Awami Nastaliq Font Download for Websites & Apps
Awami Nastaliq is a free Nastaliq font from SIL International, built for Urdu and a wide range of South Asian languages. It is unusual among Nastaliq fonts: it was designed for minority-language support, so it covers more characters and diacritics than a typical Urdu-only face, and it ships in five weights. Download the official package below — but read the Graphite note first, because it decides whether the font will work in your app.
Font Overview
| Font Name | Awami Nastaliq |
| Style | Nastaliq |
| Format | TTF (5 weights in a ZIP) |
| Version | 3.400 (2025) |
| Designer | Peter Martin (SIL) |
| License | SIL Open Font License (OFL) |
| Language | Urdu + South Asian languages |
| Works With | Firefox, LibreOffice, XeTeX (Graphite-aware apps only) |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android (in apps), iPhone/iPad (via a font installer app) — Graphite-aware apps only |
By KG · Font file verified 24 Oct 2026: ZIP contents (5 weights + OFL license), version 3.400 and Graphite-only rendering checked from the official SIL package.
File verified 24 Oct 2026: Awami Nastaliq 3.400 ZIP (8.7 MB) containing Regular, Medium, SemiBold, Bold and ExtraBold plus the OFL license, served via the button above. The same font is also available from the official SIL Awami page. Important: Awami Nastaliq is a Graphite-only font — it does not support OpenType rendering. It renders correctly in Graphite-aware apps (recent Firefox, LibreOffice, XeTeX) and may not shape correctly in apps that only do OpenType shaping. Check the section below before you install.
Table of Content
Table of Contents
What Is Awami Nastaliq?
“Awami” is the Urdu word for “of the people”, and the font lives up to the name: it is a Nastaliq-style Arabic-script font from SIL designed by Peter Martin, aimed at the many languages of South Asia that use the Nastaliq style — including, but not limited to, Urdu. Lesser-known languages often need more vowel diacritics and more base characters (with extra dots for sounds Urdu does not have) than standard Urdu, and Awami includes the characters and diacritics those languages need. That makes it unique among freely available Nastaliq fonts. It is released under the SIL Open Font License, so it is free for personal and commercial use under the OFL terms.
Nastaliq is the traditional script of Urdu writing; its background is covered in our history of Urdu Nastaliq fonts. For more faces, browse the Urdu Fonts category and the Arabic Fonts category.
The Graphite Requirement — Read This First
Awami Nastaliq uses Graphite smart-font technology, not OpenType, for its shaping. In practice that means: it renders correctly in Graphite-aware applications — recent versions of Firefox, LibreOffice and XeTeX are the documented examples — and it may render incorrectly (disconnected letters, misplaced dots) in apps that only support OpenType shaping. This is not a bug in your document; it is how the font is built. Before you commit to Awami for a project, test a real paragraph in the exact app you will use. If your app does not support Graphite, choose an OpenType Nastaliq instead — Noto Nastaliq Urdu and Jameel Noori Nastaleeq are verified OpenType options in this series.
Features of Awami Nastaliq
- Five weights in one package — Regular, Medium, SemiBold, Bold and ExtraBold (verified from the official ZIP contents).
- Wide language coverage — built for Urdu plus other South Asian Nastaliq languages, with extra diacritics and base characters.
- Open Font License — free for personal and commercial use under the OFL terms.
- Desktop and web fonts in one package — the all-platforms ZIP covers Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Actively maintained — version 3.400 is a 2025 maintenance release (kerning fixes, Malay hamza support, new characters).
How to Install on PC (Windows, Mac & Linux)
- Download the ZIP using the button at the top of this page.
- Extract it — you will find five TTF files (Regular, Medium, SemiBold, Bold, ExtraBold) plus the license.
- Windows: Select the weights you want, right-click and choose Install. Full steps: PC install guide.
- macOS: Double-click a TTF file and click Install Font in Font Book. Full steps: Mac install guide.
- Linux: Copy the TTF files to ~/.fonts (or ~/.local/share/fonts) and run
fc-cache -f -v. - Test in a Graphite-aware app (Firefox or LibreOffice) with a real Urdu paragraph before using it in production.
How to Use on Mobile (Android & iPhone)
SIL states the font is supported on all major operating systems including Android and iOS, but the extent of support depends on the app: the app must do Graphite shaping for Awami to render correctly. On Android, Firefox for Android is Graphite-aware and is the safest test; font installer apps can install the TTF, but whether a given app shapes it correctly depends on that app’s text engine. On iPhone, use it inside apps that support custom fonts and Graphite-aware rendering, and test before relying on it. For system-wide Urdu typing, the built-in Urdu keyboard remains the practical default.
How to Use on a Website
The package includes webfonts. Serve them with @font-face and set font-family: 'Awami Nastaliq', serif; on your Urdu content with dir="rtl" and lang="ur". Because shaping is Graphite-based, test in Firefox first (Graphite-aware), then check Chrome and Safari: if your audience mostly uses Chrome, verify a real paragraph there before committing, or fall back to an OpenType Nastaliq for the web. If you work with InPage documents, our InPage to Unicode converter can help move legacy text into Unicode for web use.
Best Uses for Awami Nastaliq
- Multilingual South Asian publishing — its core strength: languages beyond Urdu that need extra diacritics.
- Urdu documents in LibreOffice — Graphite-aware, so it shapes correctly there.
- Websites viewed in Firefox — Graphite-aware browser rendering.
- Quranic and Islamic layouts — pairs with faces like Muhammadi Quranic for Arabic-script projects.
- Typography projects needing weights — five weights give real hierarchy without switching families.
Awami Nastaliq vs Jameel Noori Nastaleeq
Jameel Noori Nastaleeq is the classic, compact Urdu Nastaliq that works in virtually every Urdu-capable app. Awami Nastaliq is broader (more languages, five weights, open license) but narrower in compatibility (Graphite-aware apps only). Choose Jameel Noori for maximum compatibility and traditional print work; choose Awami when you need its wider language coverage or its weight range and your apps support Graphite.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Awami Nastaliq free?
Yes. It is released by SIL International under the SIL Open Font License, free for personal and commercial use under the OFL terms.
Where is the official download for Awami Nastaliq?
Use the download button at the top of this article — it serves the verified Awami Nastaliq 3.400 ZIP (all five weights plus the license). The same font is also available from the official SIL Awami page.
Why does Awami Nastaliq look broken in some apps?
Because Awami is a Graphite-only font: it needs Graphite-aware shaping (Firefox, LibreOffice, XeTeX). Apps that only do OpenType shaping may show disconnected letters or misplaced dots. Test in your exact app before using it.
Does Awami Nastaliq work in MS Word?
Word’s shaping is OpenType-based, so Awami may not shape correctly in Word. For Word documents, use an OpenType Nastaliq such as Jameel Noori or Noto Nastaliq Urdu; use Awami in LibreOffice or Firefox where Graphite is supported.
What weights does Awami Nastaliq include?
Five: Regular, Medium, SemiBold, Bold and ExtraBold — all in the single official ZIP package.
Can I use Awami Nastaliq on a website?
Yes — the package includes webfonts. Serve them with @font-face, but test in Firefox first (Graphite-aware) and verify Chrome/Safari rendering for your audience before committing.
Can I use Awami Nastaliq commercially?
Yes, under the SIL Open Font License: you may use it in commercial projects following the OFL terms (you may not sell the font itself).
Final Words
Awami Nastaliq is a serious, well-maintained font for Urdu and South Asian languages — five weights, open license, official SIL source — with one condition you must respect: Graphite-aware apps only. Download the verified package above, test a real paragraph in your app, and if it shapes correctly, you have one of the most capable free Nastaliq faces available. For more faces, browse the Urdu Fonts category — including Jameel Noori Nastaleeq and the rest of this series: Alvi Nastaleeq, Mehr Nastaliq, Noto Nastaliq Urdu and Gulzar Nastaliq.
