The Shekasta script, its roots and characteristics

Shekasta is one of the Persian calligraphy scripts and it is a broken colloquial calligraphy from the derivatives of the Nasta’liq script.

It was founded by Teacher “Muhammad Shafi’ al-Harawi”, known as Shafia , one of the court’s people of “Abbas II Safavid” in Iran at the sixteenth century.

What is the origin of the Shekasta script?

It was known as the Shekasta Ta’liq and then the Shekasta Nastaliq , but by reference to the source of these names, we find that the Nastaliq script is derived from the Naskh and the Ta’liq style .So the logic name has to be Shekasta Nasta’liq.

The meaning of this appellation in Persian is “the broken” because the rules of the Nasta’liq script are broken in its writing, additionally, because it’s letters are slanted with a broken end. In Turkish it is “Qirama”.

The most famous creative calligraphers in the Shekasta script?

After “Muhammad Shafia al-Harawi” placed its bases, his student “Zain al-Abidin ibn Muhammad Rahim” came and wrote this calligraphy with great skill.

The first to renew this line is “Murtadha Quli Khan Shamlu”, one of the governors of the Safavid state.

Many calligraphers overtop in writing this script, of which the most significant are:

Teacher “Darwish Abdul Majeed Talekani ” who completed the rules of the Shekasta script and even surpassed its founder.
Al-Mir Imad Al-Hasani, a Persian calligrapher, He stood out for the beauty of his letters with “Iraq at” (coming down below the line), detailed, elegant and harmonious letters.
Teacher of calligraphy “Darwish Abdul Majeed ”, after whom no one has reached his level in the perfection of the Shekasta script, neither his students attained his grade.
“Muhammad Shafi’ al-Isfahani”, nicknamed “Mirza Kojak Shirazi”, was one of the most famous calligraphers, poets and intellectuals in the thirteenth century.

What are the properties of the Shekasta script?

Of course, the breaking in its letters is the first property of the Shekasta script, it appeared as a result of the speed in writing the Nasta’liq script, and in the meantime, some of its letters were reduced.

Later, with the calligraphers’ behavior in it, it was given a complete form.

Among its peculiarities is the link of certain letters and words that are generally written separately, and every letter within it takes several different forms.

In its transformation, the letters with “Iraq-at” (which descend below the line) have turned into oblique extensions with a broken end that can be tail ended, Shekasta script is often written in a superimposed sequential manner.

It is one of the most difficult calligraphic scripts to read for the non-experienced. Despite that, it has been widely spread in the countries of Iran and Afghanistan.

Maybe it doesn’t tempt many to write with it, but the Shekasta script is ideal for writing proverbs, poems, and multi-line text, moreover it has a particular prestige.

How do you write in Shekasta calligraphy style?

If you like the Shekasta calligraphy script and find it perfect for your next project, whether it was for a personal or practical purpose. Or to draw a calligraphic painting, but you lack proficiency in writing it, do not hesitate or search a lot, You can use the eMashq program!

eMashq.com provides you with all the tools to draw the calligraphy as if you were a professional calligrapher, as this is a writing program in many Arabic and Persian calligraphic scripts, including the Shekasta, Without the need for the user to know the rules of this script, as it ensures the proper flow of words on the rules of the specified style. You only have to imagine the composition of the drawing, next you create, finally export your work or share it with your friends, colleagues and clients.

eMashq provides more than 6000 forms of letters in the Shekasta calligraphic script so that you open the doors to your creative sense, and you can apply the image you aspire to in your imagination.

It puts at your disposal many tools that meet the requirements of the Shekasta script. The most important one is the shape editing tool that gives you a lot of options for the same letter.

The eMashq.com platform provides you with the ability to add a tail ending to letters, and apply vertical and horizontal elongations, which are essential techniques for writing and drawing in Shekasta. Moreover, the possibility of moving blocks and segments to build your own linear composition, especially if it is a multi-line text.

Although this calligraphic style doesn’t require diacritics , this program offers simple diacritic signs appropriate to the dignity and prestige of the Shekasta script.

All that work, tools and options are online without any software download, making your work easy and wonderful.

You may have to write poetry verses for your magazine in Shekasta or some other styles, or maybe a new logo for your business, or a marketing poster for an important event and you don’t want to buy a subscription on eMashq, or simply you don’t have enough time to make your design… Don’t look for a lot, you simply share your needs with us. All you have to do is specify the style required and the size of the paint, or perhaps its targeted use: for press printing, a logo for an advertising campaign, festive posters …

Be sure that the result will amaze you!

For more details, refer to Buy a calligraphy.

Take a look at some examples of application areas of eMashq calligraphic script