At the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, the Sharjah Museums Authority is displaying several priceless Quran manuscripts and works of Islamic calligraphy from the Hamid Jafar Quran Collection.
The exhibition “Sacred Words, Timeless Calligraphy: Highlights of Exceptional Calligraphy from the Hamid Jafar Qur’an Collection,” organized by Sharjah Museums Authority (SMA), features a number of exquisite manuscripts that are being displayed for the first time ever, was opened on Monday by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, Zaki Nusseibeh, cultural adviser to the president of the UAE, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, minister of health and prevention, Hamid Jafar, founder and chairman of the Sharjah-based Crescent Group of Companies, and Manal Ataya, director general of the Sharjah Museums Authority were all present at the opening.
The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization will host the exhibition, which is a part of SMA’s initiatives to increase awareness of the history of Arabic calligraphy and its contribution to the development of the art scene, until March 19 of next year.
According to Manal Ataya, director general of Sharjah Museums Authority, “We are pleased to organize this exhibition, which reflects the great dedication of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi to making Islamic collections accessible and making sure they represent the diversity found in Islamic heritage.”
A selection of more than 50 extremely rare Quran manuscripts, including a painting and a rug, are on display in the exhibition. They span 14 centuries of Islamic civilization, from the Near East to China, South East Asia, Spain, and the Maghrib, and they show how Islam served as a unifying force and a source of inspiration for various cultures.
Pages from numerous massive Quran manuscripts that date from the period between the 2nd AH/ 8th CE centuries and the 4th AH/ 10th CE centuries are among the other items that illustrate the history of calligraphy and show new facets of the visual art of calligraphy.
The exhibited pieces demonstrate craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty in design, showcasing advancements over time and capturing the style of the place and time in which they were created.
This significant collection of rare Quranic manuscripts and calligraphy may now be seen thanks to the Crescent Group, which Jafar formed and is now celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Additionally promoting the use of museums as learning spaces, SMA will be launching a number of educational initiatives in conjunction with the exhibition. These will consist of a variety of drop-in family workshops that will run continuously throughout the show.
