Sacred Script

Nassar Mansour is one of the most accomplished calligraphers in the Arab World today. He trained in Istanbul under the eminent calligrapher Hasan Celebi and, between 1977 and 1999, he was responsible for calligraphy and ornamentation in the restoration of the twelfth-century pulpit (mimbar)of Saladin at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem after it was destroyed in 1969. He completed his PhD, on which this book is based, in 2007. He has participated in numberous calligraphy workshops and exhibitions in the Middle East, Europe, India, Malaysia and Japan and his work is represented at the British Museum. Mansour lives in Jordan, where he teaches at the Institute of Traditional Islamic Arts and Al Baqa Applied University. Sir Mark Allen is an Arabist who, during an extensive diplomatic career in the Middle East, acquired an intimate knowledge of, and affection for, the culture of the region.

Contents
Dedication
Introduction by Mark Allen
List of Illustrations
Abbreviations
Acknowledgement
The Arabic Alphabet
Forward
Technical Terms

PART ONE: THE HISTORICAL STUDY

Introduction

CHAPTER ONE
The Seven Scripts
Mu'annaq: the Missing Script
The Remaining Six Scripts
Muhaqqaq: Term and Significance
The Development of Muhaqqaq as an Independent Script

CHAPTER TWO
Muhaqqaq in the Hands of Ibn al-Bawwab and Yaqut al-Musta'simi
The Role of Ibn al-Bawwab in the Development of Muhaqqaq
The Role of Ibn al-Bawwab in the Major Scripts
Ibn al- Bawwab and Muhaqqaq
A Study of the Individual Letters of Muhaqqaq in the Diwan
The Role of Yaqut al-Musta'simi in Muhaqqaq
Yaqut and the Major Scripts
Yaqut's Disciples
Yaqut's Technique in Muhaqqaq

CHAPTER THREE
Muhaqqaq as Mushaf Script
The Flourishing of ibn al-Bawwab's School in Muhaqqaq
The Flourishing of Yaqut's School in Muhaqqaq
Muhaqqaq in Architecture - Monumental Inscriptions

CHAPTER FOUR
The Artistic Features of Muhaqqaq
The General Features of Muhaqqaq
The Muhaqqaq Pen
Distinguisshing between Scripts - Difficulties and Confusions

CHAPTER FIVE
Qarahisari: Life and Influence on the Development of Muhaqqaq and the Ottoman School
The Ottomans Abandon Muhaqqaq
Reasons for Choosing the Mushaf of Qarahisari
The Story of the Mushaf
Description of the Mushaf

Conclusion
Glossary of the Arabic Terms
Bibliography


PART TWO: THE ARTISTIC APPLICATIONS

PROJECT ONE: The Muhaqqaq Copybook
Introduction
A Historical Background
Training as a Calligrapher
Muhaqqaq Copybook
Technical Terms
Study of the Alphabet
The Art Work of the Muhaqqaq Copybook (al-Mashq)

PROJECT TWO: Muhaqqaq Panels
A Historical Background
The Presentation of the Muhaqqaq Panels

PROJECT THREE: Muhaqqaq in Architecture
Inscriptions for the Mausoleum of the Martyrs of the Arab Army-Jordan
The Story of the Project
The Implementation
Details from the Ink Work
Section from the Edited Work
Images of the Finished Work