IBN AL-BAWWAB

born 10th century, , Iraq died 1022 or 1031, Baghdad in full Abu Al-hasan 'ali Ibn Hilal Ibn Al-bawwab, also called Ibn As-sitri Arabic calligrapher of the 'Abbasid Age (7501258) who reputedly invented the cursive rayhani and muhaqqaq scripts. He refined several of the calligraphic styles invented a century earlier by Ibn Muqlah, including the naskhi and tawqi scripts, and collected and preserved for his students numerous original manuscripts of that master. Ibn al-Bawwab was from a poor family: the name he is known by means literally son of the doorkeeper. Nevertheless, he received a thorough education in law and is said to have known the Qur'an by heart. Ibn al-Bawwab's interest in calligraphy was inspired by Muhammad ibn Asad and was developed under Muhammad ibn Samsamani, both of whom were students of Ibn Muqlah. Altogether, Ibn al-Bawwab reputedly produced 64 copies of the Qur'an by hand. One of the most beautiful in the rayhani script is in the Laleli Mosque in Istanbul, a gift of the Ottoman Sultan Selim I (14701512). Ibn al-Bawwab was recognized as a master in his own time; his school of calligraphy lasted until Baghdad fell to the Mongol invaders more than two centuries after his death.