Development of the Styles of Quranic Script
The terms Rasm al-Awwal, Rasm Othmani, and Rasm Imlai refer to different stages and styles of Arabic script, particularly in the context of the Quran. Understanding their differences requires a historical perspective on the development of Arabic writing.
Rasm al-Awwal (Initial Script)
This stage is generally dated to the 7th century CE, before the compilation of the Quran into a single codex.
Rasm al-Awwal, meaning “the first script,” refers to the earliest and most rudimentary form of Arabic writing. This script was characterized by its simplicity and lack of diacritical marks (dots that distinguish letters) and vowel signs (short vowels like fathah, kasrah, dammah). It was primarily a consonantal script, meaning it only represented consonants. Readers relied heavily on their prior knowledge of the language and context to correctly interpret the words. For example, the letter ‘ب’ (ba), ‘ت’ (ta), and ‘ث’ (tha) would all look identical without dots. Similarly, words like ‘كتب’ (kataba – he wrote) could potentially be read as ‘كتب’ (kutiba – it was written) or ‘كتب’ (kutub – books) without vowel signs. This early script was functional for a society where oral transmission and memorization were dominant, and literacy was less widespread in the modern sense.
Rasm Othmani (Uthmanic Script)
Rasm Othmani, also known as the Uthmanic script, is the standardized script used for writing the Quran, established during the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan (644-656 CE). The primary reason for its development was to unify the various existing copies of the Quran and prevent discrepancies in its recitation and interpretation. During this period, Islam was spreading rapidly, and different regions had slightly varying ways of writing and reciting the Quran. Caliph Uthman commissioned a committee, led by Zayd ibn Thabit, to compile a definitive version of the Quran. This version, written in the Rasm Othmani, introduced some key features that distinguished it from Rasm al-Awwal. While it still largely remained a consonantal script, it incorporated some subtle conventions to aid in reading, such as specific ways of writing certain words that deviated from standard Arabic orthography but were consistent with the Prophet Muhammad’s recitation. For instance, the word ‘رحمة’ (rahmah – mercy) might be written as ‘رحمت’ (rahmat) in Rasm Uthmanic in certain contexts, with an open ‘t’ (ت) instead of the closed ‘t’ (ة) used for feminine nouns reflecting a specific recitation tradition. The goal was to preserve the exact form of the Quran as it was revealed and recited by the Prophet, even if it meant deviating from the emerging standard Arabic spelling rules. This script is considered sacred and is meticulously preserved in all printed copies of the Quran today.
Rasm Imlai (Imla’i Script / Standard Orthography)
Rasm Imlai, meaning “dictation script” or “standard orthography,” refers to the modern, conventional Arabic writing system used for everyday communication, books, newspapers, and all forms of contemporary Arabic literature. This script developed significantly after Rasm Othmani, driven by the need for clarity and ease of reading for a wider audience. The key difference from Rasm Othmani is the full incorporation of diacritical marks (dots) to differentiate letters and vowel signs (tashkeel) to indicate short vowels. This makes the script unambiguous and allows for accurate pronunciation without prior knowledge of the text. For example, in Rasm Imlai, ‘ب’, ‘ت’, and ‘ث’ are clearly distinguished by their dots. Similarly, ‘كتب’ would be written with full vowel signs as ‘كَتَبَ’ (kataba – he wrote), ‘كُتِبَ’ (kutiba – it was written), or ‘كُتُبٌ’ (kutubun – books), leaving no room for ambiguity. The development of Rasm Imlai was a natural progression as Arabic became a more widely written language, requiring a system that was accessible and easily understood by a broader literate population. It prioritizes phonetic accuracy and consistency with modern grammatical rules over the specific historical conventions of Rasm Othmani. The development of Rasm Imlai was a gradual process, with significant advancements in the 8th to 10th centuries CE with the work of grammarians like Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali and al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi, who formalized the system of diacritics and vowel marks.
In summary, the historical development can be seen as a progression from a very basic, context-dependent script (Rasm al-Awwal) to a standardized, sacred script for the Quran that preserved specific historical spellings (Rasm Othmani), and finally to a fully vocalized and unambiguous script for general use (Rasm Imlai).
SCIENTIFIC AND ISLAMIC RESEARCHES 