Eternal letters from the Abdul Rahman Al Owais Collection of Islamic Calligraphy, Sharjah. Translated by Dr. Irvin Cemil Schick.

Paperback. 4to. (28 x 21 cm). Color ills. 367, [1] p. Limited Edition: 1000 copies were printed. First Edition. Dozens of exquisite calligraphic works, some dating back to the ninth century, that have gone on display at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization give visitors insights on key periods of Islamic history. Over 90 Islamic calligraphy artworks are currently on display at the museum, which is located in Al Majarrah area, along Corniche Street. The exhibition, titled: 'Eternal letters: From the Abdul Rahman Al Owais Islamic Calligraphy Collection,' will continue until September 26 and includes Islamic calligraphy artworks characterised by the angular script known as kufi. Calligraphy is the highest art form in Islam and traces its roots back to the need to portray the Quran accurately and reflect its divine perfection and beauty in material form. The calligraphers' craft took hours on end of practical training that involved the preparation of writing materials, such as paper, inks, and the perfect calligraphic representation of individual letters (mufradat), as well as words and sentences (murakkabat). "Islamic calligraphy has always occupied a special place in Arab civilization and culture, and has been acclaimed around the world for its aesthetic and expressive nature," said Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development. "It is creative, precise and has the same aesthetic value as many of the great masterpieces.