Gold-plated page of Holy Quran displayed at Dubai

Visitors to the Expo 2020 Dubai thronged Pakistan pavilion to see Surah-e-Rahman, carved on high quality canvas using aluminium and plated with gold.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood on Monday inaugurated the marvelous work done by an award-wining artist Shahid Rassam for the first time in more than 1,400 years of Islamic history. He said, it is a moment of pride Shahid Rassam has done a fabulous job.

Pakistan Ambassador to the UAE, Afzaal Mahmood, senior officials of Expo 2020, diplomats, and corporate executives also attended the event.

Rassam, a former UAE ex-pat, said, "I have not used colour or ink but the words are carved on a high quality canvas with aluminum and plated with gold."

"Surah-e-Rahman is showcased on six pages. First, two pages have only five lines on each page, while the rest of four pages have 10 lines on each page," Rassam said, adding that 15kg of aluminium and more than one kilogram of gold was used to engrave Surah-e-Rahman on the special canvas.

The project is completed with the help of untiring efforts of 200 artists, painters, calligraphers, designers, and sculptors.

Rassam will use about 200kg of gold and 2,000kg of aluminium to carve around 80,000 words on 550 pages of the Holy Quran. Each page will have 150 words and the creative artist is committed to completing the project at the earliest after showcasing part of it at the Expo 2020 Dubai.

Irfan Mustafa, a Dubai-based entrepreneur, played a significant role to make this project a reality as he not only sponsored the project but also convinced Rassam to share his work at Expo 2020.

Fazil Jamili, the president of Karachi Press Club applauded the great efforts by Shahid Rassam and his team, who have been working hard on the project for the last five years.

The legendary writer Anwar Maqsood said, "Shahid Rassam is a gifted artist. He has exhibited his art all around the world. The way he has been creating this great piece of art the world's largest copy of gold plated Holy Quran is like a wonder and a precious gift for not only Muslims but also the entire world of art.

He urged the government of Pakistan to come forward and patronise the world's largest gold plated copy of Holy Quran.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2022.