TA'LIQ SCRIPT

in Arabic calligraphy, cursive style of lettering developed in Iran in the 10th century. It is thought to have been the creation of Hasan ibn Husain Ali of Fars, but, because Khawaja Abdul Mali Buk made such vast improvements, the invention is often attributed to him. The rounded forms and exaggerated horizontal strokes that characterize the ta'liq letters were derived primarily from the riqa' script. The ornateness and sloping quality of the written line had roots in the towqi script of Ibn Muqla (died 940). Designed specifically to meet the needs of the Persian language, ta'liq was used widely for royal as well as daily correspondence until the 14th century, when it was replaced by nasta'liq. See nasta'liq script.