See the lexicon

General Script Characteristics

Shape

rectangular

Internal Structure

linear

Line of Writing

plunging and ascending

Groups of Characters Baseline

one group of characters underpins the next

Character Spacing

irregular spaces between characters

superscription at end of line

Presence of Elongation

occasional

Elongated Letters

nūn, sīn/shīn, sād/ḍād, yā’, lām and qāf bowl

final bā’/ṭā' /fā’ bowl

Ligature

Abusive - ‘alif and dāl

Shading / Contrast

medium contrast

Letter Morphology

Point

inclined square

Ascenders

Alif Ascenders

alif - inclined to left

alif - non serifed

alif - thick vertical shaft

Lām Ascenders

lām - inclined to left

lām - non serifed

lām - thick vertical shaft

Kāf Ascenders

Initial, medial and final shaft slightly inclined to left

top arm long diagonal stroke

top arm with final hook

ṭā' ẓā' ascenders

rounded swollen body

vertical shaft inclined to left

Descenders

wāw descenders

wide rounded tail

rā' zā' descenders

rā'/zā' - s-shaped

mīm descenders

mīm - vertical downstroke

nūn sīn shīn sādḍād yā’ lām and qāf descenders

nūn, sīn/shīn, sād/ḍād, yā', lām, qāf - deep plunging bowl

yā’ al-rāji’ah descenders

backward oblique stroke

horizontals

bāʾ tāʾ thāʾ fāʾ kāf horizontals

bāʾ, tāʾ, thāʾ, fāʾ, kāf - short curvilinear flattened bowl

bāʾ, tāʾ, thāʾ, fāʾ, kāf - elongated curvilinear flattened bowl

denticles

sīn shīn denticles

short pointed denticles

initial and medial bāʾ tāʾthāʾ nūn yāʾ denticles

initial perpendicular to baseline

counters

hā' counters

isolated one-eyed triangular (murabba'ah)

initial / medial double eyed (wajh al-hirr)

medial swollen double-eyed top and bottom (mulawwazah)

final s-shaped (muḥdawdibah)

fā' qāf wāw counters

rounded head

closed eye

medial 'ain ghayn counters

compact inverted triangle / open or closed eye

mīm counters

rounded head

Other

additional characteristics

Undulating rhythm

Plunging bowls, hooked tails, hooked arms

bowl-shaped dāl, leaning forward, angular bowl