From Madinah to Rabat, for the first time outside the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and as part of festivities marking the selection of Rabat as the capital of Islamic culture, the ICESCO headquarters is holding the “International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization”, a result of a tripartite partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Muhammadiyah Association of Scholars.
Since the official inauguration of the Museum and Exhibition on Nov. 17, 2022 under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, and in the presence of Crown Prince Moulay Al Hassan, the Museum and the Exhibition have been receiving a growing number of visitors who are eager to tour the various pavilions and sections of the Museum, which collectively provide an overview of the life of the Prophet, peace be upon him, through different and innovative mediums.
The Museum and Exhibition aim to highlight the message of Islam which promotes justice, peace, tolerance, coexistence, and moderation, based on the Holy Quran, the Noble Sunnah and Islamic history.
The Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, said that the purpose of this exhibition is to highlight the civilizational values of Islam, through the displayed items that reflect some features of its religious heritage, as well as other monotheistic religions’ legacy, to emphasize the importance of dialogue among believers and highlight the importance of the value of tolerance in the Prophet’s biography. One of the outcomes of the said conference was to establish the International Day of Mercy, and the exhibition includes a special section highlighting the Moroccans’ attachment to Prophet Muhammad and brings out the bonds of love through lineage and allegiance.
The exhibition and museum include three main components. The first is the “International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization,” which is supervised by the Muslim World League. The second: “Panorama of the Noble Prophet’s Chamber in the First Era”, with three-dimensional and virtual reality techniques, which are based on authentic scientific material and verified encyclopaedias, and represent a scientific, spiritual call to discover the prophet’s life.
The third exhibition on “the Moroccan Relationship with the Noble Prophet, the Beauty of Love and Loyalty,” is supervised by the Muhammadiyah Association of Scholars in the Kingdom of Morocco.
The exhibition is an integrated qualitative project, presented in a contemporary and unprecedented way. The event showcases a huge collection of antiquities and collectibles, including many meticulously designed interactive stations, as well as documentaries and books that tell the story of the Prophet, which is utterly different from the traditional presentation methods.
The experience gives visitors insight into the rich cultural heritage of Islam through a plethora of contemporary designs that reflect the values of the Prophet. It is a surreal and immersive experience of the prophet’s life through a futuristic lens, using state-of-the-art technology to exhibit the artefacts in a very attractive way.
The museum’s pavilions use holographic imaging, stereoscopic, 3D, virtual reality, educational multilinguistic panoramas, and augmented-reality technology to imitate specific items and personal possessions of the Prophet. The digital technology was created by specialists and artists who used artwork, textiles, manuscripts, collectibles, furniture… to bring the past era of the prophet to life.
The high-tech approach of the exhibition was aimed at appealing to a modern digital audience, especially young people, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.
From his part, Director of the International Museum and Exhibition of Prophet’s biography in Rabat, Dr. Tawfiq bin Ali Al-Sharif, said that “people’s souls and hearts were touched and they rejoiced so much by this prophetic era’s experience.”.
The event celebrates the distinguished relations between Morocco and Saudi Arabia. It received wide appreciation and attracted a large number of visitors exceeding 10000 per day, given the detailed simulations of the Prophet’s life, which capitalize on the latest technologies.