“I feel very connected with the calligraphy of Qur’anic scripture on the building,” says Education City Mosque calligraphy competitor

Qatar Foundation students and alumni have applied their creative talents to Arabic calligraphy – and won praise from the artist whose work adorns the iconic Minaretein building.

“Calligraphy is the music to the eyes and very therapeutic to do and look at,” said Taha Al-Hiti, the 49-year-old Iraqi-born British artist. “I am amazed to see the artworks and techniques of the participants of the competition as I’m all for experimenting.”

In collaboration with QF Student Housing and Residence Life, and the QF Alumni Office, the Minaretein Center hosted the Second Annual Education City Calligraphy Competition, at Minaretein building, where the Education City Mosque and Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Islamic Studies (CIS) are located.

Participants were assigned to recreate, using any Arabic script style of their choice, the Qur’anic verse which translates to: “And whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.” The 12 finalists, all current or former QF students, were assessed by judges from QF partner Universities: Dr. Joseph Ura, Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University at Qatar, and Basma Hamdy, Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar.

From the current QF students category, Tayyaba Sarwar, who is enrolled at CIS, won first place and said: “I never formally learned calligraphy, it was mostly through observation and practice. I also believe it was inherited from my family as both of my parents have artistic skills.

“After having a child, I found that I was missing out on many opportunities to participate in local initiatives. Once I heard of the competition, I didn’t want to miss the chance.”

The winner in the QF alumni category was Bashayer Ali Albadr, who graduated from the Academic Bridge Program – a school-to-university program that is part of QF’s Pre-University Education - and has since gone on to also graduate from Qatar University. “In 2016 I learned the art of calligraphy at a local youth institute in Doha,” she said.

“I usually don’t join competitions, but I took this opportunity to not only meet new people but for others to see my art.”

The event also witnessed the official inauguration of the Permanent Architectural Calligraphy Exhibition highlighting the aesthetic work inscribed on the Minaretein building, designed by the artist and architect Taha Al-Hiti. The Iraqi-British artist congratulated the competitors, who were inspired by his unique work on the building.

“As a Muslim, I feel very connected with the calligraphy of Qur’anic scripture on the building,” said Sarwar. “It speaks for itself.”

And Albadr said: “I am in complete awe of how Taha Al-Hiti used calligraphy, making the Education City Mosque one of the most remarkable places in Doha and even the world. I hope one day I can do something like this.

“In March 2021, I had an exhibition in Qur’anic Botanic Garden where I wrote Qur’anic verses that reference plants. Education City was where my practice initiated, and hopefully where it will launch.”