IBN MUQLAH

in full Abu 'ali Muhammad Ibn 'ali Ibn Muqlah born 886, Baghdad died 940, Baghdad one of the foremost calligraphers of the 'Abbasid Age (7501258), reputed inventor of the first cursive style of Arabic lettering, the naskhi script, which replaced the angular Kufic as the standard of Islamic calligraphy. In the naskhi script Ibn Muqlah introduced the rounded forms and curved lines that in later styles were refined to give Arabic writing the flowing beauty for which it is renowned. Although naskhi was originally intended for use in copying the Qur'an, by the 11th century it was used widely for royal and common correspondence and as architectural decoration. Among the other scripts invented by Ibn Muqlah were the tawqi and the more elegant thuluth. In addition to his calligraphic work, Ibn Muqlah led a colourful political life. He was appointed vizier three times, and three times he lost that office for being involved in political intrigue. The third time, he was sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 940.