Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation and Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin organised an international training course / workshop entitled: "Paleographical Aspects of Islamic Manuscripts: Script and Calligraphy Styles and Usage".
The Workshop, which is an advanced training course, took place in the German capital Berlin, from the 22nd to the 26th of September 2025. It was attended by 30 participants from different countries.
The Workshop offered an overview on the main scripts and calligraphy styles in the Islamicate world throughout the different historical periods, such as the ‘Six Pens’ (naskh, thuluth, muhaqqaq, rayhani, tawqi', and riqa'), the ‘Islamic West’ scripts and calligraphy styles (Andalusian, Maghrebi, African, etc.), the ‘Eastern’ scripts and calligraphy styles (Ta'liq, Nasta'liq, Shikaste, etc.), the ‘Ottoman’ scripts and calligraphy styles, etc.
Most lectures were supplemented by hands-on and practical sessions, in which the participants had the opportunity to observe the discussed features themselves in manuscripts of the Islamicate world from the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin collection, as well as practice their skills.
The Workshop was intended for advanced MA & PhD students and other researchers in the field of manuscripts of the Islamicate world, as well as librarians, conservationists, and other related disciplines.
Representing Al-Furqan Foundation was its Managing Director, Mr Sali Shahsivari.
The Training Course / Workshop was conducted by: Christoph Rauch (Germany), Claus-Peter Haase (Germany), Mahmoud Zaki (Egypt / Qatar), Mansour Nassar (Jordan), Mohameden Ahmed Salem (Mauritania / Morocco), Shiva Mihan (Iran / UK), and Thomas Steinbach (Germany).
