Arabic calligraphy is an aspect of Islamic art that has co-evolved alongside the religion of Islam and the Arabic language.
Arabic calligraphy is associated with geometric Islamic art (the Arabesque) on the walls and ceilings of mosques as well as on the page. Contemporary artists in the Arab and Islamic world draw on the heritage of calligraphy either to use calligraphic inscriptions in their work or to use calligraphic abstractions.
Instead of recalling something related to the 'True Reality' (the reality of the spiritual world), calligraphy for the Muslim, is a visible expression of the highest art of all, namely the art of the spoken word (the transmittal of thoughts and of history). Calligraphy has arguably become the most venerated form of Islamic art because it provides a link between the Arabic language with the religion of Islam. The holy book of Islam, al-Qur'an, has played an important role in the development and evolution of the Arabic language, and by extension, calligraphy. Proverbs and complete passages from the Qur'an are still active sources for Arabic calligraphy.
Some examples of styles of Arabic calligraphy include:
See also: Arabic alphabet, Islamic architecture, Arabic language
