Mosque calligraphy

Islamic Mosque calligraphy is calligraphy that can be found in and out of a mosque, typically in combination with Arabesque motifs. Arabesque is a form of Islamic art known for its repetitive geometric forms creating beautiful decorations. These geometric shapes often include Arabic calligraphy written on walls and ceilings inside and outside of mosques.

The subject of these writings can be derived from different sources in Islam. It can be derived from the written words of the Qur'an or from the oral traditions relating to the words and deeds of Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

There is a beatiful harmony between the inscriptions and the functions of the mosque. Specific surahs (chapters) or ayats (verses) from Koran are inscribed in accordance with functions of specific architectural elements. For example, on the domes you can find the Nour ayat (the divine stress on light) written, above the main entrance you find verses related to the entrances of the paradise, on the windows the divine names of Allah are inscribed so that reflection of the sun rays through those windows remind the believer that Allah manifests Himself upon the universe in all high qualities.

Istanbul Suleymaniye Mosque

Commonly used in mosques:

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim is the most common phrase found in mosques. It means: "In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate."

Allah & Muhammad

Allah is Arabic for One God and Muhammad is the last of the prophets in Islam. Both Allah and Muhammad are almost always found inside mosques as a reminder of the religion's main beliefs..

It is also customary to see the names of four caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman and Ali and also Hassan and Hussein, the grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad.

In the Ottoman mosques there are also calligraphic plates which contain verses, hadithes (Prophetic sayings), as well as exalted poetry