nastaliq

Nastaliq, or Nastaʿlīq, is a traditional calligraphic hand of the Persian script used for Persian, Urdu, and several other languages. It is renowned for its fluid lines, hanging shapes, and extensive ligature work, producing a graceful, sweeping aesthetic. The script is typically written from right to left and is highly valued for Persian literary and artistic text, especially poetry and epigraphic inscriptions.

Origin and development: Nastaliq emerged in Iran in the 14th–15th centuries as a synthesis of Naskh and Taʿlīq scripts. It was refined by Mir Ali Tabrizi in the Timurid courts in Herat and later Shiraz, and it soon became the dominant script for Persian manuscripts and courtly poetry. From Iran it spread to the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan, where it shaped Urdu and Persian book culture.

Style and features: Characterized by long verticals, sweeping diagonal stems, and flowing ligatures, Nastaliq often presents letters that connect in elegant, hanging forms. It includes variants such as Shikasteh (broken) Nastaliq, used for expressive calligraphy. The script emphasizes balance and rhythm, achieved with a reed pen and carefully modulated pressure to create contrasting thick and thin strokes.

Modern use and typography: Today Nastaliq remains the standard script for Urdu and Persian literary printing and public inscription. In digital typography it requires complex rendering to manage ligatures and contextual shaping, with many regional fonts and adaptations used in books, newspapers, and software.