Diwani

Arab World

This article is part of the series: Arab Culture

Religion Arab Muslims Arab Christians Arab Jews/Mizrahi Jews

Calligraphy Naskh Diwani Ruq'ah Thuluth Hijazi Muhaqqaq Maghribi Kufic Mashq Jawi Nastaʿlīq Pseudo-Kufic Pegon Architecture Moorish Fatimid Ayyubid Somali Mamluk Styles Mashrabiya Muqarnas Arabesque Windcatcher Gardens Features Minaret Maqsurah Mihrab Sahen Dikka Iwan Domes Sabil Mosaic Ribat Textiles Khayameia Arabic Rugs Prayer rug Black Stone

Literature Classical Epic stories Saj (ryhmed prose) Tafsir (commentary) Arabian Nights The Book of the Apple Sindbad Bayad and Riyad Music Book Book of Examples Book of Animals Maqamat Al-Hamadhani Nashiri

Poetry Arūḍ Kharja Zajal Noha Wasf Hamasah Mu'allaqat Mufaddaliyat Basit Ghazal Ghinnawa Modern Arabic Poetry Bohoor Al-Shi'r

Music Arabic Maqam Arab tone system Andalusi nubah Qasidah Muwashshah Taqsim Sama'i Dulab Liwa Maqam al-iraqi Bashraf Tahmilah Sawt Malhun Fijiri Beledi Iqa' Dawr Zaffa Taqtuqa Wazn Waslah

Cuisine Khalij (Persian Gulf) Mashriq (Levant) Arab Mawsit (Egypt) Arab Maghrib (North Africa) Somali cuisine

Politics Arab League Arab Union Arab Maghreb Union GCC Arab World Pan-Arabism Pan-Somalism Israel Jews Arab Unity Human rights Arab socialism Nasserism Ba'athism Jamahiriya Arab nationalism Arab Diaspora Palestinian Diaspora Afro-Arab USA Argentina Australia Brazil UK Bulgaria Haiti Venezuela Colombia France Mexico Pakistan Netherlands Singapore Turkey

Geography Regions Maghrib Mashriq Nile Valley Gulf states Bilad Al-Berber Bab-el-Mandeb' Deserts Sahara Algerian Desert Libyan Desert Nubian Desert White Desert Bayuda Desert Arabian Desert Rub' al Khali Syrian Desert An Nafud Negev Ad-Dahna Desert

Arabic Language Pre-Islamic Arabic Ancient North Arabian Ancient South Arabian Nabataean language Classical Arabic Modern Arabic Maghrebi (Western) Mawsiti (Central) Mashriq (Eastern) Khaliji (Southern)

Dress Headwear Keffiyeh Agal Taqiyah Tarboush Turban Bisht Clothing Thawb Jellabiya Abaya Sirwal Turban Kaftan Tantour Takchita Jilbāb Macawis v · d · e

Diwani is a calligraphic variety of Arabic script, a cursive style developed during the reign of the early Ottoman Turks (16th century - early 17th century). It was invented by Housam Roumi and reached its height of popularity under Süleyman I the Magnificent (1520–1566).

It was labeled the Diwani script because it was used in the Ottoman diwan and was one of the secrets of the sultan's palace. The rules of this script were not known to everyone, but confined to its masters and a few bright students. It was used in the writing of all royal decrees, endowments, and resolutions.

The Diwani script is divided into two types:

1. The Riq`a Diwani style, which is devoid of any decorations and whose lines are straight, except for the lower parts of the letters.

2. The Jeli Diwani or clear style. This kind of handwriting is distinguished by the intertwining of its letters and its straight lines from top to bottom. It is punctuated and decorated to appear as one piece. The Diwani handwriting is known for the intertwining of its letters, which makes it very difficult to read or write, and difficult to forge.

Diwani is marked by beauty and harmony, and accurate small samples are considered more beautiful than larger ones. It is still used in the correspondence of kings, princes, presidents, and in ceremonies and greeting cards. and has a high artistic value.