a prayer for guidance and mercy. Al-Fatiha ...
in monumental thuluth script. Egypt, late 1350s. Egyptian National Library
Album leaf (CBL T 426, f.1a).jpg, Album leaf from muraqqa by Sheikh Hamdullah in thuluth (upper panel) and naskh script.
Istanbul ) , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = 34000 to 34990 , area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side) , registration_plate = 34 , blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD , blank_i ...
, between 1500 - 1520 (illumination from 18th century).
Chester Beatty Library The Chester Beatty Library, now known as the Chester Beatty, is a museum and library in Dublin. It was established in Ireland in 1950, to house the collections of mining magnate, Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. The present museum, on the grounds of ...
Southern Portal - Taj Mahal - Agra 2014-05-14 3793.JPG, Inscription in thuluth at the Southern Portal of
Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, ...
, designed by Amanat Khan Shirazi.
Agra Agra (, ) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about south-east of the national capital New Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra ...
, between 1631 - 1638 Album leaf from a Muraqqa by Hafiz Osman (MIK I. 1985.11.9).jpg, Album leaf from muraqqa by
Hâfiz Osman Hâfiz Osman ( ota, حافظ عثمان Modern Turkish: ''Hâfız Osman'') (1642–1698) was an Ottoman calligrapher noted for improving the script and for developing a layout template for the hilye which became the classical approach to page ...
in thuluth (upper panel) and naskh script. Istanbul, 1693/1694.
Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin The Museum of Islamic Art (german: Museum für Islamische Kunst) is located in the Pergamon Museum and is part of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Collection The museum exhibits diverse works of Islamic art from the 7th century to 19th centu ...
Signed Mustafa Rakım - Levha (calligraphic inscription) - Google Art Project.jpg, Levha (calligraphic inscription) in
jeli thuluth Jeli Thuluth ( fa, جلی ثلث) is a calligraphic variety of Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in colla ...
by
Mustafa Râkim Mustafa Râkim ( ota, مصطفى رآقم; Modern Turkish: ''Mustafa Râkım'') (1757–1826), was an Ottoman calligrapher. He extended and reformed Hâfiz Osman's style, placing greater emphasis on technical perfection, which broadened the cal ...
. Istanbul, between 1809 - 1826.
Sakıp Sabancı Museum The Sabancı University Sakıp Sabancı Museum ( tr, Sakıp Sabancı Müzesi) is a private fine arts museum in Istanbul, Turkey, dedicated to calligraphic art, religious and state documents, as well as paintings of the Ottoman era. The museum w ...
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg, Flag of Saudi Arabia with
shahada The ''Shahada'' ( Arabic: ٱلشَّهَادَةُ , "the testimony"), also transliterated as ''Shahadah'', is an Islamic oath and creed, and one of the Five Pillars of Islam and part of the Adhan. It reads: "I bear witness that there i ...
in thuluth


References


External links


Thuluth Script
{{Arabic language Arabic calligraphy Islamic calligraphy