Have you ever wondered how writers and scientists were able to formulate their timeless ideas in books that still inspire minds today? The art of composition is not just writing a text or collecting information, but a profound skill that combines understanding, expression, and the organization of knowledge into an integrated intellectual structure. Throughout history, this art has represented the spirit of the intellectual and civilizational renaissance in the Arab and Islamic world, thanks to which science was passed from one generation to another and linked the pages of the ancient heritage to the renewed present.
In this article, you will take a fun tour of the roots of this art and its historical development through the ages, to learn about the schools of thought that have contributed to its formation from traditional to contemporary.
What is the art of composing?
The art of writing is a sophisticated combination of technical skill and scientific accuracy in drafting texts, books, and letters. This art is based on organizing and formulating ideas in a systematic way that balances between clarity and attractiveness, so that it does not only convey information, but also gives it a spirit of creativity and excellence in presentation.
The art of composing is related to multiple aspects; it carries an aesthetic dimension similar to the art of decoration and calligraphy, and at the same time it expresses the intellectual aspect that is concerned with the construction of meaning and the organization of knowledge. The beauty of the text in this art lies not in the words alone, but in the harmony between the idea and the style, and in the way the meaning is presented to reach the reader deeply and smoothly.
The History of the Art of Composition
The history of the art of composition is linked to the development of human culture since ancient times, as it emerged as a combination of the heritage of Arabs and Muslims and their influence on earlier civilizations such as Greece and Byzantium. As Arabs interacted with these legacies, they reworked the artistic elements to suit their own language and culture, resulting in a unique style of composition. This art developed qualitatively with the establishment of schools of thought and the flourishing of the arts of calligraphy and decoration, until authorship became a cultural value that combines practical creativity and aesthetic taste in Arab societies.
How has the art of composition evolved through the ages?
Ancient civilizations such as Persian, Egyptian, and Byzantine contributed to the first seeds of this Arabic art. The influence was evident in the decorative and layout techniques, where symbols and decorative elements were borrowed and repurposed in an authentic Arabic style. Artists drew on the principles of symmetry and symmetry found in ancient art and molded them into forms that were in keeping with the spirit of the Arabic language and its distinctive lines.
The Umayyad era and the beginnings of decoration
In the Umayyad period, the art of composition reached a new stage of beauty and variety. Artists used botanical elements such as paper, grapes, and acanthus, but reworked them with a special Arabic touch. Textual motifs emerged that combined word and image in stunning visual harmony, and the focus was on emphasizing Arabic calligraphy as an aesthetic element in its own right, not just a means of writing.
Prosperity in the Abbasid era
In the Abbasid era, the art was institutionalized. Ibn Muqalla established the geometric foundations of Arabic calligraphy, bringing precision and harmony to every illuminated text. This phase was a codification of the rules of the art, as new styles of writing and decoration were invented, and attention was paid to the interior design of the pages and the balance of space. Here, art crystallized as a field that combines thought and beauty.
The Fatimid era and decorative creativity
The Fatimid era witnessed a remarkable development in the art of tawreeq, where the details of the floral motifs became richer and more intricate. Artists used interlacing and overlaying techniques to add visual depth to manuscript texts. The pages became complete masterpieces, combining the beauty of calligraphy, the freshness of colors, and the variety of decorative elements that surround both Qur'anic and literary texts.
Mamalek's Universal App
During the Mamluk period, the art of composition moved out of the realm of books and into everyday life. It became part of the design of Qurans, carpets, metal objects, and even in architecture and interior decoration. The symbolism of the lotus flower and intertwined plants emerged as recurring motifs reflecting the harmony between nature and human thought. Art here has become an integrated visual language that expresses a refined cultural identity.
The transition of the arts into the age of print
With the introduction of printing to the Arab and Islamic world, this art found a new avenue of expression. No longer limited to calligraphers and illuminators, it became part of the design of modern books and publications. Designers preserved the traditional spirit of Arabic ornamentation, but brought it back in modern styles across book covers and page layouts. This transition redefined the relationship between art and craft and made it a bridge between the decorative past and contemporary creativity.
What are the best composition books?
is a Dar Al-Zaman Publishing and Distribution Library A rich station for anyone interested in the art of composition and its history. It combines originality and contemporaneity, offering readers and researchers a collection of accredited books that meet their academic and intellectual needs and open new horizons in understanding the methods of writing and constructing compositions.
The Gentle Blossom in Tracts of Authorship
The book The Gentle Blossom in Tracts of Authorship by Qasim bin Ahmed al-Qaisi al-Hanafi from the Book collections One of the most important heritage books dealing with the arts and methods of writing in the Arab and Islamic heritage. Published by Dar Al-Fath, the book's cover design is inspired by ancient manuscripts, bringing to mind the atmosphere of ancient libraries and the first writings of scholars. The book sheds light on the legal and intellectual reference of authorship in Islamic times, and reviews the paths of scholars in building their books and organizing their ideas, an important reference for researchers and students of science in the fields of Islamic studies and history.
My Writing Journey (A Memoir of the Craft)
As for M's bookMy Writing Career (A Memoir of the Craft) which is available in the Languages It is a contemporary work by Stephen King, translated by Oleg Aoki and published by Arab Sciences Publishers. Combining an autobiography with a practical guide, this book reveals King's journey in the world of writing from his beginnings to his maturity as a professional writer. He shares his experience in character development, plot building, and effective storytelling techniques in a simple and inspiring style. It is an ideal choice for new writers and storytelling enthusiasts who seek to understand the secrets of the craft through practical and personal experience.
What is the difference between traditional and contemporary authorship?
The art of composing in traditional and contemporary books differs in terms of approach and style. Older works, such as “Al-Zahr al-Latif in Tracts of Composition,” are based on theory and academic analysis, emphasizing rules and a strict approach to writing based on attribution, accuracy, and consistency. The modern view, as presented by Stephen King in My Composition Journey, goes in a different direction: it is based on individual experience and shows the writer's development through real-life, everyday practices, not just rules.
For example, while the traditional author was explaining the mechanics of syntax and quotation, King offers his experience in transforming a scene into something that can be seen and heard, adhering to his famous rule: “Shoot the story rather than tell it.”.
Philosophy of teaching writing
Like any other science, writing was considered a science with laws that could be studied systematically and rigorously. The learner would start with grammar, rhetoric, and language, and then move on to practice. In contrast, the modern educational philosophy around the art of composition has evolved to become more concerned with unleashing the imagination and developing the writer's personal voice, as experience is the true laboratory and constant practice is the most important teacher.
Audience and purpose
Heritage books targeted a specific audience of academics, scholars, and language practitioners, so they were specialized and intellectually rigorous. Contemporary works on composition address a broader audience, including beginners, amateurs, and lovers of creative writing, and offer them practical advice that is closer to life lessons. The goal here is no longer just linguistic mastery, but the development of skills and the expansion of the creative experience.
Tools and techniques
In traditional books, the tools are centered around the sciences of language, grammar, and the rules of quoting and quotation, as the writer's honesty was a basic criterion. Modern schools, on the other hand, focus on character building, dialog, and plot formulation that excites the reader and draws them into the text. Stephen King emphasizes avoiding tired similes and direct narration, calling for a variety of styles and expressions in innovative ways that enhance the vitality of the text and give it its own flavor.
What are the aesthetic aspects of the art of composition?
This art was not limited to words and meanings, but also to the aesthetics of form and decoration. The arts of foliation and botanical engraving added a special spirit to manuscripts, and each book became an artistic imprint that distinguished it from others. This was clearly evident in Qur'anic and scientific manuscripts, where the pages were decorated with delicate geometric shapes and interlocking leaves that harmonized with the spirit of the text.
These decorations were not just a visual luxury, but a way to sanctify the texts and emphasize their spiritual status, as well as a symbol of the identity of the author and the community to which he belonged. When you look at a manuscript page adorned with foliage, you feel as if beauty has infiltrated the letters, giving them both spiritual and visual life.
Arabic Calligraphy Styles
Arabic calligraphy has evolved through the ages, with each author choosing the style of calligraphy that expresses his idea and attracts the reader's attention. Calligraphers developed precise geometric principles of lettering and spacing to achieve a balance between visual rhythm and linguistic meaning.
One of the most prominent innovations that characterized this art was the emergence of Ibn Muqalla's calligraphy, which established technical rules that made texts more distinctive and prestigious. The variety of fonts - such as Kufi, Naskh, and Raqa - was not just a formal variation, but an aesthetic language in its own right that contributes to emphasizing the spirit and content of the art of composition.
The author's identification with nature
The Arab and Muslim creator was characterized by his ability to draw inspiration from nature and translate it into his compositional and decorative works. His reflections were reflected in harmonious botanical motifs and organic forms that suggest life and renewal. The author saw nature as a source of inspiration and meaning, molding his letters and motifs as if they were branches in motion.
How have schools of thought influenced authorship?
The Holy Quran has had a profound impact in shaping this art through the ages. Its unique style of calligraphy and expression, and the subsequent forms of foliation and ornamentation, gave it an artistic beauty that became a reference point for all that was written after it. Through this influence, authors tended to pay attention to the aesthetics of the text, not only in its meaning but also in its appearance, and manuscripts became the embodiment of spiritual and aesthetic expression at the same time. Thus, the close relationship between faith and art was manifested in the pages of books that combined the idea with a refined decorative appearance.
Interaction of authorship with cultures
As the Islamic world expanded, art interacted with multiple cultures that brought with them their own traditions and styles. This cultural openness created diversity in writing and decoration methods, and authors combined the authentic Arabic sensibility with artistic elements coming from Persian, Indian, Turkish, and other environments. With this interaction, the composition became a space for civilizational exchange, reflecting the features of the different societies that melted into the crucible of Islamic thought.
The impact of political and artistic trends
Schools of composition were also influenced by the political and artistic trends of each era. When doctrines changed or new currents of thought emerged, this was reflected in the content of books, the choice of topics, and the way texts were drafted. Even the decorations that adorned the pages sometimes bore symbols that indicated the identity of the state or the dominant doctrine. In this sense, the art of authorship becomes an accurate mirror of the movement of society, combining thought, politics, and art in a single framework that reflects the spirit of the time and place.
Frequently Asked Questions About Composition
How to write a book for beginners?
The journey of writing a book for beginners starts with one main idea, clear and specific. After that, you can draw a detailed plan for the book that divides the topic into major, balanced sections. Gather information and research for each section from reliable sources, then start writing a first draft without worrying about perfection at first, because repeated revision and rewriting is what polishes the text and gives it its final strength.
Tips for those who want to write a book?
Write about the things you know well, and skip what you don't know. If you feel that an area is confusing to you, you can simply adapt the story to avoid it instead of falling into it. For example, you could make all your characters from a class that doesn't like certain professions, just to avoid writing technical details that you don't know. Remember that a good writer doesn't tell everything, but leaves room for the reader's imagination so that the text doesn't become heavy and monotonous.
How do you write a science book?
Writing a scientific book requires strict adherence to academic and cognitive standards, as this type of writing relies on credibility above all else. The author must combine scientific competence and intellectual honesty to provide reliable content that is able to enrich the reader with the right information.
The art of writing reflects the spirit of a nation and its intellectual richness; it is not just writing, but a cognitive and aesthetic experience in which history pulsates with the spirit of creativity. In it, science and beauty converge to form a living space that expresses Arab and Islamic identity and gives both the writer and the reader an intellectual journey that reconnects the present with the roots of an ancient civilization.
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