contents
Preface
“A Life in Letters: From Nokta-i Suğrâ to Kufi Legacy”
- Personal journey as a calligrapher and historian
- Origins of your artistic and academic engagement with Kufi
Kufi Calligraphy from the Perspective of my Philosophy of History
Chapter I
Philosophical Reflections on Language, Writing, Human Knowledge, History and Historical Significance of the Kufi Calligraphy
The Semantics of Sacred Expression
1. On the Preserved Tablet/Lawh Mahfuz, Qur`an, Origins of the Language and Semantic Debates
2. “Scripture as Witness: Interpreting Kufi Through a Multidisciplinary Lens”
3.Theological and Cosmological Significance of Kufic Script
4. On Existence, Knowledge and the Limits of Human Consciousness
5. On the Limits of Language and Meaning
6. Some additional evaluations about Art, Science, Philosophy, Religion and Mystical Experience
7. On History Itself, Historiography and Philosophy of History
Chapter II
Historical Origins of Arabic Script and Historical Emergence of Kufi Calligraphy
1. On Qur`an Manuscripts
- Development of Kufi from early Islamic history
- Its role in Qur’anic transcription and cultural formation
2. On different Styles of Kufi Calligraphy
Chapter III
The Geometry of Faith: “Sacred Angles: The Aesthetic Structure and Spiritual Grammar of Kufi”
Kufi in Civilization: “Script and Stone: Kufi Across Cultures and Centuries”
- Use in architecture, textiles, coins, and instruments
- Regional styles and theological influences
Structural Geometry and the Modular System
Symmetry, Rhythm, and Repetition
Symmetry, Rhythm, and Repetition
Abstraction, Meaning, and Cognitive Visualization
Craftsmanship, Discipline, and Technical Mastery
Kufic Script in Architecture, Craft, and Everyday Life
Kufic on Architectural Surfaces
Kufic on Ceramics and Everyday Objects
Kufic in Textile Arts: The Ṭirāz Fabrics
Kufic in Metalwork
Kufic in Book Arts and Qur’anic Manuscripts
Kufi as a visual embodiment of tawhid and transcendence
Contemporary Reinterpretations of Kufic
Aesthetic Significance
Beauty as a Spiritual Value
Geometric Harmony and Proportion
Versatility and Adaptability
Intellectual and Educational Significance
Literacy and Knowledge
Discipline and Spiritual Development
Intellectual Integration
Educational and Spiritual Resource
Chapter IV
Symbolic, Political, and Spiritual Interpretations of the Kufic Script
Kufic as Symbol: Power, Wisdom, and Eternity
Kufic as a Political Instrument
Kufic as a Spiritual Practice
Contemporary Symbolism and Artistic Reappropriation
Chapter V
Political and Historical Influences on Arabic Script and Calligraphy
Early Islamic Period and the Umayyads (661-750 CE)
persian mongol ottoman memluk
Symbol of Islamic Identity
Cultural Continuity and Tradition
Cross-Cultural Exchange
Social and Political Significance
Social Prestige and Patronage
Political Legitimacy
Chapter VI
Timeline
Conclusion
Bibliography
Chapter VII
Toward a Book of Kufi Compositions
“From Manuscript to Monument: Publishing the Kufi Canon”
- Vision for compiling and presenting your works
- Reflections on legacy and artistic continuity
- ANNEX
About the Art of Calligraphy
Hattat Hamid’s curse
- The Quest for meaning Throughout time