Roshan, a typeface inspired by Sufism

With the deliberate intention of maintaining coherence between its Arabic and Latin counterpart without overly homogenizing them, Roshan is a high contrast multiscript typeface with close connections to calligraphic traditions. While the Arabic is inspired by the rounded forms of Persian Naskh and Maghrebi writing styles, its Latin is incised, in contrast with the more common practice of pairing a serif typeface counterpart to a high contrast Arabic. This makes the two scripts even more distinct in a multiscript context.

Roshan is Persian for bright as well as enlightenment. In its name lies the description of one of its main characteristics. To let in more light into the counterforms, Roshan introduces subtle stencilling rather than enlarging the white of the letterforms. On the other hand, for the wide shapes of Arabic that do let it a lot of light, the terminuses were tapered to make the black and white balance on the reading line more consistent.

With its rounded, flowing forms and bright, open counters, Roshan is reminiscent of the dance of the whirling dervishes—a spiritual practice deeply tied to Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes an inward, personal connection to the divine, and that had a considerable impact on the Islamic world particularly in poetry literature and calligraphy.

Roshan comes in six weights ranging from Extralight to Bold. While it is intended for display use, it is also suitable for short blocks of text. Roshan boasts a large number of ligatures and alternate forms for a smoother reading experience and more authentic representation of the writing systems, especially the Arabic counterpart.

Roshan was designed by Sina Fakour between 2021 and 2024.

Specimen design: Sina Fakour