Next to geometric patterns an flower patterns sometimes walls are decorated with calligraphy. Popular is the so-called square Kufic script gebruikt, named after the city of Kufa in the south of Iraq. This way of writing isn't limited to architecture. [br]you find more about it on this [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufic]Wikipedia[/url] page or [url=http://www.sakkal.com/instrctn/Instruction.html]Arabic calligraphy[/url].[br]Very interesting too is the site [url=http://www.kufic.info/default.htm]http://www.kufic.info/default.htm[/url].

This last site explains the principles of the kufic script.[br]Calligraphy in kufic is often created within a grid, often a square with an odd number of rows and colums. Text is written so that empty space is avoided. Herefore letter can be extended. Longer text can be written as a spiral to the center. This makes them difficult to read, but that's not important in kufic calligraphy.

An illustration of such a spiral can be found on a mausoleum of de Shah-i-Zinda cemetry in Samarkand from 1361. The text is the compete surah 112.[br]The verses of the surah are written as a spiral so that the whole surah matches the surface of the square. Between two filled cells in the grid there's never more than one empty cell.[br][br]Say, “He is God, the One.[br]God, the Absolute.[br]He begets not, nor was He begotten.[br]And there is none comparable to Him.”[br][br]Qul huwa Allahu ahad[br]Allahu assamad[br]Lam yalid walam yoelad[br]Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad

What can be recognised in squarekufic writing by layman are the names of Allah and Muhammad.[br]But even in them small adaptations are possible when writing them within longer texts.[br]On their own you can easily recognise them.

A virtuoso example of square kufic is to be found on the Mir Chaqmaq mosque in Jazd (Iran).[br]Within the caligraphic lines of the names of Allah and Muhammad a second calligraphy is written. In the name of Allah you can find the complete text of surah 1 and in the name of Muhammad you can find the names of the 12 imams.

On the [url=https://https://www.geogebra.org/m/kxp4qekc#material/s7hqpt6b]Friday mosque of Isfahan[/url] within a square lines are drawn creating a smaller square and four kites. [br]In these sqare and kites the desiger wrotes a text, refering to Ali, while the thick lines are filled with a geometric pattern:[br][br][table][tr][td](lower left)[/td][td]When our crimes were listed out[/td][/tr][tr][td](upper left )[/td][td]Taken with and weighted on the balance of the deeds[/td][/tr][tr][td](upper right)[/td][td]Our guilt was the heaviest of all, but[/td][/tr][tr][td](lower right)[/td][td]Forgiveness was given to us thanks to the love of Ali.[/td][/tr][tr][td](middle)[/td][td]Created by Mohammad Hossein ibn Mohammad Ghawami[/td][/tr][/table]Writing ones name as a tag within a loner text is not unusual.