Safi (West Coast of Morocco) recently held an exhibition on Arabic calligraphy, which dates back to the Ottoman Empire and Arab influence on Andalusia (i.e., the eighth century). The event focused on the Quran’s authoring process across various periods throughout history, reported Africa News on Monday.
Items featured at the show included graduation certificates–inscribed on wooden plaques–which were promptly awarded to students who memorized the entire sacred scripture of Islam.
The head of the Moroccan Club for Manuscripts, Coins, and Stamps in Safi, Said al-Jedyani, expressed great pride in one of the exhibit’s pieces.
Al-Jedyani highlighted, “We have a small copy of the Qur’an, the smallest Qur’an with a length of 20 millimeters, a width of 17 millimeters and a height of 12 millimeters, covered with gold water and written with gum Arabic.”
“This copy of the Quran is not read with the naked eye, only with a microscope. Also, one of the most important antiques in this exhibition is an astronomical painting on deer skin which shows that the heart of the globe is Mecca,” he added.
The Quran is Allah’s (God) word, as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by an angel (Gabriel or Jibril) at Mecca and Medina.
Al-Jedyani, who possesses his own collection, stated, “This collection that I own includes some items that I bought when I traveled to some cities, some that I acquired at auctions, and some that were given to me by my friends from outside Morocco.”
The Qur’an was printed in the late 1800s, but handwritten versions are still highly valued for their artistic and historical significance.
However, degradation challenges in the calligraphy preservation process may jeopardize handwritten copies.
“We see a serious deterioration in the art of calligraphy. Perhaps it is on its way toward going completely extinct, so most of the important calligraphers and those who still practice this profession are suffering in silence without getting any care, even though they practice this ancient art. The reasons are related to globalization.”