Famed Birmingham Qur'an to be part of SIBF 2017

Sharjah - The exhibition will be on throughout SIBF 2017, from November 1-11 2017

Do you want to discover the story behind one of the oldest surviving Islamic manuscripts?
Well, now you can at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2017. A major interactive digital exhibition telling the fascinating story of the Birmingham Qur'an, will be one of the main attractions at this year's SIBF 2017.
Brought to the UAE for the first time, the Birmingham Qur'an is one of the oldest surviving Islamic manuscripts and is considered a global treasure.
Exhibition visitors will be able to explore the manuscript in digital form as well as view a detailed replica of the holy script, thanks to an innovative and free online course developed by the team looking after the manuscript at the University's Cadbury Research Library.
Working closely with the British Council and the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, the University of Birmingham is bringing the unique exhibition to Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The exhibition will be on throughout SIBF 2017, from November 1-11 2017, before moving to Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi on November 20-29 and Dubai in spring, 2018 - dates and venue to be announced.
At each venue, the exhibition will feature a range of Birmingham Qur'an-related education activities for young people, including exhibition tours.
In Abu Dhabi, there will be free creative workshops for students from local schools - young visitors, aged eight to 18, can join calligraphy workshops led by Narjes Nourreddine and Bassem Zbeeb from Gallery Arabesque.
Susan Worrall, director of Special Collections at the Cadbury Research Library, said: "This excellent free workshop will allow children to learn how to produce calligraphy similar to that found in the Birmingham Qur'an and other ancient manuscripts."
University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Eastwood, said the Birmingham Qur'an manuscript is of "huge significance to Muslim heritage" and the academic study of Islam.
"By bringing this interactive digital exhibition to the UAE for the first time, we are privileged to offer an opportunity for people to celebrate this holy work."
Accompanying the exhibition, a four-week course, 'The Birmingham Qur'an: Its Journey from the Islamic Heartlands' is also open for registration.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah International Book Fair
• Sharjah