Beauty of Message show highlights Islamic art

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  View PhotoSaudi Gazette - Hamida Ali Reza (L), Najia Aizaz (C) and Afshan Khokher (R) cut the ribbon to open the Arabic calligraphy exhibition as Consul General Aftab Khokher looks on. — SG photos by Syed Mussarat K …more 

Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

Calligraphy has arguably become the most venerated form of Islamic art because of the Arabic script. In the calligraphers’ works we can see beautiful compositions written in Kufi, Diwani, Thuluth, Naskh and Nastaleeq - the different styles in Arabic calligraphy.

In order to promote this art form, an exhibition "Roa’t ur Resalah - Beauty of the Message" of Arabic calligraphy by a group of Pakistani calligraphers was opened at Red Sea Mall on Thursday.

The exhibition highlighted the continuity calligraphy tradition, which goes back to the time of Caliphs Umar Bin Khattab and Ali Bin Abu Talib. In various Islamic lands this tradition has been carefully nurtured and enriched, particularly in Pakistan where it constitutes the country’s primary cultural identity and heritage.

The exhibition was organized by the Consulate General of Pakistan, in collaboration with Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, president of the World Muslim Congress (WMC), an Islamic organization based in Karachi, Pakistan.

Hamida Ali Reza, philanthropist and renowned Saudi educationist; Najia Aizaz, chairperson of Pakistan Foreign Office Wives Association; and Afshan Aftab Khokher jointly inaugurated the exhibition accompanied by Pakistan Consul General Aftab Ahmed Khokher and Dr. Tanweer Hasan Zaman, director of WMC-Jeddah.

Prominent Saudis who appreciated calligraphy, consulate staff and a large number of art and calligraphy lovers from the subcontinent community living in Jeddah were present on the occasion.

The 13 Pakistani artists who are displaying their works and specimen of calligraphy in the exhibition are Iqbal Ibn-e-Kaleem, Irfan Ahmed Khan, Ajab Khan, Hafiz Anjum Mahmoud, Malik Mohammad Abdul Rehman Naqash, Nasir Mahmoud, Ashraf Mohammed, Abdul Rasheed, Mohammed Hassan, Abdul Razzaq Razzi, Maqsood Ali Lashari, Mohammed Hassan Kashigar and Ms. Mussarat Qudoos.

Speaking to Saudi Gazette at the opening ceremony, Aftab Khokher, said the exhibition "is a part of the celebration of our 74th National Day and this is a culmination of our program, which we began in February 2014." This event is the third of its kind, which the consulate has organized.

"The main objective of this exhibition is to promote Islamic arts and calligraphy. Saudi Arabia is the best place to showcase our talent of calligraphy from Pakistan. We will continue to do this with the collaboration of the Saudi businessmen and establishments," Khokher added.

The consul general expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Salah, CIO Ehsan Hameed and CEO of Red Sea Mall Iqbal for giving space and support to organize the exhibition.

Deputy Consul General Imran Siddiqui said the aim of organizing the calligraphic exhibition was to keep the public aware about the potential of the unique art form of calligraphy to spread Qur’anic teachings.

Haj Director Abu Ahmed Akif said it is a great honor for the consulate that the work of these great artists have been put on display for the public to view and appreciate.

Eminent calligrapher Ibn-e-Kaleem Ahsan Nizami, who is in this field for the last 50 years, said: "This exhibition is being held not only to boost ties between the two friendly countries, but also to project the cultural image of Pakistan and to show that this age old art form is thriving in Pakistan."

Noted artists from Karachi Abdul Rasheed and Mussarat Qudoos too hoped this exhibition would further promote relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The exhibition will remain open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Red Sea Mall until Thursday.