Arabic calligraphy: Diwani Jali

The Diwani Jali script is one of the most beautiful and intriguing scripts of Arabic calligraphy. While the basic Diwani script was used for official business during the Ottoman Empire, Diwani Jali evolved as a cryptic code for powerful figures like the Sultan and Saray to communicate top-secret information. Its complex decorations and elaborate ornamentation served to obscure messages in the way that computer encryption codes protect classified information today. In modern times, Diwani Jali no longer serves its former clandestine purposes, but is still greatly appreciated throughout the Arabic and Islamic world for its aesthetic allure. This book is a guide to reading and writing this treasured script.