Flag of Saudi Arabia

[Jenn! 918]

Wadi's not home, and I have a burning question.....

Why does the arabic on the Saudi flag look so different to me than what I'm used to seeing? I was just having a discussion about it with my family...

[AngelK96 0]

it's the koran writing style

it's not the regular arabic writing Jenn

Edited June 10, 2006 by angelk96

[AngelK96 0]

Jenn want to clarify it's the writing style you see in the al koran

not the writing you see in everyday arabic. Most arabic that is spoken today is street arabic so to speak!

Angel

[Jenn! 918]

Jenn want to clarify it's the writing style you see in the al koran

not the writing you see in everyday arabic. Most arabic that is spoken today is street arabic so to speak!

Angel

Cool. Thanks! I was hoping I wasn't totally ignorant. Just a bit!

Edited June 10, 2006 by jenn3539

[AngelK96 0]

nope! big props to you for seeing a difference and asking about it!!!

[noura 0]

it says (if ur curious) "La ilaha illa Allah, Mohamed rassoulou Allah" - which means "There is no God, but Allah, Mohammed is the messenger of Allah". It is part of what one says when taking Shahada.... converting/reverting to Islam.

Noura

[~kiyah~ 14]

You are correct Noura..the writing on the Saudi flag is the Al'Shahada:

Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah

English: "There is no god but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God."

~Kiya~

Edited June 10, 2006 by Kiya

[UmmSqueakster 54]

One of the things I love about arabic are the many styles of calligraphy that have developed. Because drawing human figures is generally frowned upon, Islamic art creativity and innovation has mainly been made through calligraphy. This wikipedia articledoes a good job explaining the different styles.

The Saudi flag is written in the Thuluth style, I believe. The thuluth style developed during the uthmanic caliphate during the 7th century and was perfected in the 9th.

Another shahada written in the thuluth style

Other classical calligraphy styles include:

Kufic - as it evolved over time

Other major styles

And some modern styles specific to the artist who created them, and modern artists working in traditional styles

Nahid Dukhan

Earth

Hassan S. Morrad

Bismillah

Ali Omar Ermes

La/No

Haji Noor Deen - combines chinese and arabic calligraphy

Bismillah with Shahada

[Bosco 1]

You are correct Noura..the writing on the Saudi flag is the Al'Shahada:

Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah

English: "There is no god but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God."

~Kiya~

Nitpicking here I know, but I love Arabic.

The English for Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah actually translates to "I believe (or I bear witness/testify/profess) there is no God but God and I believe (I witness/testify/profess) Muhammad is the Messenger of God".

The flag does not contain "ash hadu" or the "wa" (for and) but only as Noura wrote "La ilaha il Allah, Muhammad rasul Allah" which translates "There is no god but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God".

Rebecca

[iceyspots 0]

I got the Saudi national soccer team commercial song stuck in my head for days...

the magicccc kingdom