Katara book traces Qatar’s Arabic calligraphy heritage

Katara Publishing House has unveiled a new book titled "Calligraphy and Calligraphers in Qatar," authored by Dr Ali Afifi Ali Ghazi. The publication delves into the evolution of Arabic calligraphy within the country's cultural landscape. The book meticulously charts the historical trajectory of the art form, identifies key phases in its development, and profiles the calligraphers who contributed to Qatar's artistic and cultural legacy.

The book presents calligraphy as more than merely a decorative practice; it is also a testament to Qatar's educational, faith-based, and public life. A notable figure in the field is Sheikh Hamed al-Marwani, recognized as one of the pioneers in the art of calligraphy. In 1888, he established a school in his residence in Al Jasra, where students were taught the Quran, Arabic language fundamentals, reading, writing, and calligraphy.

This initiative interconnected the written arts with the broader dissemination of knowledge in Qatar.

Sheikh al-Marwani was renowned for his proficiency in multiple Arabic scripts, particularly Naskh, Ruq'ah, and Jali Naskh. Documents and manuscripts attributed to him serve as evidence of an early calligraphic tradition in the country. The study also highlights the contributions of numerous other calligraphers whose work greatly enriched Arabic calligraphy in Qatar.

The collective impact of these practitioners, according to the book, played a crucial role in shaping an artistic heritage that remains deeply intertwined with language, scholarship, and cultural memory.

The book goes beyond treating calligraphy as a mere style or time period; it offers readers a more comprehensive understanding of the individuals who shaped the art form. Dr Ali Afifi Ali Ghazi, the author, is a writer, journalist, and academic with a career spanning from 1999 when he began as a librarian at the Al-Amal Senior Citizens' Club in Shubrakhit, Beheira Governorate, Egypt.

He later ventured into journalism, joining Akhbar Al-Beheira Wal-Aqalim as an editor in 2002 and serving as its general manager from 2004-2007. He has also held positions at Al-Sharq Al-Arabi and was appointed general supervisor of Akhbar Kafr El-Sheikh in 2008. His diverse background in research, publishing, and journalism lends a documentary approach to the book's cultural history narrative.

Katara Publishing House, a cultural venture of the Katara Cultural Village, aims to promote literary and cultural production. Its initiatives encompass Arabic fiction, cultural studies, and research, striving to make specialized research accessible to a broader local and international audience.