Saad Abulhab

All available inscription and manuscript evidence indicate that the early Kufic script style was independently developed in Hijaz and particularly in al-Madinah, the first Islamic capital. Furthermore, this distinctive calligraphic style seems to be specifically invented to record the Quran prior to its use for other applications. At least two inscriptions, dated to around 4 Hijri, predated the founding of Kufah. Several undotted Quraic manuscript had used this style before the transfer of the Islamic capital to Kufah. Naming this script as the Hijazi style, as many do, can therefore be more accurate. However, the unique built-in grammatical script characteristics of this style can possibly point to Kufah, the post Islamic city which inherited the role of older nearby centers like Hirah and Anbar, where many early Islamic scholars thought the Arabic script was developed. Certainly, the first relative maturity of this style into a comprehensive calligraphic art style was achieved far north from al-Madinah. This may explain why this style was referred to as simply Kufic, eventually.

The emergence of the early Kufic calligraphy marked the first huge milestone in the development of Arabic and Islamic calligraphy. As such, understanding and mastering this style can be playing a huge inspirational role for artists in the related fields of calligraphy, typography, and design. However, studying the early Kufic calligraphy style goes far beyond a study in calligraphy art. Understanding early Kufic script rules is the key to understanding the history and evolution of the Arabic script. Early Kufic Quranic manuscripts are the key evidence available for the Arabic language beside few pre-Islamic and early Islamic inscriptions. Reading this style correctly can not only play decisive role in the field of Quranic studies, but it can also help us tremendously in researching the history of the Arabic language and particularly Classical Arabic language. Studying the history of the Arabic language in turn is extremely important to the studies of the old languages of the Yemenis, Nabataeans, Akkadians and other inhabitants of the ancient people of Arabia and the Fertile Crescent. The topics mentioned above are not merely historical topics. In the volatile situation of the Middle East today, misinterpreting history can influence daily events, as it did historically.

The discovery of the early Kufic calligraphic pen method by calligraphy master Seyed Mohammad Vahid Mousawi Jazayeri and his key role in conducting and promoting an in-depth study of the history and art of this extraordinary style is extremely important. The uniqueness of Mr. Jazayeri scholarly work in this field is not only timely but is truly historical.