The major Islamic Calligraphers of the Arabic Scripts. Note that this list is not complete, if you find any incorrect information or like to contribute please send us an e-mail, thank you.
 

Mahmud Celaleddin

His date of birth is uncertain but he is known to have been born in Daghistan and to have arrived in Istanbul with his father Sheikh Murad Effendi at a very early age. Although his interest in calligraphy led him to apply to several calligraphers for lessons he was of such a difficult disposition that no one would accept him as a pupil and he was obliged to teach himself the art of calligraphy by examining calligraphic models and karalamas by the great masters.

In Naskhi he followed Hafiz Osman while in Thuluth and Jeli he created an individual style of his own. His wife Esma Ibret Hanim was also a calligrapher of great merit. He died in 1245 H. and was buried in the cemetery of the Sheikh Murad Tekke (dervish lodge) at Eyup.

Esma Ibret Hanim

She was a calligrapher of great merit and the wife of calligrapher Mahmud Celaleddin.

Mustafa Izzet

Learned Thuluth and Naskhi from the calligrapher Mustafa Vasif  and Ta'Iiq from Yesarizade Mustafa Izzet. He received an icazet from both his teachers. He had a very fine voice and also practiced music. He was appointed to the Saray imamlik during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid.

He produced eleven copies of the Quran, a number of Delails and Al-Anaams, some two hundred Hilyes and a number of panels in a very fine Naskhi in the style of Hafiz Osman. He was responsible for the large round panels in the Ayasofya Museum.

He had a large number of pupils, and trained some very fine calligraphers including Mehmed Sefik Bey, Muhsinzade Abdullah, Abdulahad Vahdeti, Abdullah Zühdü, Kayiszade Osman Nuri, Arif of Carsamba, Mehmed Hilmi and Ilmi .

Abdullah Zühdü 

Mehmed Sefik Bey

Kayiszade Osman Nuri

Abdulahad Vahdeti Effendi 

A pupil of Abdullah Zühdü.

Abdullfettah 

Born on the island of Chios in 1230 H. He was brought to Istanbul at a very early age and educated under the patronage of Husrev Pasha. He learned Thuluth, Jeli and Naskhi from calligrapher Mustafa Sakir Effendi and received his Icazet in 1847. He was employed first in the Secretariat of the Grand Vizier and subsequently in various government posts in Anatolia.

In 1857 he was appointed designer of coins in the Imperial Mint, and was sent to Vienna and Paris for further professional training. He died in Vanikoy in 1314 H. and was buried in the garden belonging to the tomb of Sultan Mahmud.

Ali of Circir (Haydar Bey)

Learned Thuluth and Jeli from Mustafa Izzet's favorite pupil Mehmed Sefik Bey. He produced some very fine compositions and was one of the most highly regarded masters of the time, gaining very considerable renown.

Yahya Hilmi 

He was born in Istanbul in 1249 H. He learned the art of calligraphy from Hasim Effendi, a pupil of Rakim, and Halil Zühdü Effendi. His Thuluth, and more particularly his Naskhi, were remarkable for their perfection of style and attractive appearance. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts contains a very large-scale Quran. He was a very rapid writer. This great calligrapher died in 1325 H. and was buried in the graveyard of Selimiye Mosque.

ISLAMIC ART

Glossary

Icazet: The diploma awarded by the teacher to a student of calligraphy. This was awarded after the examination of a piece of calligraphy written by the student in the presence of several teachers of the art. A student could not sign his work until he had received his icazet.

Al-Anaam: A small book containing the Sura of Al-Anaam #6 of the Quran, together with several prayers.

Hilye: A name given to a calligraphic composition set within a definite frame and describing the features and qualities of the Prophet in accordance with the tradition handed down.

Istif: A complex calligraphic composition in which the letters composing the words are arranged one on top of the other.

Karalama: Homework (work performed by student outside school).

Kazasker: The head of the kadis (governors of various districts) in the Ottoman State. The kazasker participated in the councils of the viziers held under the chairmanship of the Sadrazam (Grand Vizier).

Murak'ka: This name is given to a type of cardboard formed by sticking firm, rather thick sheets of paper one on top of the other. Kit'as or other pieces of writing are stuck on to these and the margins decorated. The term Murak'ka is applied to a calligraphic album made up of a number of kit'as produced in the manner described above and connected to one another by joining the edges.

Ta'liq: A type of script invented in Iran and which always remained very closely associated with that country. It began to be used in Turkey in the second half of the eleventh century of the Hegira (sixteenth century AD.) following the arrival in Istanbul of Dervish Abdi of Bukhara, one of the pupils of mad-i Hasani, the great Iranian master of Ta'Iiq. Dervish Abdi introduced a smaller and finer version of Ta'liq known as Nesta'liq, and his influence led to a great increase in the number of calligraphers who developed an interest in Ta'Iiq and, consequently, in the number of works produced in this script.