Haripur calligrapher wins int'l Islamic arts contest

A calligrapher from Haripur has won first position in an international Islamic arts competition, bringing pride to Pakistan.

The Islamic Arts Society has announced the winners of the sixth global competition titled Art for the Love of Prophet Muhammad", held in connection with Meraj 2026.

This unique competition, aimed at paying tribute to the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH through artistic expression, attracted global attention.

Judges evaluated entries based on thematic relevance, creativity, originality, effective use of artistic elements, mastery of materials and colours, aesthetic quality, presentation, authenticity and credibility.

The competition was divided into Traditional and Contemporary Islamic Arts categories. A four-member judging panel of the Islamic Arts Society reviewed over 400 submissions from 24 countries across five continents.

The jury included renowned artists Nihad Dukhan, AQ Arif, Ayesha Changezi and Mona Sajjad.

Shumail Ahmed, a resident of Kot Najeebullah, Haripur, credited his success to his teacher, renowned calligrapher Ustad Matiullah.

His friend and mentor Syed Zameer Haider Shah described him as a hardworking artist who learned under the guidance of a globally acclaimed master.

Speaking on the occasion, Shumail said that competing against artists from 24 countries under strict evaluation criteria was challenging, but the judges declared his work the best based on creativity, thematic alignment and aesthetic finesse. He added that this victory is not his final destination but a new beginning, and he aims to further experiment in Islamic arts and continue representing Pakistan internationally.