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| The oldest Qur'ans were written in the angular Kufic script, inspired by epigraphy: |
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When burnished paper replaced vellum and papyrus as writing material, cursive writing developed with the six classical calligraphic styles: Nashki, Thuluth, Muhaqqaq, Rayhani and Riqah. The elegant Nashki script developed in the 11th century. It became the main script for Qur'ans and for calligraphic development: |
(More specimens here and here.) |
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In Persia a national variant was created in the 'slanting' or 'hanging' Ta'liq script, inspired by Sasanian Pehlevi script: 
In the 14th century it was given a regular form in the Nasta'liq script, (specimen) whose beauty appears to advantage when used for Persian poetry. |
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In the 17th century Herat calligraphers invented the 'broken' and difficult Shikasteh script: |
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The more regular Diwani variant was used in the Ottoman empire for official documents: |
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North Africa developed the Maghribi script, combining Kufic angularity with bold roundings often extending deeply into the line below: |
(More specimens here.) |
Among the classical styles are the monumental Thuluth script: |
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... the medieval Tawqî chancery script: |
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... the Rayhâni script, sharp as sabre's edges: |
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... and the soft Riq'ah, the present handwriting: |
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Literature: Kühnel, E. Islamische Schriftkunst, Graz 1972 Safadi, Y. H., Islamic calligraphy, London 1978. |