Islamic calligraphy was shaped by a long line of masters who refined the scripts we still use. Here are some of the most influential names.
Ibn Muqla (d. 940)
An Abbasid vizier credited with developing a system of proportion for Arabic letters, which made the elegant cursive scripts possible.
Ibn al-Bawwab (d. 1022)
A Baghdad calligrapher who refined Ibn Muqla’s system. A Quran manuscript attributed to him is held in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin.
Yaqut al-Musta‘simi (d. 1298)
Secretary to the last Abbasid caliph, Yaqut is remembered for his refinement of the six classical scripts and for cutting the reed pen at an angle, a technique followed for centuries.
Sheikh Hamdullah (1436–1520)
Often called the father of Ottoman calligraphy, he developed a distinctly Ottoman approach to Naskh and Thuluth.
Hafiz Osman (1642–1698)
An Ottoman master famous for his clear Naskh and for popularising the hilye, a calligraphic panel describing the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Modern calligraphy artists
Contemporary artists have taken calligraphy into new forms. Hassan Massoudy is known for bold, colourful compositions, and eL Seed for “calligraffiti” murals on buildings around the world.
Bring calligraphy home: explore our Islamic calligraphy wall art, made in aluminium in Ras Al Khaimah and delivered across the UAE. Read our guides on calligraphy phrase meanings and where to hang Islamic wall art.
