Ruqʿah script

Ruqʿah or Riqʿah (Arabic: رقعة‎), is a variety of the Arabic script, primarily used in official documents and every-day writing. Not to be confused with reqaʿ—one of the six traditional arabic scripts (al-aqlām al-sittah).

Description and usage

Ruqʿah is the most common type of handwriting in the Arabic script. It is known for its clipped letters composed of short, straight lines and simple curves, as well as its straight and even lines of text. It was probably derived from the Thuluth and Naskh styles.

Unlike other types of calligraphy, ruqʿah is not considered as an art form. Instead, it is a functional style of writing that is quick to write and easy to read. Every literate Ottoman was expected to be able to use the ruqʿah.[1]

It was widely used in the Ottoman Empire.[2]

The demonstration underneath is not typical since it uses full vowels, which are rarely used in handwriting:

Gallery

• 
  1951 (Young Egypt party) Al-Ishtrakeyia Journal
• 
  A letter hand written by Jurji Zaydan
• 
  Height of the letter Alif

References

1. M. Uğur Derman, Letters in Gold: Ottoman Calligraphy from the Sakıp Sabancı Collection, Istanbul, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1998, p.20
2. "Creative Arabic Calligraphy for Beginners: Introduction". EnvatoTuts. 2014-11-10. Retrieved 2017-05-04.

See also

• Diwani
• Naskh (script)
• Nastaʿlīq script
• Taʿlīq script
• Cursive
• Handwriting