Islamic Interior Design Employing Arabic Calligraphy as A Major Decorative Element in Islamic Interior Design

Employing Arabic Calligraphy as A Major Decorative Element

Abstract

Throughout the ages, the Muslim architect used several styles of decoration and ornamentation, such as geometric and floral ornaments and Arabic calligraphy, to show the interior design of religious buildings and mosques in the best possible way. But Arabic calligraphy has taken a very special position among all forms of decoration because it has formal characteristics and intrinsic value as it draws and depicts the words of the Almighty Creator and the honorable prophetic hadiths, in addition to documenting some events and situations in Islamic history.

This research paper began with a historical review of the use of writings and fonts in the interior design of pre-Islamic civilizations with an explanation of the purposes and benefits of that use. Then the researcher made a historical review of the use of Arabic calligraphy in the interior design of buildings and mosques in the various Islamic eras, starting from the Umayyad era and passing through the Abbasid, Mamluk, and Ottoman eras until the modern era. Later, this paper discussed the future of Islamic interior design and the importance of Arabic calligraphy as a decorative pattern in preserving Islamic heritage and its continuity for future generations. Finally, the study concluded with the results and recommendations.