Iranian arts on display at Qur’an exhibition in Pakistan
An exhibition of Qur’an manuscripts opened in Pakistan’s parliament on Tuesday, with Iranian works on display.
With the cooperation of the Iranian Embassy, the exhibition’s opening ceremony was enthusiastically welcomed by the representatives of the country’s parliaments, political and cultural figures, as well as the ambassadors of Islamic countries, IRNA reported.
According to the National Assembly of Pakistan in Islamabad, the exhibition’s opening coincided with the last days of the month of Ramadan, on the eve of Eid al-Fitr.
Those attending the ceremony were: Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf, the head of the Pakistan-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group, Naveed Qamar, Iran’s Ambassador to Islamabad Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, and Cultural Attaché of the Iranian Embassy Ehsan Khazaei.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Qamar expressed appreciation for the initiative of the Iranian Embassy and the efforts made to hold the two-day Qur’anic exhibition.
“The people of Pakistan have the opportunity to serve Islam and, today, along with our Iranian brothers, we are blessed to see valuable Qur’an manuscripts and other magnificent Islamic arts in this exhibition,” he said.
He added that the presence of the 850-year-old manuscript of the Holy Qur’an in this show indicates the boundless love of the followers of Islam to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an.
The Iranian envoy said, “The message of this precious copy reflects the deep and lasting love and interest of the designers of these historical and unique work that is indicative of how they used whatever art they had in writing the Qur’an.”
He added, “As Muslims, all of us must highlight the role of the Qur’an in our lives; holding this exhibition in Ramadan is to this end.”
The works on display include 200 original manuscripts of the Holy Qur’an, some of which were written with a Persian translation, over 800 years old, in various Persian scripts of nasta’liq, thuluth and naskh. Some others are decorated and gilded with gold water, and colorful patterns of flowers and bushes.
In addition, a significant number of original calligraphic works of the Holy Qur’an are presented by the Persian Research Center of Iran and Pakistan.