Arabic calligraphy's primary purpose was to convey meaning, but it has since found other uses, including in building design,... moreArabic calligraphy's primary purpose was to convey meaning, but it has since found other uses, including in building design, interior decoration, and currency. The early Muslims' need to shun, as their beliefs mandated, figures and pictorials that were employed as idols before Islam was formed in the Arabian Peninsula is reflected in the fact that it has evolved into these primary functions.