Muhaqqaq is one of the main six types of

calligraphic Calligraphy () is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instruments. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "the art of giving form to signs in an exp ...

script in

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

.John F. A. Sawyer, J. M. Y. Simpson, R. E. Asher (eds.), ''Concise Encyclopedia of Language and Religion'', Elsevier, New York 2001, , p. 253. The

word ''muḥaqqaq'' () means "consummate" or "clear", and originally was used to denote any accomplished piece of calligraphy.Mansour, 139–140. Often used to copy ''maṣāḥif'' (singular ''muṣḥaf'', i.e. loose sheets of

Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...

texts), this intricate type of script was considered one of the most beautiful, as well as one of the most difficult to execute well.Mansour, 30. The script saw its greatest use in the Mameluk era (1250–1516/1517).Mansour, 278 In the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

, it was gradually displaced by '' Thuluth'' and '' Naskh''; from the 18th century onward, its use was largely restricted to the ''

Basmala The (; also known by its opening words ; , "In the name of God in Islam, God") is the titular name of the Islamic phrase “In the name of God in Islam, God, Rahman (name), the Most Gracious, Rahim, the Most Merciful” (, ). It is one of ...

'' in ''

Hilya The term ''ḥilya'' (, plural: ''ḥilān'', or ''ḥulān''; , plural: ) denotes both a visual form in Ottoman art and a religious genre of Ottoman-Arabic literature each dealing with the physical description of Muhammad. Hilya means "ornament". ...

s''.Mansour, 187.

History

The earliest reference to ''muḥaqqaq'' writing is found in the '' Kitab al-Fihrist'' by

Ibn al-Nadim Abū al-Faraj Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq an-Nadīm (), also Ibn Abī Yaʿqūb Isḥāq ibn Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq al-Warrāq, and commonly known by the '' nasab'' (patronymic) Ibn an-Nadīm (; died 17 September 995 or 998), was an important Muslim ...

, and the term was probably in use since the beginning of the

Abbasid The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 C ...

era to denote a specific writing style.Mansour, 91. Master calligraphers like

Ibn Muqla Abu Ali Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muqla (; 885/6 – 20 July 940/1), commonly known as Ibn Muqla, was an official of the Abbasid Caliphate who rose to high state posts in the early 10th century. His career culminated in his own assumption of the v ...

and Ibn al-Bawwab contributed to the development of this and other scripts, and defined its rules and standards within Islamic calligraphy.Mansour, 20.

Gallery

Khalili Collection Islamic Art qur 0087 fol 26b-27a.jpg, Double-page from the Qur'an in muhaqqaq dedicated to Abu’l-Qasim Harun ibn ‘Ali ibn Zafar, the vizier of Özbeg (r 1210–1225), the last atabak of Azerbaijan. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art Folios 1b-2a from Part 15 of a 30-part Qur’an copied by Ya'qut al-Musta'simi in Baghdad 1282-1283 AD (681 AH).jpg, Double-page from the Qur'an in muhaqqaq copied by

Yaqut al-Musta'simi Yaqut al-Musta'simi (Arabic: ياقوت المستعصمي) (died 1298) was a well-known Calligraphy, calligrapher and secretary of the Al-Musta'sim, last Abbasid caliph. Life and work He was probably of Pontic Greeks, Greek origin in Amaseia ...

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

, 1282/1283. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art Double-page from the Ilkhanid Qur'an (TIEM 538, ff. 151b-152a).jpg, Double-page from the Qur'an in muhaqqaq copied by Ahmad al-Suhrawardi. Baghdad, 1307/1308. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Opening double page from the Sultan Shaban's Qur'an (DK Masahif Rasid 10, ff. 2b-3a).jpg, Opening pages from the Qur'an in muhaqqaq copied by Ali ibn Muhammad al-Mukattib al-Ashrafi.

Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...

, 1372. Egyptian National Library Unknown, Central Asia, 15th Century - Page from Colossal Qur'an - Google Art Project.jpg, Page from the Qur'an in muhaqqaq copied for

Timur Timur, also known as Tamerlane (1320s17/18 February 1405), was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire in and around modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia, becoming the first ruler of the Timurid dynasty. An undefeat ...

by Umar Aqta.

Samarkand Samarkand ( ; Uzbek language, Uzbek and Tajik language, Tajik: Самарқанд / Samarqand, ) is a city in southeastern Uzbekistan and among the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central As ...

, .

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA; ) is a museum on one end of the Corniche in Doha, Qatar. As per the architect I. M. Pei's specifications, the museum is built on an island off an artificial projecting peninsula near the traditional '' dhow'' ha ...

Album leaf from a Murakka by Hafiz Osman (MIK I.1985.11.1).jpg, Album Leaf from a

Muraqqa A Muraqqa ( , ) is an album in book form containing Islamic miniature paintings and specimens of Islamic calligraphy, normally from several different sources, and perhaps other matter. The album was popular among collectors in the Islami ...

by Hâfiz Osman with ''

basmala The (; also known by its opening words ; , "In the name of God in Islam, God") is the titular name of the Islamic phrase “In the name of God in Islam, God, Rahman (name), the Most Gracious, Rahim, the Most Merciful” (, ). It is one of ...

'' in muhaqqaq (upper panel).

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

, 1693/1694. Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin

Notes

References

* Nassar Mansour (author), Mark Allen (ed.): ''Sacred Script: Muhaqqaq in Islamic Calligraphy'', I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd, New York 2011, Arabic calligraphy {{arabic-script-stub

History

Gallery

See also

Notes

References