His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, affirmed that the UAE’s pioneering role in promoting creativity and its continuous support for Islamic art, in addition to organizing such forums and constant hosting for events and initiatives aimed at serving Islam and the Holy Quran, stems from the country’s responsibility towards our religion and its continuous efforts in the service of Islam, in addition to the belief of its leadership that Islam is the main component in shaping its present and future. We, thank God, are a country keen to assert its Islamic identity, serve the religion and spread its teachings and principles, we are a country with clear exerted effort in preserving the Holy Qur’an. This came yesterday evening during the inauguration of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan for the ninth session of the Ramadan Quran Calligraphy Forum in the presence of His Excellency Mohammed Al-Murr, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, His Excellency Humaid Mohamed Al Qatami, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Health Authority, Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Culture and Science Symposium, the writer Abdul Ghaffar Hussain and Her Excellency Afra Al Sabri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development , a number of cultural and executive leaders in the country and a large number of those interested in Arabic calligraphy. On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan, on behalf of the audience, extended his sincere congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and their Highnesses, Members of the Supreme Council of the UAE and Rulers of the Emirates, in addition to the people of the UAE and all Muslims everywhere. His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan noted that the month of Ramadan in the UAE is an occasion for intensive activity in the service of the religion, which is witnessed by the world on all levels including the memorization and recitation of the Holy Quran, due to the spirituality of this month which can only be felt through the letters of the holy book which will be scripted by 30 calligraphers from all over the world, who gather today to show their talents in writing a new and unique copy of the Quran this year, in Al Thuluth script “خط الثلث” with professionalism and sophistication. “I welcome everyone today in the events of this annual renewable session of the Holy Quran Calligraphy Forum. I always remember the Prophet’s Hadith:” God is beautiful and loves beauty. ” I recall this because of its close association with Arabic calligraphy throughout all times and ages . Arabic calligraphy which is the father of Islamic Arts, without question or exaggeration, is an important element in the timeless Islamic civilization. It has a prominent place among the arts of the world and is admired and appreciated by the world’s leading artists. This beautiful art, due to its close relation to the Holy Quran, acquired a wonderful spiritual dimension. It was also said that a skilled calligrapher must enjoy inner purity, in addition to purity of the soul and thought.”, noted Sheikh Nahyan. “We know that Muslims, throughout their glorious history, have exerted sincere effort, good and useful work, in order to root Arabic fonts, between Al Kufi, Al Thuluth, Al Naskh, Al Taaleeq, Al Diwani and Al Riqaa fonts. All these fonts are attractive and were used in the writing of the Holy Quran. Al Khalifa Al Maamoun once said: We pride ourselves among other Nations with the different types of Arabic fonts read everywhere, translated by every tongue and available at all times ” added Sheikh Nahyan. “If each one of these Arabic fonts has its own advantages, Al Thuluth font remains perfectly distinct to all its peers being the most beautiful of the original Arabic fonts. Al Thuluth font is usually chosen to decorate mosques, domes, facades and doors. It combines simplicity and sobriety and its punctuation increases to its beauty, magnificence and splendor “, added Sheikh Nahyan. His Excellency pointed out that he is looking forward with great hope to see the copy of the Holy Quran written in this session in Al Thuluth font, which he thinks needs great patience, high artistic taste, precise engineering ability and unique handcraft, as well as authentic and deep spiritual and religious energy. His Excellency finally thanked all the participating calligraphers for their good contribution to this good and useful work and further stressed that he is sure that their work would be greatly appreciated worldwide and would be a commendable effort to support the arts and literature of the Arabic language, and emphasizing its position among the languages of the world. His Excellency wished good luck to everyone attending this year’s renewable session and called upon God Almighty to always guide participants in the service of the Holy Quran and in the development of Islamic arts and its wonderful aspects, and to always make everyone, as far as he can, in the service of Islam, and to show its tolerant and wonderful aspects.