Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Hassan Ismail
Senior Academic Researcher in Arabic & Islamic Calligraphy and Manuscripts
Center for Studies of Writings & Calligraphy, Bibliotheca Alexandrina
mohamed.hasan@bibalex.org Calligraphy Center, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, P.O. Box 138 Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Egypt
Profile
Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Hassan Ismail is a senior academic researcher at the Center for Studies of Writings & Calligraphy, Bibliotheca Alexandrina (since 2006), specializing in Arabic scripts, Islamic manuscripts and documents, and their history and art.
He earned his PhD in 2015 on “Diwani Writings in the era of the Mamluk Sultans” (first-class honors), and his MA in 2010 on “Writing and the Book in Fatimid Egypt,” alongside specialized diplomas in calligraphy and gilding.
He serves as editorial secretary of the journal “Studies in Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy,” lectures on calligraphy and manuscripts in the postgraduate program at the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University (since 2014), and is deputy head of the Arabic Calligraphers Syndicate in Alexandria (since 2012).
Born in Alexandria on 22 October 1983
Experience
- 2024 to 2025
Lecturer in Arabic Calligraphy
Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC)
Teaching Arabic calligraphy within the institute’s programs.
- 2023
Artistic Advisor
Islamic Arts Biennale, Diriyah Biennale Foundation (first edition)
- Since 2022
Scholarly Advisor
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Center for Arabic Calligraphy
- 2019
Member, Higher Committee of the Cairo Forum for Arabic Calligraphy
By ministerial decree no. 268 of 2019.
- Since 2014
Postgraduate Lecturer
Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University
Teaching Arabic calligraphy and manuscripts to postgraduate students.
- Since 2012
Instructor in Arabic & Islamic Manuscripts
Institute of Arabic Manuscripts & Institute of Arab Research and Studies, Cairo
- Since 2012
Deputy Head, Calligraphers Syndicate, Alexandria
- Since 2006
Senior Academic Researcher
Center for Studies of Writings & Calligraphy, Bibliotheca Alexandrina
Research, documentation, and publishing in Islamic scripts, manuscripts, and documents; editorial secretary of the journal “Studies in Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy.”
Education
- 2024
Ijāza (Certified Chain of Transmission) in the Arabic Scripts
Conferred by the master of Egypt’s calligraphers, Khudair al-Borsaidy
The traditional license of excellence in the Arabic scripts and their history.
- 2015
PhD, Islamic History
“Diwani Writings in the era of the Mamluk Sultans,” supervised by Prof. Mohamed Ahmed Abolfadl, first-class honors.
- 2012
Qatar Art Center Scholarship (Doha)
Documenting antique Qurʼans in the collection of Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed Al Thani.
- 2010
MA, Islamic History
“Writing and the Book in Fatimid Egypt,” with distinction.
- 2008
Specialized Diploma in Calligraphy & Gilding
Specialization in Fatimid Kufic.
- 2006
Diploma in Arabic Calligraphy
Mohamed Ibrahim School, Alexandria
- 2005
BA in Arts (History)
Tanta University
Publications
- Khudair Al-Borsaidy: An Egyptian School of Arabic Calligraphy · Author
- Masterpieces of the Egyptian School of Arabic Calligraphy: Selections · Co-author · Dr. Khaled Azab
- Calligrapher Sayed Ibrahim: A Dialogue of Script and History · Author
- Al-Qasr: Reading a City through its Foundation Texts · Editor
- Sayed Ibrahim: Biography of the Dean of Calligraphers · Author
- The Divan of Arabic Calligraphy in Egypt during Muhammad Ali's Dynasty · Co-author · Dr. Khaled Azab
Public Lectures
- Umayyad Qur'anic Codices: Their History, Characteristics, and Contemporary Studies
- Texts of the Prophet's Birthday Celebrations in Modern and Contemporary Egypt
- The Manuscript Codices: History and Codicological Dimensions
- How Does Paleography Reveal the Past of Arab and Islamic Civilization?
- Hidden Aesthetics… A Critical History of the Aesthetics of Arabic Calligraphy
- The Heritage of the Arab School of Arabic Calligraphy and its Artistic and Civilizational Contribution
- The Evolution of Inscriptions and Script in the Arab World
- Teaching Arabic Calligraphy between Tradition and Modernity (the Exemplars of the Egyptian School for Improving Scripts as a Case Study)
- Paleography and the Scripts of Arabic Manuscripts
- A Dialogue on the History of Teaching Arabic Calligraphy to Children
- Copying and Copyists in 19th-Century Egypt: Abd al-Khaliq Haqqi as a Case Study
- Islamic Paleography and the Evolution of the Early Codices
- Studying the Scripts of the Noble Qurʼan: Between Orientalist Methods and Arab Efforts
- A Series of Lectures on the Art of Arabic Calligraphy
Articles & Writings
Arabic Scripts
- The Hidden Aesthetics: A Critical History of the Aesthetics of Arabic Calligraphy (2024)
- The Heritage of the Arab School in Arabic Calligraphy and Its Artistic and Civilizational Contribution (2024)
- The Evolution of Inscriptions and Script in the Arab World (2023)
- The Masthead of al-Azhar Magazine and the Mamluk Thuluth Script (2022)
- The Evolution of Teaching Arabic Calligraphy: From Heritage to Contemporary Curricula (2021)
- The Ghazlani Diwani Script (2019)
- Shikaste: The Beauty of the Persian Script (2017)
- The Mahmudiyya Canal Text and the Ottoman Taʿliq Script (2016)
- The Ottomans and the Nasta'liq Script (2016)
- The Ottoman Ferman: Three Scripts in One Document (2016)
Manuscripts & Qurʼans
- Umayyad Qur'anic Codices: Their History, Characteristics, and Contemporary Studies (2026)
- The Philosophy and Evolution of the Scripts of the Noble Qur'an: Terminology and the Shifting Research Schools (2025)
- An Abbasid Qur'an with Mamluk Illumination (2022)
- The 'Safini' Qur'an in the Study of Muhammad ʿAbd al-ʿAziz Marzouk (2022)
- A Page from the Romance of Islamic Art (2021)
- In the Presence of the Qur'an Attributed to ʿUthman ibn ʿAffan (2018)
- The Qur'an of Sultan al-Ghuri and the Masterpieces of Mamluk Qur'ans (2017)
- The Arts of the Mamluk Manuscript (2017)
- ʿUmar al-Aqtaʿ and Timur: The Largest and Smallest of Qur'ans (2016)
- The Mevlevi Lodge, Sheikh al-Rifaʿi, and the Qur'an of King Fuad (2015)
Codicology & Paleography
- Secrets of the Manuscripts: How Paleography Uncovers the Past of Arab-Islamic Civilization (2025)
- Paleography and the Scripts of Arabic Manuscripts (2022)
- Amulets: An Authentic Paleographic Source (2022)
- The Pillars of Studying the Arabic Manuscript according to al-Halluji (2022)
- First Steps in Paleography: Comparative Reading (2019)
- Islamic Paleography and the Evolution of the Early Codices: From the Hijazi Script to Artistic Refinement (2018)
- Studying the Scripts of the Noble Qur'an: Between Orientalist Methods and Arab Efforts (2018)
Islamic Art History
Masters of Calligraphy
Documentation & Field Projects
- Scientific consultant, “Visual Encyclopedia of Arabic Letters,” Type Lab, The American University in Cairo
- Editor at the Digital Library of Inscriptions & Calligraphy (Arabic, Turkish, Persian)
- Juror, Granshan international type design competition (Since 2013)
- Documenting the inscriptions and ornament of Prince Mohamed Ali Palace, Manial (August 2016)
- Digitization and online publication of the Amiri script (2012 to 2013)
- Documenting heritage street signs in Cairo, Alexandria, Tanta, and Damanhur (2010 to 2012)
- Documenting the historical archive of calligrapher Sayed Ibrahim (Cairo) (2009 to 2012)
Memberships
- General Union of Arab Archaeologists
- Egyptian Society for Historical Studies
- Egyptian Society for Arabic Calligraphy