2994: Convergent Evolution of Arabic Letters (ر) (ز) (ج) (ح) Mar 3, 2025

The evolution of Arabic script is a fascinating process influenced by calligraphic styles, regional adaptations, and aesthetic refinements. In the case of the letters ر (raa) & ز (zayn) and ج (jeem) & ح (ħaa), their similarities can be traced back to early Arabic writing and how the script developed over time. These are far from the only letter pairs with similar forms, but they are among the most similar.

Raa (ر) & Zayin (ز)

Originally, raa (ر) and zayin (ز) were quite distinct, but as Arabic calligraphy evolved, their basic structure became nearly identical, with the only difference being the dot above zayin. In early Kufic script, the angular nature of the letters made them more distinguishable. However, as cursive styles like Naskh and Diwani emerged, both letters adopted a flowing, curved shape. The addition of diacritical dots in later script development was a crucial step in ensuring phonetic clarity, solidifying ز as a separate letter from ر.

Jeem (ج) & Haa (ح)

Similarly, jeem (ج) and ħaa (ح) share the same foundational form, but jeem is marked by a dot below. This similarity is due to the historical development of the Arabic script from Nabataean and early Arabic writing traditions. The rounded, open-loop structure seen in modern Arabic calligraphy was not always present; in earlier inscriptions, the letters were more angular and distinct. However, as smoother, cursive scripts developed, the shapes of ج and ح converged in form, with the diacritical dot distinguishing them.