Right-to-left Support in Python Networkx and matplotlib

Question

I have tried to draw lexicographic graphs with python33 networkx and matplotlib running on Linux Fedora 19 KDE, 64 bits. When feeding English script as input data, the graphs are drawn well. However, when providing Arabic script as input data, all I get is squares queued in juxtaposition. This is an example of a simple graph in English script:

and here is a simple graph of Arabic words written in Arabic script, (which is written from Right-to-left).

The question is: how can I show Arabic script in the graphs that I generate using python networkx and matplotlib.pyplot? I really appreciate your kind help!

Edit: after Chronial suggested selecting the the proper font, I executed these commands in the python33 shell:

>>> import matplotlib.pyplot
>>> matplotlib.rcParams.update({font.family' : 'TraditionalArabic'})

Then I constructed the graph with Arabic words. However, drawing the graph did not show Arabic script. It showed jsut squares. I do not know whether the matplotlib.pyplot uses the system fonts or it has its own font packages. Assuming that the matplotlib.pyplot uses the system font, then it should have shown Arabic scripts. It seems that Arabic fonts needs to be installed to the matplotlib.pyplot. But I don't know how to do that. Your help is highly appreciated!

Edit # 3: After installing Arabic fonts into the system, I could generate graphs with Arabic script but the script appears from left-to-right. A good progress towards the final stage: which is Arabic script appearing from Right to left. Below is a shot of the graph:

Yours,

Mohammed

Answer 1

For Arabic in matplotlib you need bidi.algorithm.get_display and arabic_reshaper modules:

from bidi.algorithm import get_display
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import arabic_reshaper
import networkx as nx

# Arabic text preprocessing 
reshaped_text = arabic_reshaper.reshape(u'لغةٌ عربيّة')
artext = get_display(reshaped_text)

# constructing the sample graph
G=nx.Graph()
G.add_edge('a', artext ,weight=0.6)
pos=nx.spring_layout(G) 
nx.draw_networkx_nodes(G,pos,node_size=700)
nx.draw_networkx_edges(G,pos,edgelist=G.edges(data=True),width=6)

# Drawing Arabic text
# Just Make sure your version of the font 'Times New Roman' has Arabic in it. 
# You can use any Arabic font here.
nx.draw_networkx_labels(G,pos,font_size=20,font_family='Times New Roman')

# showing the graph
plt.axis('off')
plt.show()