​​The Structures of Arabic Writing Inscriptions: Insights from the Tombstones of the Fatimid Dynasty, Aswan - Egypt

Authors : Safaa S. Jahameh , Al Fahmawee Emad Al Dein , Nashat I. Al Khawaldeh , & Asma A. Sayed

Abstract : In the past, plenty of materials and tools such as pens, ink, parchments, and rulers have been used for Arabic writing in Islamic manuscripts. Arabic writing became standardized, described based more on geometry during the Islamic civilization. This indicates the qualitative development and the importance of Arabic writing in the Islamic-Arabic book craft industry. Many suggest that different types of grid rulers have been used to structure the Arabic writings in Islamic manuscripts. In this context, this paper explores the structure of Arabic writing on stones. It is based on the hypothesis that Arabic writing structures in stones are similar to Arabic writing structures in the manuscripts. This paper applies a geometrical analytical process to identify a structural tool used to structure the Arabic writing in a stone, similar to the geometrical analysis method that was used before in the Islamic manuscripts. It explores and discusses the outcomes of the analysis using an objective observation method. It concludes that a grid ruler used to structure the Arabic writings in stone is analogous to the grid ruler used in the Islamic manuscripts. This paper is the first to discuss the structure of Arabic writing found on a stone in the Fatimid dynasty

Keywords : Arabic writing, structure, geometry, inscriptions, grid, ruler, Fatimid dynasty.

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​​​​​​​​GEOMETRICAL STRUCTURE OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPTS: A CASE STUDY OF KALILA AND DEMNA ILLUSTRATIONS

Authors : ​Dr. Safaa Jahameh

Abstract : This study discusses the geometrical structure of Islamic illustrations. Many theories suggest that Islamic illustration uses particular structures, including those based on spirals and proportion; however, these theories generally only relate the structure of such illustrations to sacred Islamic symbolism without reviewing the craft of illustration or the skills of the illustrators. Many researchers studying Islamic manuscripts, including Deroche, who studied Islamic codicology, have instead highlighted the range of tools used in Islamic civilisation, pointing out that many geometrical tools, some of which are no longer extant, were used by book craftsmen, including multiple kinds of rulers (Mastara). Diverse studies have thus used geometrical analyses to study Islamic manuscripts; Polosin studied the geometry of an illuminated folio in a Quranic manuscript and found that Islamic craftsmen at that time were aware of geometry and page structure, while George studied early Quranic manuscripts and identified a structural system used in the design of Arabic calligraphy and page structure. These researchers also concluded that certain geometrical tools used by craftsmen in Islamic civilisation are unidentified today. This study thus explores the geometrical structure of Kalila and Demna illustration in Islamic manuscripts, these being examples of the key illustration types of two different time periods, the 14th century and the 16th century. This paper examines eight folios from each manuscript, analysing them geometrically both to ascertain any geometrical relationship between the manuscripts and to determine whether geometrical proportion was being used at the time of production. Moreover, the paper investigates any potential cues that may suggest the illustrators were using geometrical tools.

Keywords : illustrations, geometry, structure, proportion, Islamic manuscript, Islamic codicology.

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Research Title 

Ornamentation Design of Al- Raba’a Al-Maghribia Manuscript at the Islamic Museu

Jerusalem 

Authors : ​​Dr. Safaa Jahameh​

Islamic civilization has many archaeologies and manuscripts that have not been revealed yet, or less recognized or studied. AlRaba’a Al Magibia manuscript is one of those manuscripts, which is available at the Islamic Museum in Jerusalem. In it, the geometry craft of the Islamic civilizations is used in the structure of ornamentation. As in Islamic art, ornamentations are considered the simplified structure for all the visual elements in the Islamic visual heritage. Ornamentations are found in Manuscripts as well as in architecture. This study aims to introduce and to reveal the beauty of ornamentations found in Al-Raba’a Al- Magiribia. Its objective is to explore the geometrical structure of Islamic ornamentation in AlRaba’a Magribia, this paper proposes a theory that ornamentations which are located in the frontispieces of each volume in the manuscript are structured based on one of the four classifications. In order to explore this theory, the study uses the geometrical analysis method based on visual detection usually used for a photographed manuscript or an archaeological item. The paper presents the manuscript and its’ ornamentations.

Keywords : Al-Raba’a, Frontispiece, Geometry, Manuscript, Ornamentation.​

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​​​​​Research Title :GEOMETRICAL STRUCTURE OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPTS: A CASE STUDY OF KALILA AND DEMNA ILLUSTRATIONS

Authors :Safaa Jahameh ​

Abstract :Islamic illustration uses particular structures, including those based on spirals and proportion; however, these theories generally only relate the structure of such illustrations to sacred Islamic symbolism without reviewing the craft of illustration or the skills of the illustrators. Many researchers studying Islamic manuscripts, including Deroche, who studied Islamic codicology, have instead highlighted the range of tools used in Islamic civilisation, pointing out that many geometrical tools, some of which are no longer extant, were used by book craftsmen, including multiple kinds of rulers (Mastara). Diverse studies have thus used geometrical analyses to study Islamic manuscripts; Polosin studied the geometry of an illuminated folio in a Quranic manuscript and found that Islamic craftsmen at that time were aware of geometry and page structure, while George studied early Quranic manuscripts and identified a structural system used in the design of Arabic calligraphy and page structure. These researchers also concluded that certain geometrical tools used by craftsmen in Islamic civilisation are unidentified today. This study thus explores the geometrical structure of Kalila and Demna illustration in Islamic manuscripts, these being examples of the key illustration types of two different time periods, the 14th century and the 16th century. This paper examines eight folios from each manuscript, analysing them geometrically both to ascertain any geometrical relationship between the manuscripts and to determine whether geometrical proportion was being used at the time of production. Moreover, the paper investigates any potential cues that may suggest the illustrators were using geometrical tools

Keywords :: illustrations, geometry, structure, proportion, Islamic manuscript, Islamic codicology

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