The
Persians used to use the Fahlawi script, which originated in the
city of Fehla, which lies between Hamdan, Asfahan, and Azerbaijan.
When Persia was conquered, Persians were introduced to Arabic
letters and Arabic became their official handwriting. The Arabic
letters replaced the Fahlawi script and it then became known as
Ta`liq (cursive) due to its cursive style and horizontal forms.
At
the beginning of the third century after the Hijrah, after
consolidating their position in both Persia and Iraq, the Abbasid
Dynasty showed deep interest in Arabic calligraphy. They tended to
write in Naskh and they decorated the letters with excessive
decoration, to an extent that gave their script a particular
character. The Persian script was used in the writing of literature
and poetry books; whereas books of Hadith were written in Naskh.
The
Persians excelled in the cursive scripts. They added ornaments and
decorations that made the script unique with its beautiful inclined
letters. Letters changed in length and thickness according to the
taste of the artist and the thickness of the pen. Letters were
unique for their accuracy and extension and they bore no formations.
Persian script was used to write the titles of books and letters,
and is widely used in Iran, India, and Afghanistan.
Types
of Persian Script
1.
The Ordinary Persian: Known in our time in foreign countries as
Al-Ta`liq.
2.
The Shikista script: This is small and very difficult to read or
to write. This kind of handwriting does not follow the ordinary
rules of handwriting, but has its own rules. Shiksta means
“broken” in Persian and in Turkish it means “the cursive
formula.” This kind of handwriting is rather an enigma, a
complicated riddle. It is even hard for Arabs to decipher
writings in that script; whereas in Persia, only those who have
mastered it can understand it.
3.
Shikista Emir: This is a combination of the two types, the
Ordinary and the Shikista. It is less enigmatic than the other
kind. Manuscripts, texts of legislative documents, and books of
literature and poetry were written in Shikista Emir and
ornamented with golden decorations.
