Morocco celebrates Ramadan and Arabic calligraphy with exhibition
An exhibition of ancient Islamic relics in Safi has highlighted the threat of extinction of the ancient practice of Arabic calligraphy, according to the Associated Press.
The president of the Moroccan Club for Manuscripts, Coins, and Stamps drew attention to the “serious deterioration in the art of calligraphy” during the exhibition that was held over the month of Ramadan and concluded on 9th April.
Amongst the artefacts from the 8th century and the Ottoman and Andalusian periods, club president, Said al-Jedyani was particularly proud of a miniature handwritten copy of the Quran that was on display.
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The 20x17x12 millimetre copy of the religious text is only legible with the use of a microscope. However, the world’s smallest Quran is only just millimeters off of the copy in Mr al-Jedyani’s exhibition.
Although the handwritten copies of the Quran remain highly prized in historical and artistic value, the art of Arabic calligraphy “is on its way toward going completely extinct” as most artists “are suffering in silence without getting any care,”, al-Jedyani said.
The exhibition was a celebration of Islamic heritage, showing the journey of how the Quran was written in various stages of history.
In February, the BBC reported that a woman in Pakistan raised controversy and had to be rescued from an angry mob who accused her of blasphemy as they thought her dress was printed with Quran verses. However, the dress had the word “Halwa”, meaning beautiful in Arabic, printed across the garment.
The woman was saved by police as the mob declared that those who blaspheme must be beheaded. She later issued a public apology.
AP/BBC/Al Jazeera
