Muhaqqaq

A Koran manuscript in Muḥaqqaq script (verses 93–95 of the sixth sura of the Koran ). Unknown calligrapher, 14. – 15. Century.

Muhaqqaq ( Arabic محقق, DMG muḥaqqaq ) is one of the traditional italic fonts in Islamic calligraphy . The Arabic word muḥaqqaq means “perfect” or “clear,” and originally any calligraphic handwriting that was well executed could be described with this word.

Often used to copy Koran codes (Sing. Muṣḥaf مصاحف, مصحف / maṣāḥif, muṣḥaf ), this majestic font was considered one of the most beautiful and at the same time most difficult. It is easily recognizable by the curve of the arcs in the final forms of the letters, which is comparatively flat for italics.

The script developed under the rule of the Abbasids and reached its heyday in the age of the Mamluks (1250–1516 / 1517). In the Ottoman Empire , Muḥaqqaq was gradually replaced by Thuluth and Naschī and from the 18th century was only used to write the Basmala in Ḥilyas .

literature

• Nassar Mansour (Author), Mark Allen (Eds.): Sacred Script: Muhaqqaq in Islamic Calligraphy , IBTauris & Co Ltd, New York 2011, ISBN 978-1-84885-439-0

Web links

Commons : Muhaqqaq style  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Koran page in Muhaqqaq : Baisonqur Koran, Central Asia, ca.1400, Columbia University website

Individual evidence

1. ↑ John FA Sawyer, JMY Simpson, RE Asher (ed.): Concise Encyclopedia of Language and Religion , Elsevier, New York 2001, ISBN 0-08-043167-4 , p.253.
2. ↑ Mansour, 139-140.
3. ↑ Mansour, Jan.
4. ↑ Mansour, 278
5. ↑ Mansour, 187.