Shaikh Khalifa Mushaf’s scripting work begins

The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has announced to start the scripting process of the ‘Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mushaf’ (edition of the Holy Quran). Consultant Ibrahim Bu Melha, Chairman of the award organising committee, said on Monday that the move comes in line with the decree of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to issue, print and distribute one million copies of the ‘Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mushaf’. Bu Melha, who is also the adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for cultural and humanitarian affairs, said the Mushaf (Quran copy) is named after the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The award is honoured to make an agreement with renowned calligraphers Mohammed Deeb Galoul and Bajar El Erbili to script two copies of the Holy Quran, he said, adding that it will be one of the best in terms of decoration, binding, printing and packaging. The two calligraphers were selected for the almost one-year mission after long and deep discussions and consultations with the experts concerned. “They shall both start writing and providing the three supervising administrative, technical and religious committees with the pages finished to be revised religiously and technically one by one,” he added. The decoration stage shall then be assigned to competent experts and calligraphers. “The Mushaf shall then be revised by a number of religious committees in Arab and Islamic countries for final approval and accreditation. It will then be printed by the best and most qualified press specialised in printing the Holy Quran.” The first copy of the Mushaf will be dedicated to the President. Further copies will then be gifted to top officials in the UAE as well as Arab and Islamic ?countries. The Mushaf will finally be distributed for free to Muslims across the world. “The two calligraphers will adopt Al Naskh font —the style mostly used in scripting the Holy Quran. Though the Mushaf will be in medium size, it may then be printed in smaller or bigger sizes,” Bu Melha said. The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has named Shaikh Khalifa the Islamic Personality of the Year in 2011 in appreciation to his numerous charitable and humanitarian works, locally, regionally and worldwide. The Dh19-million Dubai International Holy Quran Award, though started with only two sections in 1997, has branched out to nine categories in a record time. These include the international Quran contest, Islamic personality, local Quran contest, Inmate Quran programme, lectures and seminars programme, UAE national memorizer programme, most tuneful recitation contest, Quranic science studies programme, and recitations (Qiraat) programme.