The term maġribī is the generic name for a host of scripts or styles used in the western part of the Islamic world from Tunisia to Morocco (ʾIfrīqiyā, Maġrib), southern Spain (Andalusia), and sub-Saharan Africa, for the copying of books and for use in the state apparatus (principally the chancery), as well as for ordinary purposes of writing.

Although maġribī is easily identifiable as a group, there is still much research that needs to be done before we can attempt a comprehensive history of its development and its various styles. In a way, the problem here is similar to the situation with the na…