Qataris Embrace Persian Calligraphy After 10-Year Pause

Date: 08 October 2025 - 21:09

News ID: ۱۴۴۴۲۰

TEHRAN -- After a decade-long hiatus, the cultural diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Qatar has rekindled the luminous tradition of Nastaʿlīq script through a meticulously organized calligraphy course.
The endeavor, facilitated by the Iranian Cultural Consulate in Doha, offers a rare and exquisite window into one of Iran’s most revered artistic legacies, bringing it directly to the eager hands of Qatar’s art enthusiasts.
Taught by Abdullah Abbasi, an accomplished Iranian calligrapher residing in Qatar, the course unfolds over twelve intensive three-month sessions.
Participants are guided through the intricate “secrets of the bride of Islamic scripts,” from mastering the delicate balance of reed pen techniques, ink preparation, and paper selection, to the subtle compositions and sinuous curves that define Nastaʿlīq—an aesthetic vessel that for centuries has carried Persian poetry, wisdom, and mysticism.
Early sessions reveal Nastaʿlīq’s profound role as a “shared language of hearts.” Notably, while only a handful of the attendees are Iranian expatriates, the class is predominantly composed of Qatari women, signaling a fertile intersection where Persian artistic refinement harmonizes with the Arab world’s sensibilities.
This resurgence of calligraphic practice in Qatar is no passing trend. In 2024, Doha inaugurated the first International Arabic Calligraphy Competition, Al-Raqīm, which notably awarded the top three prizes in the Nastaʿlīq category to Iranian artists.
Subsequently, a curated selection from the competition was exhibited at the Museum of Islamic Art, underscoring Qatar’s growing commitment to nurturing and showcasing the calligraphic arts