The Arabic language is part of the Semitic family of languages which the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac languages belong to. However, Arabic and Hebrew are the only Semitic languages that are still used today in oral and written forms. Arabic, which is composed of 28 letters (mostly consonants), is written from right to left with the letters connected much like English cursive. Many of the letters are similar in appearance, but are differentiated from one another by dots -- from one to three at most.
Arabic is the official language of twenty countries from North Africa to the Arabian peninsula. With more than 220 million inhabitants in that region, it is among the top ten languages of the world in terms of numbers of speakers. Today, the Arabic language can be described as having three forms: (1) Classical Arabic, which is the language of the Quran, the Islamic holy book (2) Colloquial or spoken Arabic, which is the Arabic language that is used on a daily basis and which varies from region to region, and (3) Modern Standard Arabic, which is used in literature, books, television, and newspapers.
Arabic Calligraphy Script and It's Relationship to Islam
Arabic is regarded as a divine language since it is in this language that God chose to reveal his message in the holy Quran. Although Arabic existed long before Islam, Arabic Calligraphy really became an art form because of Islam. The calligraphy contained verses from the Quran, and also from Hadeeth, the sayings of the Prophet. With the rise of Islam came a new artistic expression that flourished like never before. While other faiths used images or figures in religious art, Islam discouraged the use of images of humans or animals in religious depictions. Images like those were regarded as idolatrous, and continue to be regarded as such today. Rather than displaying images of beings, Islamic Calligraphy utilizes letters, words, and shapes in various colors and sizes to express the divine message of Islam. While the calligraphy is most often found in the interior or exterior of mosques (Islamic places of worship), it can also be seen over the main entrance of homes, and adorning many objects of art (vases, plaques, etc.)
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