Maghrebi script

Maghrebi script from a 13th-century northern African Qur'an

Maghrebi (or Maghribi) script is a cursive form of the Arabic alphabet influenced by Kufic letters that developed in the Maghreb (North Africa) and later in Spain, particularly Andalusia. The Maghrebi script can be divided in five other sub/scripts:

1. The Kufic Maghrebi (the forerunner) see e.g. inscription on Bab Agnaou in Marrakesh.
   • An example from al-Andalus: an ablutions basin with Maghrebi Kufic inscription, from 988, Umayyad
2. Mabsout script, used to write the Quran.
3. Mojawher script, mainly used by the king to announce laws.
4. Thuluth Maghrebi script.
5. Mosnad script mainly used by courts and notaries in writing marriage contracts.

Surah Al-Baqarah in Middle Eastern and Maghrebi cursive

References

• O. Houdas, "Essai sur l'écriture maghrebine", in Nouveaux mélanges orientaux, IIe série vol. xix., Publications des Langues Vivantes Orientales (Paris 1886)
• N. van den Boogert, on the origin of Maghribi script

External links

• Islamic calligraphy
• Arabic article
• Example of a Quran in Maghrebi script