August – December 2009
The Qur’an has to be read, not only with the tongue and voice and eyes, but with the best light that our intellect can supply, and even more, with the truest and purest light which our heart and conscience can give us”. It is in this spirit, described by the eminent translator of the Qur’an, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, that the viewers of this exhibition are invited to examine these copies of the Glorious Qur’an, the Sacred Book of Islam.
For Muslims, it constitutes the very Word of God, and to transcribe the Word of God in a clear, precise and elegant manner has made the ‘art of beautiful writing’ (calligraphy) the preeminent Islamic art.
The Farjam Foundation in Dubai consists of a variety of fine examples of Qur’ans, mostly Iranian, which give a clear idea of why the arts of illumination and calligraphy have been named the pinnacle of all Islamic arts. The fine details, the extensive illumination, and brilliant colours present a pious aspiration and a creative, intimate imagination.
The remarkable beauty and exquisite technical refinement of these hand-written and illuminated Qur’ans illustrate the affinity between a beautiful script and its ornamentation. These manuscripts, it is hoped, will delight the eyes of both the scholars and the non-specialist with their dazzling beauty.
Dr. Nabil F. Safwat
Exhibition Catalog
Media Coverage
