Dubai-based artist stays true to Quran

12 years ago | Posted in: Religion | 762 Views

Dubai: Dubai-based Iranian artist Raein Akbar Khanzadeh has copied the Quran in its entirety every year for the last 12 years and has created a new record every time.

Following last year’s stupendous feat of confining the entire text of the book onto two 21cmX15cm pages of gold — creating a world record for the smallest gold engraved Quran — the eagle-eyed artist has articulated his craft onto a different precious metal.

This year he has displayed his providential gift by copying the whole of Quran, that consists of 114 chapters and in most copies covers 604 pages, on one and a half sheets of silver that are smaller than A4 size paper.

The artist, who can read and write letters 30 times smaller than that are visible to naked eyes, dedicates his work to Allah and believes his eyesight improves the more he reads and copies the Quran.

“I decided 12 years ago that I will dedicate my talent in the service of Islam. I do art only with the verses of Quran and I will continue to do it every year,” said Khanzadeh, who has copied Quran in a different format each year since he was 20.

His latest masterpiece, the Quran engraved in two sheets of silver and platinum that weighs 6kg, will be unveiled in Kuwait next week.

The sheets have been designed into a book that is encrusted with 2,500 gemstones including 20 carats of diamond, 10 carats of rubies as well as sapphires.

Khanzadeh, who spent the last 10 months working 10 hours a day everyday on the project, says the artpiece cost him Dh150,000 which he spent from his personal savings.

“I have not gone for a sponsor this time and spent all of what I earned from my previous project. Sponsors tend to commercialize things and I don’t like it. We should respect the sanctity of Quran and should not use it make money,” added the 32-year-old mathematics and Quranic studies graduate from Tehran.

However, he is open to offers from collectors.

The miniaturist does all of his delicate and tiny artwork without any aide of a microscope or a magnifying glasses.

“I can naturally see things so small that people normally would need a microscope or a magnifying glass to see. Initially I was scared that the ability would diminish but it has improved every day and I can see smaller things than before,” said the artist, who is also a painter and calligrapher, with several records to his credit.

Khanzadeh, who hasn’t received any formal training in art, has had the talent since childhood and previously copied several verses of Quran on the strands of hair and on the grains of rice. He has also copied the whole of the Quran in a booklet measuring just 2 by 1.5mm.

“I have had this ability since a very young age and as a child I have always indulged in art, but I realized this special ability 12 years ago when I saw an Indian man writing on grains of rice with the help of a microscope. I thought I could do it without any aide and since then I haven’t stopped,” said the artist, who has also painted portraits on grains of rice.

Khanzadeh’s works have been verified and certified for accuracy and quality by experts including UAE’s General Authority of Islamic Affairs.

His works have also been appreciated and displayed in several countries including Iran, Tajikistan, Pakistan, UAE and Kuwait, where the latest work will be displayed.

The artist has several high profile figures among his clients including Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council as well as the royal family of Kuwait.

His next project will be a series of jewellery engraved with Quranic verses, which he plans to unveil by next Ramadan.

 

 

 

 

ref: www.gulfnews.com

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