Artistry and Devotion: Iranian Calligraphers Donate Illuminated Quran to Karbala Shrine
A delegation of Iranian artists presented the manuscript, which was written and illuminated entirely by Iranian specialists, to the custodians of the holy site. The Quran will now be preserved in the shrine’s cultural treasury, according to the al-Kafeel website.
The delegation was received by Seyed Abbas Mousavi Ahmad, deputy director of the shrine, and Mushtaq al-Ali, head of the shrine’s Quranic Studies Institute.
Mousavi Ahmad praised the work, describing it as a cultural and artistic offering. “This blessed manuscript, fully written and illuminated by Iranian artists, is the result of more than a year of continuous effort in writing, illumination, and binding,” he said.
“It has been gifted as a vow to our master Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas and, due to the precision and extraordinary detail in its calligraphy and design, will remain in the shrine’s treasury as an important cultural and artistic legacy,” he added.
Calligraphy master Seyed Azizollah Azarang, who led the project, provided technical details. He explained that a six-member team worked on the manuscript for over a year. The Quran measures 60 by 45 centimeters, and its binding and final illumination were completed in Isfahan, a city long recognized for its traditional arts.
The donation reflects a continuation of centuries-old traditions of Islamic calligraphy and manuscript art, in which handwritten Qurans are considered both devotional offerings and cultural treasures.
In late November 2023, Azarang had also donated a handcrafted manuscript of the Quran to the Museum of Imam Hussein (AS) Holy Shrine in Karbala.
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Azarang then explained, “The writing process spanned 11 consecutive months, employing the Naskh script. The finest quality paper (30 x 40) was meticulously selected, and a delicate copper pen was used.”
He added that the decoration featured natural colors, with gold water on the first pages and surah names. The manuscript weighs 20 kilograms, while its ornate Russian-wood box weighs 7 kilograms. A ceremony honored his contribution.
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