The famous calligrapher and vizier, Ibn Muqlah al-Baghdadi ash-Shirazi

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On July 20, 940 AD, the famous calligrapher and vizier, Abu Ali Mohammad Ibn Ali Ibn Muqlah al-Baghdadi ash-Shirazi, was torturously executed by the Abbasid regime in his hometown Baghdad at the age of 56. He is regarded as inventor of the "thuluth" script, the first cursive style of Arabic, though none of his original works remains. By age 22 he was a scribe, and held two important jobs as a government official. He was the vizier three times under the various Abbasid caliphs between 928 and 936. He was imprisoned three times during periods of political turmoil. During one imprisonment, his enemies cut off his right hand. When released, he continued to work with great skill using his left hand.
Finally, he was publicly disgraced, his left hand was severed, his tongue cut, and he was cast into prison where he died. Ibn Muqlah perfected his theory of “al-Khatt al-Mansoub” (Proportioned Script), by which the basic letter-shapes of written Arabic could be controlled. His work was a major milestone in the history of Arabic penmanship. The principles he laid down transformed Arabic script from rudimentary Kufic strokes to a harmoniously structured art form. The order and beauty which Ibn Muqlah devised as visual criteria for the formation of Arabic letter-shapes constituted, first and foremost, an act of worship. The art form into which he converted the execution of written Arabic was one considered truly compatible with preserving and conveying the Word of God as revealed in the Holy Quran. Along with Ibn al-Bawwab and Yaqut al-Musta'simi, he is considered the founder of innovative styles of calligraphy. Among his valuable books, mention can be made of “Risalah fi Ilm al-Khat wa'l-Qalam”.