Ibn Muqla: The Father Of Arabic Calligraphy
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
“I labored in the service of the caliphs and twice transcribed the Qur’aan, yet they cut it [my hand] off as if it had been the hand of a thief.”
Abu Ali Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muqla Al Shiraz
Ibn Muqla, renowned as one of the most significant figures in the realm of Arabic calligraphy, lived during the flourishing period of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century Baghdad. His life, marked by scholarly pursuits, governmental service, and artistic innovation, has left an indelible mark on the history of Arabic calligraphy, influencing generations of artists and calligraphers.
Born in Baghdad around 885 CE, Ibn Muqla’s early life was shaped by the intellectual and cultural ambiance of the Abbasid court, where scholars, poets, and artists thrived. His family background, likely with ties to administrative circles, provided him with opportunities for education and exposure to the arts. Gifted with intellect and a keen eye for aesthetics, Ibn Muqla soon found himself drawn to the world of calligraphy, which was not merely an art form but also held deep cultural and religious significance in the Islamic world.
Ibn Muqla’s talent and dedication to calligraphy caught the attention of the Abbasid caliphs, particularly Caliph Al-Mu’tadid, who recognized his potential and appointed him to various administrative positions. It was during his tenure in these roles that Ibn Muqla introduced significant reforms to the Arabic script, standardizing its various styles and shapes, thus laying the groundwork for what later became known as the Al Aqlam Al Sitta, six selected scripts of Arabic calligraphy.
One of Ibn Muqla’s most enduring contributions to the art of calligraphy was his development of the Naskh script, a refined and elegant style characterized by its legibility and geometric precision. This script, with its balanced proportions and flowing curves, became widely adopted for writing manuscripts, official documents, and inscriptions, and remains influential to this day.
In addition to his administrative duties and calligraphic innovations, Ibn Muqla was also a scholar of linguistics and grammar. He wrote treatises on the Arabic language, exploring its grammar, syntax, and morphology, and his insights continue to inform linguistic studies in the Arabic-speaking world.
Despite his accomplishments, Ibn Muqla’s life was not without challenges. Political turmoil and court intrigues often disrupted the stability of the Abbasid Caliphate, and Ibn Muqla found himself embroiled in power struggles and rivalries. At times, he faced accusations of treason and fell out of favor with the ruling elite.
According to his biographer Ibn Khallikan, Ibn Muqla began his government service career as a tax collector in the city of Fars. His rise to power in the central government came in 908, under the patronage of the powerful vizier Abul Hasan Ali ibn Al Furat, who appointed him in charge of official dispatches. However, during the rule of Ibn Raa’iq, things did not go so well for Ibn Muqla.
Ibn Raa’iq had Ibn Muqla imprisoned, and later ordered for his hand to be cut off.
One of the doctors who attended Ibn Muqla during this terrible ordeal later related this anecdote:
I went to see him [Ibn Muqla] when he was in that state, and he asked me news of his son Abu al-Husain. I informed him that he was concealed in a place of safety, and these words gave him great comfort. He then began to lament and weep for the loss of his hand. “I labored,” said he, “in the service of the caliphs and twice transcribed the Qur’aan, Yet they cut it off [my hand] as if it had been the hand of a thief.”
I endeavored to console him, saying that it would be the last of his afflictions and that no other mutilation would befall him. To this he replied by the following verse:
“When a part of you perishes, weep for the loss of another part; for one part is near to another.”
Ibn Khallikan has written that Ibn Muqla later devised a way to write with the stump of his hand, but the loss of a hand is still the loss of a hand, and he would often grieve this loss.
Venting his grief, he has said,
“To act thus I was not weary of existence, but I trusted to their good faith and lost my right hand.
To obtain worldly rank, I sold to them my spiritual welfare, and they deprived me of one and of the other.
I used all my efforts to preserve their lives, but mine they did not preserve.
After the loss of my right hand, there is no pleasure in life; my right hand is gone! Depart you also, O my soul!”
Shortly after, even while the army of the Turkish general Bajkam was approaching Baghdad to depose Ibn Raaiq, his tongue was cut. Despite Bajkam’s success, Ibn Muqla remained in prison, where he died on 20 July 940.
However, his reputation as a scholar and artist ultimately prevailed, and he continued to exert influence through his writings and artistic endeavors.
Ibn Muqla’s legacy extends far beyond his own lifetime. His contributions to Arabic calligraphy not only transformed the art form but also contributed to the standardization and preservation of the Arabic script. His Naskh script, in particular, remains one of the most widely used styles in calligraphic practice, cherished for its beauty and readability. In conclusion, Ibn Muqla’s life exemplifies the intersection of art, scholarship, and public service in the golden age of Islamic civilization. Through his visionary reforms and artistic achievements, he left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire and enrich the world of calligraphy to this day.
