Malaysia pioneers the art of the Quran

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is pioneering the art of the Quran by incorporating Islamic aesthetic values into each Quranic manuscript, including the identity of a country.

Nasyrul Quran chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Latiff Mirasa said that the efforts made by his team over the past 30 years aimed at attracting the interest of the general public, especially non-Muslims, to explore the Quran through Islamic art.

“The mushaf (manuscripts) that we produce are not only for distribution within Malaysia but also overseas...so we will study about the respective countries to understand the motifs that depict their identities for the purpose of decorating the Quran that will be published.

“So far, the team conducting this research consists of about 100 individuals who will visit the related countries to study their cultures,” he told Bernama after appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s Apa Khabar Malaysia programme here Monday.

Currently, there are about 30 types of Quran decorations involving 30 types of language translations featuring the identities of respective countries, including France, China, and India, he said.

Abdul Latiff explained that before receiving many requests from foreign countries, his team produced Malaysian mushaf by incorporating local motifs that reflect the country’s identity, including its culture and people.

“In the past, we obtained the Quran from Arab countries, but there was no emphasis on connecting it with local motifs. So, we produced Malaysian mushaf, which are decorated to showcase the country’s identity. This effort does not stop there; it is further developed according to districts and states,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said that those interested in learning more about the decoration and art of the Quran are invited to attend the Restu Global Quran Arts Festival at the Nasyrul Quran Complex, Precinct 14, Putrajaya, which is being held until March 3.

The festival is open to all segments of society from 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 9 pm on weekends. The admission is free.