Sheikh Hamdullah

Lore & Background

While studying, he met Bâyezïd, son of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, and they became friends. Hamdullah regarded al-Musta'simi's work as unsurpassable but reluctantly agreed at the sultan's insistence. After a period of reclusion, Hamdullah claimed a prophet taught him the new scripts in a vision. He ultimately recodified and refined the naskh style, making it more elegant, balanced, and legible.

Reader's Guide

Sheikh Hamdullah's significance lies in his transformation of Islamic calligraphy into a distinctly Ottoman tradition. By recodifying the naskh style under the patronage of Sultan Bâyezïd II, he created a script that was more elegant, balanced, and legible than its predecessors. The emergence of biographical dictionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries traced unbroken master-pupil lineages back to Hamdullah, cementing his role as the foundational figure of Ottoman calligraphy. These genealogies continue to be published today, underscoring his enduring legacy.

Did You Know?

• Sheikh Hamdullah was a fellow student of Sultan Bâyezïd II before becoming his court calligrapher.
• He claimed a prophet taught him the new scripts in a vision during a period of reclusion.
• He produced 47 Mus'hafs (Qur'ans) and continued creating works into his 80s.
• His son, daughter, and grandsons all became calligraphers.