Iran to hold 1st intl. Qur’anic manuscript exhibition

The capital city of Tehran is planning to hold the first international exhibition of Qur’anic manuscripts at Iran’s National Library and Document Center.

The event will display a collection of Persian and Arabic manuscripts of the holy Qur’an which have been created by artists from Iran and a number of foreign countries, Fars News Agency reported.

Islamic countries and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states have been invited to take part in the exhibition and Tunisia, Tanzania, Turkey, Pakistan and Zanzibar have announced their readiness so far.

Iranian artists have made some of the world’s most exquisite and unique Qar’anic creations which have been unveiled and showcased during national and international exhibitions.

The world’s first Qur’an etched in stone is one of such creations which will be unveiled during Ramadan.

Seyyed Hossein Pourrazavi has hewn the entire holy book with the naked eye over the past 31 months.

Iran also unveiled the world’s most exquisite manuscript of the holy Qur’an in 2008.

The 600-page Qur’an was transcribed by prominent calligrapher, Zeinolabedin Qazvini, and was illuminated by some 35 artists during the reign of Fathali Shah (19th century king of the Qajar dynasty).

The book is adorned with 600 kinds of illuminations and it took the artists about two years to decorate the cover of the Qur’an with different colors and 24 types of gold.

Iran’s first international exhibition of Qur’anic manuscripts will be held during the holy month of Ramadan from July 21 to August 18, 2012.