Calligraphy Styles Calligraphy is an artistic signature of Islamic art; it is also a transmitter of knowledge about Islam and Muslim culture. Islam is a religion that teaches there is one God (Allah) and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) is His messenger. This is the unifying concept that embraces the diversity of all Muslims. Islam began in 610 C.E. when Angel Gabriel revealed the words of God to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him). These words were so revered that the writing of them acquired a special status that no other artistic expression was able to attain. So began the tradition of calligraphy, sometimes referred to as a "spiritual geometry produced with material tools". Some of the finest calligraphy can be found in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. This identification of calligraphy script with Muslims during the first years of Islam led to its general association with the culture at large. Its capacity to be both decorative and a conveyor of knowledge, spiritual and secular, resulted in its use on a wide range of art forms. An exploration of calligraphy leads to an understanding of the spirit of Islam.