April 2018 saw more than 25,000 publishing professionals gather in London Olympia to meet and discuss innovative ways on how to make advancements in the field of publishing. Amidst hundreds of well-known publishing houses, a unique piece of history unfolded; The Al-Qalam Project – the only Qur’an writing project of its kind – graced the London Book Fair at an exhibition entitled The Qur’an in the 21st Century.
Hosted by The Review of Religions, The Qur’an in the 21st Century exhibition was sponsored and supported fully by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK. This featured precious full manuscripts of the Holy Qur’an dating back to the Ottoman era and a stand where visitors had a chance to have their name written in beautiful Arabic calligraphy, and all that free of charge!
The key feature at The Qur’an in the 21st Century Exhibition was The Al-Qalam Project. Founded by Razwan Baig – one of the foremost private collectors of Islamic art in the UK – and officially launched by the worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba in 2016. The Al-Qalam Project is the first of its kind in which each participant contributes a single verse and thus the complete text of the Holy Qur’an will be entirely handwritten by members of the public; irrespective of their race, religion or gender. This truly unique concept brings together people from all walks of life to show that the Qur’an was not just a book for the 7th century, but it is just as relevant today, in the 21st Century.
Reflections London Book Fair 2018
Razwan Baig,
Founder of The Al-Qalam Project
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It’s wonderful, very creative scripts and quite enjoyable to do it. I’m also a graphic designer so I can appreciate Arabic calligraphy. I think its such a positive thing and such a good idea and I look forward to seeing the final results.
Osman Savas,
Turkey
Helena Prochazka,
Australia
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Lucy Knowles,
United Kingdom
Manichand Beharilal,
South Africa
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Virginie Devoucoux,
Spain
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