carbon black

Ingredients

carbon black, reed pens

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The recipe for ink utilized by early Islamic scribes involved the use of various substances, primarily carbon black (p. 1169). Scribes would use specialized reed pens to meticulously inscribe the text onto supports. The process was considered a sacred art, and scribes (known as khattats) paid extreme attention to the size, shape, and spacing of letters to ensure the calligraphic beauty and precision of the script (p. 1169). Professionals known as 'katibs' or 'mushafs' would transcribe the text by hand, often engaging in acts of ritual purification before commencing their work (p. 1169).

Evidence

"Scribes utilized reed pens and ink made from various substances, such as carbon black, to write the Quranic text."

Remarks

Ink use in early Quranic manuscripts served as a medium for both the preservation of the divine word and calligraphic expression. The transition from oral tradition to written form necessitated durable inks that could withstand the passage of time on materials like parchment (p. 1167). The study identifies that the evolution of scripts from Hijazi to Kufic and Naskh reflected regional influences and the aesthetic maturation of the Islamic world (p. 1167, 1169). The consistency of the text across different regions was maintained through rigorous scrutiny and cross-referencing with oral recitations (p. 1170).