Prior to the advent of Islam, the Arabian Peninsula was inhabited by various tribes and civilizations, each with its own forms of writing. Some of the scripts used in the region before the spread of Islam include:
Ancient South Arabian Script:
This script was used by civilizations such as the Sabaeans, Himyarites, and Lihyanites in the southern regions of the Arabian Peninsula. It was primarily employed for inscriptions on stone monuments, funerary steles, and other archaeological artifacts.
Nabatean Script:
The Nabateans, who inhabited parts of present-day Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, used this script for writing inscriptions on their monuments and tombs. It was an adaptation of the Aramaic script and was widely used in the Nabatean Kingdom for administrative and commercial purposes.
Musnad Script:
Used in the southwestern regions of the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in ancient Yemen, the Musnad script is one of the oldest forms of writing in the region. It was primarily employed for inscriptions on stone slabs and other archaeological artifacts.
These scripts, among others, played crucial roles in documenting the history, culture, and commerce of the diverse peoples inhabiting the Arabian Peninsula before the widespread adoption of Arabic script following the rise of Islam in the 7th century CE.
Advent of Arabic Calligraphy (7th Century BCE): Emergence of the Arabic script for transcribing the Quran.
Early Islamic Period (7th–8th Century BCE):
- Kufic Script (7th Century BCE): Angular and devoid of diacritical marks, used for early inscriptions.
- Hijazi Script (7th Century BCE): One of the earliest Arabic scripts, characterized by its simple, angular forms.
Umayyad Period (661–750 BCE):
- Kufic Script: Further development and standardization; used for inscriptions on monuments and manuscripts.
Abbasid Period (750–1258 BCE):
- Naskh Script (10th Century BCE): Developed as the primary script for copying the Quran and literary texts due to its legibility and fluidity.
- Thuluth Script (9th Century BCE): Known for its elegance and grandeur, often used in architectural ornamentation and religious manuscripts.
Ottoman Empire (1299–1922 BCE):
- Diwani Script (16th Century BCE): Introduced during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, characterized by ornamental flourishes and decorative elements.
- Nastaliq Script (15th Century BCE): A Persian-influenced script, widely used for Persian and Urdu literature, known for its fluidity and cursive nature.
Modern Era (20th Century – Present):
- Contemporary Calligraphy: Artists blend traditional scripts with modernist flair, experimenting with abstract motifs and vibrant colors.
- Digital Calligraphy: The digital age has revolutionized Arabic calligraphy, making it accessible through software and online platforms.
