Islamic arts take centre stage at Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed
HIS Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attended the inaugural session of this year’s Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed Ramadan lectures titled ‘Islamic Artworks: History and Heritage.’
The Majlis was also attended by HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with several sheikhs, ministers, senior officials, and Islamic arts specialists.
Held at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the lecture was delivered by Dr Ibrahim Shabouh, a renowned researcher, historian, and expert in Islamic archaeology, widely recognised for reinterpreting the works of the 14th century historiographer and philosopher Ibn Khaldun.
Dr Shabouh shared anecdotes, including the fascination of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’S Founding Father, with the Great Mosque of Kairouan during a visit to Tunisia in the mid-1970s.
The lecture explored examples of unique artworks and architecture from the dawn of Islamic civilisation, including intricate mosaics – such as those found in the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus – that depict early interpretations of paradise.
Another topic covered in the talk was early Arabic calligraphy, with the speaker giving detailed descriptions of the methods used in the production of centuriesold copies of the Quran, produced on leather parchment and painstakingly written in gold.
Highlighting the significance of Islamic arts in fostering cultural understanding, the lecture underlined the UAE’S commitment to preserving religious and cultural values and promoting intercultural dialogue through art.
The lecture was moderated by calligraphy artist Maryam Al Balooshi and featured pre-recorded contributions from Khalid Aljallaf, President of the Emirates Society for Arabic Calligraphy; visual media artist Alya Alsanad; and visual artist Patricia Millns, discussing how Islamic arts, such as calligraphy, architecture, and decoration continue to influence artists and designers in the UAE and beyond.