Latest news with #Naskh
Qatar Tribune
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
QNL launches Arabic calligraphy contest to celebrate heritage
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar National Library (QNL) is celebrating the timeless beauty of Arabic calligraphy with the launch of its Arabic Calligraphy Contest, inviting community members to share artworks inspired by its heritage collection. Drawing inspiration from the calligraphic panels and manuscripts preserved in QNL's Heritage Library, this contest offers a unique opportunity for participants to engage with Arab and Islamic heritage through the art of calligraphy. Themed around Arabic verses and texts, the contest encourages creativity rooted in tradition. Participants are required to incorporate one of five texts into their artwork, using a traditional Arabic calligraphic script such as Naskh, Thuluth or Diwani, among others. Entries may be submitted as either digital artworks or hand-drawn pieces (scanned in high resolution) in A4 or A3 format. AI-generated artworks will not be accepted. The contest is open to all nationals and residents aged 16 and above with a valid Qatar National Library membership. Submissions must be uploaded via the official submission form no later than 20 July 2025 at 11:59 PM. Public voting will take place on Qatar National Library's Instagram Stories from 27 July to 7 August 2025, with the final winner announced on 13 August 2025, in celebration of World Calligraphy Day. The winner will receive an iPad Pro to support their artistic journey. Participants can find inspiration in selected items from the Heritage Library's collection, including rare and beautifully executed examples of Arabic calligraphy. Full contest details, guidelines and the submission portal are available on the Library's website.
Arab Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Arabic calligraphy: Where the spirit of the past meets the rhythm of the present
ALGIERS, May 15: Arabic calligraphy, long regarded as one of the most exquisite forms of artistic expression in Islamic and Arab cultures, continues to captivate with its harmonious blend of aesthetic form and deep meaning. Over the centuries, it has evolved into a refined visual art that mirrors the rhythm of poetry— mesmerizing in its beauty while continuously renewing itself without compromising its authenticity. Characterized by fluid curves and precise extensions, Arabic calligraphy today stands as a vibrant expression of both heritage and adaptability. It continues to hold its place in adorning mosques, enriching manuscripts, and embellishing public squares and museums across the Arab world. The strength of Arabic calligraphy lies in its rich diversity. From the elegant flow of Naskh script to the ornate complexity of Thuluth, the graceful lines of Diwani, the geometric precision of Kufic, and contemporary letter-based designs, each script carries the signature of its era and the identity of its creators. This fusion of tradition and innovation was on full display at the 13th International Cultural Festival of Arabic Calligraphy, which concluded its latest edition in Algeria on Wednesday. The event brought together contemporary artists and calligraphers who showcased more than 100 works, demonstrating how Arabic calligraphy continues to evolve beyond its classical roots. Participants pushed creative boundaries, using calligraphy as a dynamic medium to express modern artistic visions, while remaining rooted in a deep cultural and spiritual legacy. The works presented during the festival reaffirmed the enduring relevance of calligraphy as a living art — one that shines brightly in the ever-evolving landscape of Arab creativity.
Shafaq News
11-05-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Iraqi cop's fine art: Calligraphy sets Kirkuk apart
Shafaq News/ A retired police officer in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk has become one of the region's most respected Arabic calligraphers, preserving traditional script and ornamentation from a small studio in the city center. Faleh Hassan Murad, known locally as Abu Firas, spent over four decades balancing police duties with a lifelong passion for calligraphy. While serving in the Kirkuk Police Directorate, he earned a reputation for his refined handwriting, often used in official records and signage. Now in his seventies, Murad continues to produce handwritten works in classical styles including Naskh, Thuluth, Diwani, Ruqah, Kufic, and Persian Nastaliq. Each form is governed by strict geometric rules and appears widely across Islamic manuscripts, architecture, and educational materials. These rules did not stop him, though. 'Each script has a structure, but once mastered, it allows for innovation,' Murad told Shafaq News. His studio features a blend of Arabic calligraphy, children's educational charts, and hand-painted banners. He also incorporates Islamic arabesque ornamentation—geometric and floral patterns used in mosques and manuscripts—drawing inspiration from Iraq's landscapes, from the southern marshes to the northern mountains of Kurdistan. Though he trained alongside prominent calligraphers in Kirkuk, Murad chose to remain in his street-level workshop near the old courthouse, which now serves as a hub for aspiring artists. 'He opened his door to anyone who wanted to learn, free of charge,' said one former student. 'To him, calligraphy was a cultural duty, not just a skill.' Murad describes his work as part of Iraq's cultural continuity. 'Kirkuk is full of history,' he affirmed. 'I'm proud to have contributed with pen, pattern, and precision.'
Shafaq News
26-04-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Love for the script: Iraqi calligrapher's personal quest
Shafaq News/ In Iraq's Al-Anbar province, where artistic activity has diminished, calligrapher Abdulhamid Nazem al-Dhibban is working to preserve the Arabic script through personal dedication and formal instruction. Born on September 26, 1992, al-Dhibban left formal education after middle school but pursued calligraphy alongside his studies, driven by natural talent and self-directed learning. Serious training began under calligrapher Mundhir al-Dulaimi, whose technique and mentorship, al-Dhibban recalled, had a lasting impact. "The first time I saw my teacher handling the pen, it astonished me.' "Calligraphy is a unique world," al-Dhibban told Shafaq News. "What first attracted me was its spirituality and the atmosphere it creates. The moment you pick up the pen, you feel as if you have entered another world." Conflict forced al-Dhibban to relocate to Al-Sulaymaniyah, where he studied the Naskh script with a couple of Kurdish calligraphers. "The biggest challenge was continuity, because the tools necessary for calligraphy were scarce.' Al-Dhibban described Arabic calligraphy as the 'identity and heritage of a nation, expressing Islamic and Arab civilization, but it suffers from neglect.' Each piece he creates, he explained, reflects a personal story. He expressed hopes of establishing a dedicated calligraphy center in Al-Anbar. "The first lesson I would teach is love," he said. "Whoever loves it will not abandon it and will become an ambassador for it."
Sharjah 24
12-02-2025
- Science
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Ruler enriches Manuscript House with two manuscripts
Manuscript details The first manuscript, titled Explanation of Al-Muntakhab Al-Husami , focuses on the principles of jurisprudence. Authored by Muhammad Yaqoub Al-Banani, this 11th-century manuscript is written in Naskh script and bound in red leather. It includes several footnotes, comments, and traces of old restoration, with a red alert line on the title. The second manuscript, I'rab Dibajat Al-Misbah , discusses grammar and dates back to 1700 AD (Sha'ban 1111 AH). Bound in cardboard with leather accents, it features the title in red and green. Benefits to researchers Al-Maadawi emphasised that these donations would greatly benefit researchers across the UAE and the Arab world, enriching the field of Islamic knowledge and scholarship.
