Muhaqqaq
(Pronounced “moo-huk-uk”; Turkish–Muhakkak; Persian–Mohaqqaq)
Meaning
- “Muhaqqaq” means “fully-realized,” and “strongly expressed”
Uses
- Muhaqqaq was used throughout the Islamic world to write fine, large Qur’ans or architectural inscriptions
Companion script
- Muhaqqaq is most often written in conjunction with rayhani, which is a smaller version of the same script.
Timeline
- Developed in the 10th century
- Refined by Şeyh Hamdullah in the 15th century
- Yielded its place to Thuluth at the end of the 17th century
- Muhaqqaq is mostly obsolete today, but by tradition is still used to write the bismillah (an Islamic phrase meaning, “In the name of God, most gracious, most compassionate”)
Distinctive characteristics
- Precise, angular script with upright letters
- Carefully balanced ascenders and horizontal letters
- Strong horizontal emphasis (wider than it is shorter)
- Descending strokes end in a straight, sharp points rather than turning upwards in a hook
- Descending round strokes often encircle the following letter
![Fragment of a Qur’an folio, Sura 3:85-86](https://www.calligraphyqalam.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/FS-7430_35-1024x637.jpg)
![Folio from a Qur’an, sura 79:7-39; sura 80:1-19](https://www.calligraphyqalam.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/FS-8273_24-801x1024.jpg)
![Qur’an Fragment](https://www.calligraphyqalam.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/976_qur-0413-50b-51a-1024x660.jpg)
![Detached folio from a Qur’an, sura 11:61-71](https://www.calligraphyqalam.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/FS-6591_07-1024x754.jpg)