How to Read Arabic Calligraphy on Wall Art, Even If You Don't Read Arabic
Many people who love Islamic calligraphy cannot read it fluently, and even fluent readers of Arabic are sometimes puzzled by a composition where the words are stacked, interlaced or wound into a circle. You do not need to be a scholar to find your way around a piece. A few basics go a long way.
Start on the right
Arabic is written and read from right to left. In a simple line of script, the first word is at the right-hand end. In a set of panels, the text usually begins on the right-hand panel. This one fact explains why Islamic art often feels as if it moves leftwards.
Letters change shape
Arabic has 28 letters, and most of them join to the letter after. A letter can look different at the start, in the middle and at the end of a word. Many letters share the same basic shape and are told apart only by dots: one dot below, two above, three above. If you are comparing a painting with a printed text, counting dots is the quickest check.
The small marks
- Vowel marks. Short strokes and small loops above and below the letters show the short vowels. The Quran is normally written with all of them.
- Decorative marks. In ornate scripts, calligraphers add small shapes to fill gaps and balance the design. They are not letters and are not read.
- The honorific. A tiny, tightly written phrase after the name of the Prophet ﷺ stands for “peace and blessings be upon him”.
When the words are stacked
In formal display scripts, especially the bold thuluth used on mosques and on the Kiswah, words are often placed above one another to make a compact, balanced shape. Such compositions are frequently read from the bottom upwards, and sometimes the order is rearranged for the sake of the design. This is a recognised art, not a mistake. It does mean that even Arabic speakers may need a moment, or the reference, to read a piece.
Recognising a few words
- Allah. Look for three tall strokes followed by a small loop. Once you can spot it, you will see it everywhere. Read our article on Allah calligraphy.
- The Basmala. Many pieces open with it at the top or on the right. Its long sweeping first word is easy to recognise. See the Bismillah page.
- Muhammad ﷺ. A compact word with two rounded letters at the start.
- Verse markers. Small circles or rosettes mark the end of each verse.
Know the script
The style of writing tells you how to approach it. Angular Kufic is built from straight lines. Naskh is small, clear and the easiest to read, which is why Qurans are printed in it. Thuluth is large and interlaced. Nasta'liq hangs diagonally and is the script of Urdu and Persian poetry. Our guide to Arabic calligraphy scripts shows each one, and the glossary explains the terms.
How to check the text on a painting
- Ask for the reference. A seller should be able to tell you the surah and verse number, or the source of a dua.
- Compare with a trusted text. Open the verse in a printed mushaf or in our Verse Library and compare word by word, counting dots.
- Ask for a straight, sharp photograph. Angled photographs hide small errors.
- Ask someone who reads Arabic. A second pair of eyes is worth having before a verse goes on your wall.
A correct text matters more than any other quality in a calligraphy painting. A reputable studio will welcome the question.
Enjoy it anyway
Calligraphy has always been admired for its form as well as its meaning. People who could not read stood in front of mosque inscriptions for centuries and were moved by them. Learn what your piece says, learn where it starts, and then let yourself simply look. The history of Islamic calligraphy tells how the art developed.