"In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate". Almost every sura (chapter) in the Koran begins with this phrase, known as the bismillah ('in the name of God') from its opening three words. Here it is executed in some major Koranic hands: (left column from top) early Kufic, square Kufic, eastern Kufic, Thuluth; (right column from top) Naskhi, Muhaqqaq, Rihani, Ta'liq." Calligraphy is a highly developed art form of the Islam.