Doha, Qatar: The Qur’anic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has launched its ‘Gardens of Al-Andalus’ exhibition at the College of Islamic Studies of Hamad in Khalifa University at Education City.

Launched under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, QBG will stage the Garden of Al-Andalus from April 15 to May 31.

Created by the Islamic Culture Foundation (FUNCI) in Madrid, the Garden of Al-Andalus exhibition falls within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between QBG and FUNCI earlier this year to preserve Islamic cultural history for future generations.

The exhibition is an expression of the peaceful coexistence among different cultures, showing respect for the environment and historical heritage through the display of achievements of a stage in the past, Al-Andalus, which constitutes a scientific and cultural milestone and a reflection of one of the most fertile periods of history.

Fatima Al-Khulaifi, Manager QBG, said: “The Qur’anic Botanic Garden is a worldwide centre of excellence and knowledge, inspiring appreciation of nature and fostering responsibility for our environment. This exhibition highlights the importance of gardens in Islam and the extent of Muslim interest in this area. This is achieved through presenting the tools that were used by Muslims in Andalusia for agriculture, and in motivating audiences to take care of the environment to protect our culture.” 

The exhibition, which has successfully toured several Spanish cities and Arab countries, arrives with a modernized feel. In addition, Gardens of Al-Andalus has added three new scale models that represent the various types of Andalusian garden. In short, it is a modern, interactive exhibition comprising explanatory panels, photographs and illustrations, ethnographic objects relating to farming in Al-Andalus, treatises on medieval farming, audio-visual elements, olfactory devices reproducing the aromas of the different products used at the time, and artistic and plant displays.

Professor Cherif Abderrahman Jah, president of FUNCI, said: “The Garden of Al-Andalus exhibition is enjoyable, informative, and offers ‘the keys to a civilisation that loved nature and respected its surroundings’. It addresses the general public, especially young people, inviting them to discover the values of this natural and historical heritage.”

EscucharThe Qur’anic Botanic Garden is a member of Med-O-Med, a program that provides a framework for research, education, and preservation of the environment, as well as the recovery of historic, botanic, and acclimatisation gardens in the Mediterranean and Middle East.

QBG seeks to promote student and community participation, and to raise public awareness of the importance of agriculture in Qatar to support QF’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental responsibility.

-Ends-

Qur’anic Botanic Garden:

The Qur’anic Botanic Garden, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the first of its kind in the world announced to exhibit all the plant species mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, and those in the Hadith and Sunnah (Sayings & traditions of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH). The Qur’anic Botanic Garden was inaugurated by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, on 17 September 2008. To mark the event, she planted the Garden’s very first tree, the Sidra (Ziziphus spina-christi Willd, Sidr), which is also the symbol of the Foundation. The Garden exhibits the botanical terms mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, explaining the significance of their mention in the Holy Qur’an, as well as the scientific explanations of composition, application and usefulness to man. It inspires appreciation of nature by encouraging respect and responsibility for our environment.

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, science and research, and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa

© Press Release 2018