Al Owais : UAE lends proper care and support for the holy book and its sciences

Dubai, 26 Aug. 2011 (WAM) -- Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, witnessed last night opening of the third session of the Ramadan Forum for Quran Calligraphy.

Three international Calligraphers are participate for the first time in the three-day forum which draws 30 prominent calligraphers of different schools.

Artists and calligraphers from the UAE are participating in events to interact with international schools in this genre of art from 13 Arab, Islamic and foreign countries to gain and share experience.

The forum was launched by the reputed calligrapher and guest of honour of this year's forum, Amir Ahmed Falsafi, who inscripted the Basmala ''In the name of God, the most merciful, the most compassionate'' and then comes each calligrapher to script one chapter of the 30 chapters of the holy book.

The minister said the successful forum had become one of the top eventsin the international calligraphy agenda.

''The strategic objective behind organising this forum is to promote Arabic calligraphy not locally only but also internationally,'' Al Owais added.

He indicated that the qualitative support and care lent to culture by thethe wise leadership - President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - had generated immense positive impact on the local cultural life and placed the UAE in the standing it deserves at Arab and international levels.

Al Owais also lauded H. H. Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his incessant supportfor efforts to raise the value of the Arabic calligraphy.

Inspired by the spirit of the fasting month, each one of the 30 talented calligraphers is demanded to write one chapter of the holy Quran's 30 chapters so that the ministry will have by the 27th of Ramadan a full holy book which will be embellished and placed together with other books that wrote in the first and second cycles at the ministry's own exhibition.

''Assembling 30 creative calligraphers of the naskha font from 13 Arab, Islamic and foreign countries under one roof in the UAE to have the honour of writing verses of the God's book during the finest nights of Ramadan delivers a passionate message of the genius and aesthetic features of the Arabic calligraphy and demonstrates the UAE's sincere care for its religion and language of the holy book,''he explained.

The minister noted that three women calligraphers - two from Turkey and one from Spain - are engaging in the forum for the first time.

At the end of the forum, the most three best and beautiful chapters will be honoured.

An exhibition of major works that were completed during the previous two sessions will be displayed on the sidelines of the forum.