The Origin and Development of Arabic Calligraphy between the Claims of Luxenberg and Contemporary Opinions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith, Faculty of Islamic Studies and Theology, Imam Sadiq (pbuh) University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD Candidate, Quran and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Islamic Studies and Theology, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The issue of the origins and development of scripts has occupied a number of historians and has led to extensive debates among both ancient and modern scholars. While some claim non-human origins for scripts or believe they emerged through prophets and messengers, others present views based on historical documents that reveal some ambiguities in this field. Among these scripts, Arabic calligraphy holds significant importance in human culture, sparking debate among scholars regarding its origin and historical development. This research paper aims to address this issue by examining the views of a contemporary Orientalist who claims a Syriac origin for Arabic script. The significance of this claim lies in the author's assertion that it serves as evidence for many misunderstandings of the Holy Quran, thus supporting his hypothesis regarding a Syriac-Aramaic reading of the Quran. Therefore, this study highlights the main claims of Luxenberg regarding the origins of Arabic script and compares them with the opinions of ancient Muslim scholars as well as contemporary scientists, ultimately concluding that, according to historical findings, the origin of Arabic script is the Nabataean script, which is a branch of Aramaic script, tracing back to Phoenician script, which in turn was derived from ancient Egyptian script. This research paper employs a comparative analytical method to respond to Luxenberg's claims and to substantiate its findings.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [العربیة]

نشأة الخط العربي وتطوره بين دعاوی لكسنبرغ وآراء المعاصرين

Authors [العربیة]

  • محمود كريمي 1
  • أميرحسين فراستي 2
1 أستاذ مشارک، قسم علوم القرآن و الحدیث، کلیة دراسات الإسلامیة و الشریعة، جامعة الإمام الصادق علیه‌السلام، طهران، إیران
2 طالب الدکتوراه، علوم القرآن و الحدیث، کلیة الدراسات الإسلامية والشریعة ، جامعة طهران، طهران، إيران.
Abstract [العربیة]

لقد شغلت مسألة الخطوط نشأتها وتطورها جملة من علماء التاريخ وأدت إلى نقاشات كثيرة بين المتقدمين والمتأخرين. فبينما تدعي البعض أصولا غير بشرية للخطوط أو تظنها ظهرت على أيدي الأنبياء والمرسلين(ع)، يرى الآخرون آراء تستند على الوثائق التاريخية تكشف عن بعض الغموض في هذا المجال. ومن هذه الخطوط التي تحظى بأهمية بالغة في الثقافة البشرية هي الخط العربي، والذي أثارا جدلا بين العلماء في أصله وكيفية تطوره عبر التاريخ. وتطمح هذه الورقة البحثية أن تتطرق إلى هذه المسألة حيث تتناول فيها آراء أحد المستشرقين المعاصرين، والذي يدعي أصلا سريانيا للخط العربي. وتكمن أهمية هذه الدعوى في أن المؤلف المذكور يرى ذلك دليلا على أخطاء كثيرة في فهم القرآن الكريم، ومن ثم مؤيدا لإثبات فرضيته حول قراءة سريانية – أرامية للقرآن الكريم. إذا، هذه الدراسة التي بين أيديكم تشير إلى أهم دعاوی لكسنبرغ حول نشأة الخط العربي، ويقارن بينها وبين آراء القدماء من المسلمين، وكذلك العلماء المعاصرين، ليستنتج في نهاية المطاف أن أصل الخط العربي -وفقا لِما عثر عليه علم التأريخ-هو الخط النبطي، وهو فرع من الخط الآرامي، الذي يرجع أصله إلى الخط الفينيقي، وهو مأخوذ من الخط المصري القديم. إذا، توظف هذه الورقة البحثية المنهج التحليلي المقارن في الرد على دعاوی لكسنبرغ وإثبات ما هي بصددها.

Keywords [العربیة]

  • الخط العربي
  • أصل الخط العربي
  • تطور الخط العربي
  • آراء كريستوف لكسنبرغ
  • القراءة السريانية الآرامية
  • دراسة نقدية لآراء المستشرقين
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