Codex of FaithsAn illustrated atlas of belief
الله

Letters and words

The name of God in calligraphy

The name of God, Allah, written in Arabic calligraphy: why writing became the highest art of Islam, how the name is used in mosques and homes and what it means to Muslims.

Also called Allah · Lafz al-Jalala

In brief

  1. I.Allah is the Arabic word for God, used by Muslims and also by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews.
  2. II.Islam avoids images of God and of the Prophet, so beautiful writing became its highest art.
  3. III.The name, often paired with that of Muhammad, is set in large medallions in mosques.
  4. IV.It is treated with great respect: objects bearing it are not placed on the floor.

Chapter I

What it means

For Muslims, God is one and beyond any likeness, so he cannot be pictured. What can be shown is his word and his name. The Qur’an, believed to be God’s speech, was revealed in Arabic, and writing it beautifully became an act of devotion.

The name Allah, written with its tall upright letters, is the most sacred word of all. Seen on a wall, it reminds the believer of God’s presence; hung in a home, it is a blessing.

Chapter II

Where it comes from

Arabic calligraphy developed rapidly with the copying of the Qur’an from the 7th century. The angular Kufic script was used for early Qur’ans and inscriptions; rounder styles such as naskh and thuluth followed. Ottoman mosques set huge round panels with the names of God, Muhammad and the first caliphs high on their walls, as in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

Chapter III

Where you see it today

The name of God is written in mosques, on the flags of several countries, on pendants and in framed calligraphy in homes. Calligraphy remains a living art, practised by masters who train for many years.

Questions people ask

Is Allah a different God from the God of Jews and Christians?

Muslims believe Allah is the one God, the God of Abraham, worshipped by Jews and Christians too. Arabic-speaking Christians also call God Allah.

What are the 99 names of God?

Islamic tradition lists ninety-nine “most beautiful names” of God, such as the Merciful, the Just and the Light. They are recited in prayer and often written in calligraphy.

Sources and further reading

  1. Jonathan M. Bloom and Sheila S. Blair, Islamic Arts (Phaidon, 1997)
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Religious symbolism and iconography: modes of symbolic expression”
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Religious symbolism and iconography”

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