SHARJAH

MAY 2014
ISSUE 3
SHARJAH
ISLAMIC CULTURE CAPITAL
Dr. Abdul Aziz bin
Muhiyuddin Khoja
Clusters
of Light
Sheikha Hoor
Al Qasimi
SHARJAH’S KNOWLEDGE &
ACADEMICS ARE TRUE MIRRORS
OF ISLAMIC CULTURE
A MILESTONE IN
CONTEMPORARY
THEATRE
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES ARE
SHARJAH’S BEATING HEART
From the collections of the
Vatican Ethnological Museum
Contents
‘So That You Might
Know Each Other’
MAY 2014
The World of Islam from North
Africa to China and Beyond
March 19 - June 14, 2014
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
In a unique and unprecedented collaboration between
the Vatican Ethnological Museum and Sharjah Museums
Department, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization
will present an exhibition on the material culture and arts
of Muslim cultures from around the world.
Sourced from the extensive collections of the Vatican
Ethnological Museum, the exhibition - entitled ‘So that
you might know each other - the World of Islam from
North Africa to China and Beyond’ - presents 70 first-time
exhibits, including religious paraphernalia, costume,
textiles, jewellery, riding equipment, weapons, musical
instruments and items of daily life and cultural practice.
Special Tours for Schools and Universities
You can now provide your students with a unique
learning experience through this exhibition.
Book a special tour for your students now!
For School Bookings:
[email protected]
For University Bookings:
[email protected]
Islamic Textiles
28 May - 10 am
Community Programme
Join us to learn about the magnificent traditional textiles
in the exhibition and embroider your own.
Al Majlis
26 April, 24 May & 7 June - 5:30 pm
10 May - 5:30 pm (Ladies Only)
Community Programme
Designed in the format of a traditional Emirati Majlis, this
event will enable participants to join an in-depth tour of
the exhibition before coming together over Arabic coffee
and refreshments to exchange impressions about the
objects and themes they represent, share stories and
learn more about Muslim peoples, cultures and each
other.
All our programmes are free of charge and open to all visitors.
For enquires : 065655455
Issued by the Executive
Committee for the Sharjah
Islamic Culture Capital
2014 Celebrations
Published by Motivate
GENERAL MANAGER
John Deykin
SENIOR PRODUCTION EDITOR
Rehab Barham
SENIOR ASSIGNMENTS EDITOR
Ingrid Valles
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Adnan Bashir
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
Victor Mingovits
HEAD OF PRODUCTION
Sunil Kumar
CLUSTERS OF LIGHT
A milestone in
contemporary theatre — a visual and musical
telling of the greatest story ever told |
PAGE 7
PROJECT MANAGER
Nadeem Quraishi
MOTIVATE PUBLISHING GROUP
Media One Tower
Dubai Media City
P. O. Box 2331
Dubai, U. A. E.
00971 (0) 4 427 3000
motivatepublishing.com
GENERAL SUPERVISION
4 N A R R AT I V E
SAYINGS AND EXPRESSIONS
Sharjah has not detached, even
for one day, from its historical
roots and humanitarian values
5 N A R R AT I V E
SICC 2014 MONUMENT
Symbolise the beloved memory
of Sharjah’s crowning as the
Capital of Islamic Culture 2014
15 C U L T U R E
SHARJAH BRINGS
DOWN THE CURTAIN ON
“CLUSTERS OF LIGHT”
Quoting audience opinion
18 N E W P R O J E C T S
THE ISLAMIC
BOTANICAL GARDEN
Bringing 50 species of plants, 30 of
them are mentioned in the Quran
Sharjah Media Centre
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
Ismail Al-Rifai
PHOTOGRAPHY
Simon Newton
Andrew Northcott
Friedman Kirn
00971 (0) 6 512 3456
[email protected]
www.sicc.ae
@sicc2014
6 C U LT U R E
AL MAJAZ AMPHITHEATRE
Sultan Al-Qasimi launches the first
masterpiece of its kind in the region
12 I N T E R V I E W
SHEIKHA HOOR AL QASIMI:
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES ARE
SHARJAH’S BEATING HEART
19 V O I C E S
SHARJAH’S KNOWLEDGE
AND ACADEMICS ARE
TRUE MIRRORS OF
ISLAMIC CULTURE
Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Muhiyuddin Khoja
congratulates Sharjah on its milestone
With Sharjah’s focus on education, we
strive for better academic infrastructure
s har jah i s l am i c cu lt u r e cap i ta l
3
NARRATIVE
His Highness
Sheikh Dr. Sultan
bin Muhammad
Al Qasimi
SAYINGS AND EXPRESSIONS
THE UNVEILING OF the monument
of Sharjah’s Islamic Culture Capital
brought out the essence of Sharjah’s
cultural project. It also bore a message to
the effect that, at this defining moment,
Sharjah has not detached, even for one
day, its historical roots and humanitarian values. It has also not stopped,
even for a minute, to be inspired by
the spirit of Islam, with its merciful
flow. From here, His Highness Sheikh
Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi,
UAE Supreme Council Member and
Ruler of Sharjah, sent his message to
every Muslim, proclaiming that “Islam
is a universal religion, open to all components of righteousness , goodness,
beauty, regardless of their origins; and
that the Islamic civilisation is open to
the entire world, and has interacted and
communicated with other religions and
cultures with full respect.
The unveiling of the epic show,
Clusters of Light, which kicked off
Sharjah’s celebrations as the Capital of
Islamic Culture, and was inspired by the
biography of the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), is another message from
Sharjah to the world. The show was a
statement of the emirate’s commitment
to the artistic and creative values of its
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s h a rjah i s l a mi c cult ure cap ital
programmes and projects as it commits to the authentic fundamentals and
their intellectual, cognitive and moral
implications.
This epic is one of the highest caliber
of shows, where the artists and musicians created its essence with a theme
which was surprising, integrating
uniqueness and glamour. Henceforth,
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah illuminated this celebration, saying: “The
Emirate of Sharjah adopts a great Islamic
cultural project, and this project aims to
highlight the splendour and beauty of
this religion, as well as shed light on the
great personalities who changed the face
of history, the foremost of them being
the Prophet (PBUH). It has become
a priority for the world to see the true
picture of the Prophet, who was sent by
the Lord to spread the greatest message,
the message of Islam. This is the goal of
Clusters of Light.”
Here we are, in the midst of a year
filled with blessings that will last for
ages to come, and in the midst of projects, creative manifestations and major
edifices that led to Sharjah’s prestigious
crowning; a moment to be cherished by
each Muslim who adopts the essence of
Islam in his life, and by every human
SICC 2014 MONUMENT
being harbouring goodness and beauty,
irrespective of his/her culture or religion. It suffices to note that Sharjah,
the emirate of one thousand minarets,
is open to all religions. More so, to be the
Capital of Islamic and Arabic culture,
it is open to all cultures, yet remains
closely linked with its local identity.
We are in the emirate of Sharjah, the
pearl of cities where there is an opportunity for every creative mind, a fountain
of ink for every writer and a platform
for every student, researcher or entrepreneur. It is a platform through which
one can express what they wish in this
expanse of goodness, with its doors open
to the world.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah
says, “Dear Muslim, you should know
that the civilisation of Islam, in particular, is based on acquaintance, not a
civilisation of banishment or exclusion.
The Holy Qur’an, the cornerstone of this
civilisation which ruled its actions, stated
the origin of human unity. According to
this civilisation’s philosophy, people are
all descendants of one father and one
mother; they are all equal and are only
distinguished by one criterion which is
the doing of good. This criterion is disciplined and supervised by Allah.” A majestic
monument for The Capital of Islamic Culture
COMBINING AESTHETIC concepts
with craftsmanship and noble meanings, the recently-revealed monument
emerges as one of the most majestic
artistic landmarks created so far to symbolise the beloved memory of Sharjah’s
crowning as the Capital of Islamic
Culture 2014.
Marking the launch of the activities
dedicated to celebrating the selection of
Sharjah as the Capital of Islamic Culture,
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin
Muhammad Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme
Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah,
unveiled the marvellously-designed
monument, to commemorate this glorious event. The monument also acts as
an attestation of the achievements of
“the smiling emirate.” Backed by the
vision, directives and guidance of HH
the Ruler of Sharjah, the emirate has
quickly emerged as a leading global hub
of knowledge and a booming destination
that embraces a universal sense of love.
The purposely-selected location of
the monument houses a lofty landmark
neighbouring the university campus,
and the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre
of Gulf Studies, linking it to its natural
surroundings within a scientific and
knowledge-centric oasis. This location
highlights the achievements of Sharjah
and emphasises its role in consolidating Islamic culture and disseminating
Islamic knowledge, especially when
considering the pivotal role played by
the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre of Gulf
Studies in embracing historical and
geographical knowledge of the Arabian
Gulf region and displays the evolution
of this region, in addition to exhibiting the collectibles of HH the Ruler of
Sharjah, who spent over 25 years collecting them.
The design of the AED 8m monument focuses on highlighting the importance of science and knowledge through
a selection of Quranic verses that call
for thinking in a scientific manner,
and copying them in an exquisite style
in both Arabic and English. Prominent
Spanish artist Carlos Marina, who
designed the monument, was inspired
by Sharjah’s identity and its remarkable
achievements. Standing at a height of 42
metres, the monument was built using
4,800 pieces of green granite, while
golden aluminium was used for writing
the Quranic verses. To sustain a building with such a height, the construction
involved deep foundations. At the top of
the monument are 12 columns capped
by a golden dome. The logo of the ceremony is engraved in the monument,
decorated with simple trims to add
another aesthetic dimension to this
edifice.
The monument is also beautified with
Quranic verses written by artist Khalifa
Alshimi in a spiral mode, using Al Diwani
calligraphy for both its flexibility and
liquidity. The 28 verses were chosen by
HH the Ruler of Sharjah, for their meanings which call for learning. Among
these is verse number 5 of Chapter 53
(Surat An-Najam); “Taught to him by
one intense in strength.” and verse 52 of
Chapter 7 (Surat Al-Araaf); “And We had
certainly brought them a Book which We
detailed by knowledge...”
Other verses are Ch.12:37 (Surat
Yusuf); “That is from what my Lord
has taught me” and Ch.2:260 (Surat
Al-Baqara); “And know that Allah is
Exalted in Might and Wise” as well as
Ch.20:114 (Surat Taha); “My Lord,
increase me in knowledge.”
With its aesthetic and expressive
tenor, this monument closely simulates
Sharjah’s message, which emphasises
the emirate’s commitment to raising
public awareness of the deep roots of
Islam and its openness to all cultures
and different religions that agree with
it in essence to instil the spirit of love,
goodness and peace. s har jah i s l am i c cu lt u r e cap i ta l
5
CULTURE
CLUSTERS OF LIGHT
A milestone in contemporary theatre —
AL MAJAZ AMPHITHEATRE
Sultan Al Qasimi launches the first
masterpiece of its kind in the region
FRESH FROM STAGING Clusters of
Light, the theatrical performance that
kicked off the Sharjah Capital of Islamic
Culture 2014 celebrations, His Highness
Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad
Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council
Member and Ruler of Sharjah, opened
the Al Majaz Amphitheatre. It is the first
architectural masterpiece of its kind in
the region. His Highness the ruler of
Sharjah unveiled a plaque engraved on
a copper plate at the centre of a stone
base to commemorate this magnificent
6
s h a rjah i s l a mi c cult ure cap ital
artistic and cultural edifice. Al Majaz
Amphitheatre represents one of the
most ambitious and important projects
in Sharjah, in addition to being the
official venue for the Sharjah Capital of
Islamic Culture 2014 celebrations.
The open-air theatre is inspired
by the Roman-style amphitheatre,
and designed in a semicircular shape.
At 7,238 square metres in area, the
AED 140m theatre can accommodate up to 4,500 spectators. There is
a large platform mediating Al Majaz
a visual and musical telling of the
Amphitheatre where artists can stage
their presentations. The theatre is also
equipped with an advanced, high quality and accurate audio system.
The project includes conference
halls, art lounges and other facilities
designed to accommodate a diverse
array of stores, while green landscapes
dominate the outdoor yard surrounding
the theatre building and cover the sides
of the island.
The project is located on Al Majaz
Island and is connected to the Khalid
Lagoon by a AED 13m flyover. The
flyover gives the venue an additional
aesthetic touch through its metallic
rails which are decorated in geometric
patterns to simulate Islamic ornamentation, and its hanging lamps decorated
with plant motifs. greatest story ever told
FROM THE WORDS that overflowed
the biography of the master of messengers to the images that overflowed
a poem by Saudi poet Abdul Rahman
Al Ashmawi, the epic Clusters of Light,
which kicked off the celebrations of
Sharjah Islamic Culture Capital in 2014,
turned out to be a visual and musical telling of the greatest stories ever told.
With its music composed by Bahraini
composer Khalid Al Sheikh, the performance featured Arab singers Hussein
Al Jasmi, Ali Hajjar, Lotfi Bouchnak
and Mohammed Assaf, together with
a zlarge group of actors, performers
and technicians.
It expressed the essence of Islam and
its high teachings in an artistic way that
befitted the principles of beauty, goodness and love advocated by the religion
and befitted Sharjah, which, in turn,
carried the message with its moral and
humanitarian content.
THE EPIC SCENERY
With an overflowing poetic spirit, the
epic addresses, in its beginning, the
space of Sharjah within which Clusters
of Light unfold, wiping darkness with
the radiance of Islam, which fills the
emirate’s spacious horizons.
The gates of goodness open so that
humanity can draw on divine inspiration and the message of truth preached
by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). From
this generous land, the epic starts,
chanting that Sharjah’s dawn radiates
with the light of Islam and its skies
do not stop smiling as they sparkled
with lights:
“The dawn shone forth with
a smiling face / It is because
new days in this place carry a
happy heart / And vast spaces
were captured in inspiring words
and sparks of light / Sharjah
gathered the ends of immensity
as if holding threads of silk in its
hands.”
—FROM THE EMIRATE OF GOODNESS,
SHARJAH, TO UMM AL-QURA
To the rhythm of music and the melodious voices of the singers and chorus,
the epic takes us from the emirate of
goodness, to Umm Al-Qura, which was
destined to have the great honour of
s har jah i s l am i c cu lt u r e cap i ta l
7
witnessing the light of revelation and
the last Prophet, and hence become a
magnet for Muslims everywhere and at
all times.
In the meantime, the oratorio takes
us to the pre-Islamic era (the time of
ignorance), where the music mixes with
the voice of a narrator who narrates how
the foundations of faith in , the Holy
Kaaba, which was built by the Prophet
Abraham and his son Ismail, were shaken
by the worship of idols at the time. He
proceeds with his narration down to the
Year of the Elephant, which witnessed
an attempt to demolish the Kaaba and
the birth of the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), Al-Hadi/the guide.
of a new era in history, the birth of
Islam whose sun scattered the dark
ages. Here, we see how the entire
earth celebrates the master of messengers. The universe sings, the scent
of roses fills the horizons and springs
quench all those who are thirsty. The
new prophet opens the doors of light,
extending his hand to all people. The
whole universe, and horizon, along
with Mecca, were awaiting the birth
of our Prophet, which embodied the
birth of satisfaction and the birth of
guidance that lifted Umm Al-Qura
(Mecca) and wrapped it with its blessing, for “The day was born and its light
across the universe has spread.”
FROM THE BIRTH OF THE
PROPHET (AL-HADI) TO THE
CAVE OF HIRA
FROM THE MOUNTAIN OF
LIGHT TO THE CORNERS
OF EARTH
Al-Hadi is born... These bright words
are chanted by the chorus in this
scene. Al-Hadi is born. It is the birth
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s h a rjah i s l a mi c cult ure cap ital
Inspired by the tale of the orphan
which marked the beginning of the
journey, the epic features an imitation
of the heart of Hira Cave, which beats
within Mount Al-Nour and submerges
it with light. Our Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) stayed in Hira Cave, home
of the first revelation. In this cave,
there came the first verses of the Holy
Qur’an, were revealed announcing the
birth of Islam and the beginning of its
unifying message. In that cave, the earth
witnessed one of the greatest moments
in history – the moment when the revelation said the word “Read” to Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH).
JOURNEY OF ASCENSION
The epic flows smoothly to paint the
journey of Ascension (Al Isra wal
Meeraj), where our Prophet travelled in
the midst of darkness, riding the Buraq
and accompanied by the angel Gabriel
(PBUH). He moved from Mecca and saw
the marvels between the earth and the
sky until he reached Jerusalem, and then
ascended to heaven.
During this journey, the epic says:
“In Meeraj you went beyond the
stars and the skies / You left
the inhabitants of earth /And
left for a journey in the heart
of the universe.”
SCENE OF THE GREAT
MIGRATION
Masses of Muslims are coming out of
the gates of Mecca... This is how the
scene begins. A wind moans, while
Muslims carry the lamps of faith.
It is the Great Migration and it is
depicted by the epic as a light emerging
from complete darkness.
It is the journey of salvation that
the Prophet (PBUH) allowed Muslims
to take to escape the injustice and
oppression of their own people. God
Almighty is watching over them as
they cross the desert from Mecca to
Medina. Music permeates the scene
like a breeze. The chorus chants
and singers repeat the oratorio.“The
Prophet’s Hijra has a wide horizon
from which the soul rises.” The
words then narrate the migration of
the Prophet (PBUH) with Abu Bakr,
may God be pleased with him, when
they stayed for three days in the Cave
of Thor guarded by a spider web and
supported by God the Almighty. The
horses probed the horizons to no avail,
seeing only the “darkness of ghosts.”
It is a journey that kept its takers
from the oppression that was awaiting
them on blades of spears and swords.
The chorus sings to the rhythm of the
solemn procession:
“The Sun of guidance is shining
forth in us and the dawn has
risen inside our minds / The
clouds are singing in praise with
the thunder’s sound and the
lightning it carries is shining
bright / It is Muhammad, the
Beloved, the True / He is a
blessing to the world / This
Prophet who is true.”
In another part of the oratorio, the
epic depicts the people of Yathrib (the
old name of Medina) waiting for this
solemn procession with with eager
eyes and hearts. The scene depicts the
Ansar (supporters) and immigrants
circling around the best of Prophets in
an atmosphere of affection and brotherhood as encouraged by Islam, and
promoted by our Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) through the message of love
he carried to all of humanity. Then the
chanting slowly fades until the epic
concludes this scene with the first
call to prayer recited by the dignified
companion Bilal bin Rabah Al Habashi
after building the first mosque.
s har jah i s l am i c cu lt u r e cap i ta l
9
SCENE OF THE
BATTLE OF BADR
With the voice of Bilal conveying the
Prophet’s commands to the Mujahideen
(Muslim fighters), saying “Do not betray,
do not infuriate, don’t kill an infant, a
woman, an old man, nor a hermit in a
silo, do not mutilate dead bodies, do not
cut down a tree, and do not demolish a
house.” With this message of compassion and morality in the arenas of war
and peace alike, and to the rhythm of
chivalry and heroism, the epic depicts,
with melodious sounds, the victory in
the Battle of Badr.
That victory paved the way for the
spread of Islam and gave Muslims prestige and power. On the other hand, it
undermined the power of the infidels,
declaring their defeat despite their
numerical and material superiority
after “they raised the banner of infidelity
and fled.” The chorus rises embodying
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s h a rjah i s l a mi c cult ure cap ital
Al Arish, the place where the Holy
Prophet (PBUH) led the Mujahideen,
while praying in humility to God “I see
Al Arish soaring to a place that clouds
have always wished to reach/Here the
Jihad was a celebration of faith/Here the
Prophet, whose prayers were answered,
praised and prayed again/With tears filling his eyes.”
GREAT CONQUEST DAY
The oratorio begins this scene with the
heralds of victory, recalling with an artistic and creative image, the moments of
the Great Conquest, when the Holy
Prophet and his massive army entered
Mecca without fighting. The doors of
Mecca were widely open, and Bilal
climbed atop the Kaaba, and recited the
call to prayer, filling the horizons with
the sound of right and justice.
Then the masses started to embrace
the religion of God, and the Holy
Prophet spread tranquillity and peace
among them. It is the day of the Greatest
Conquest, which laid the teachings of
Islam on earth, and witnessed the victory of Muslims without shedding any
blood, under the instructions of the
Prophet (PBUH). It was the day that saw
the Prophet (PBUH) deliver the message
he had carried in his soul and blood to
all humanity. “Allah trusted you to reveal
to us the Truth and you did it well/And
you let Truth run free when its horses
were saddled.”
HIS FAREWELL SERMON
AND DEATH
The farewell sermon included the
advice that the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
gave to Muslims at a time when he was
preparing to meet God, having fulfilled
his duty and spread the message of
Islam – the message of justice and tolerance which founded our civilisation on
transcendence, equality and spreading
brotherhood and love. Here comes the
oratorio to approach the biography of
our Prophet (PBUH) at moments filled
with faith and patience, and interspersed
with wins and victories and others filled
with sadness. These are the moments of
the Prophet’s death, which made letters
flood with tears of anguish. However,
death is only a fact of life and the religion
of Islam does not die. It is eternal. The
voices quaver with trembling words and
music as they lament the death of the
Master of Prophets.
However, the Clusters of Light continue to illuminate the earth, carrying the light of Islam filling the whole
universe with it. “We surrender to our
destiny/And accepted the death of the
finest among all Prophets. Only God
is Glorious. The finest creature is dead
but we still keep in our hearts ‘Clusters
of Light.’
SHARJAH; THE FINAL
CHAPTER OF THE EPIC
With this, the epic comes to its end,
after roaming the earth and sky and
pouring into the hearts of its audience
melodious sounds and soothing music
intertwined with the greatest story in
history – the biography of the Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH).
However, this epic, before the curtain
falls on its final chapter, brings us back
to Sharjah, where the spirit of Islam
still flows, and where the celebration of
Sharjah Islamic Culture Capital 2014 is
taking place, declaring that the emirate
never diverged from the spirit of Islam
and its sublime teachings; and never
departed from the moment of overwhelming luminance. Here, the Clusters
of Light emerge in the sky of Sharjah,
and here we all celebrate this occasion
in the emirate of love, goodness and
tenderness, and:
“Here is a dawn brilliant
like silver/Here is a sun that
brightens both ends of the
world/And clusters of light that
are still shining with a pure
light that soothes sight/Here
is a calling voice that is still
moving hearts from both ends
of the world every time it utters
a sound/And here is Sharjha
whose heart throbs when the
light shines between the two
mountains of Mecca.” s har jah i s l am i c cu lt u r e cap i ta l
11
© SHARJAH ART FOUNDATION
INTERVIEW
SHEIKHA HOOR AL QASIMI
Cultural activities are Sharjah’s beating heart
THE EYES OF the Arab and Muslim
world are focused on the emirate Sharjah,
which is celebrating its selection as the
Islamic Culture Capital for 2014 (SICC).
This year witnesses the launch of several
initiatives, projects and events that have
been planned as part of the Islamic year
programme, while at the same time are
in line in keeping the overall cultural and
humanitarian focus of Sharjah. To cast
light on the various events and exhibitions that will take place over the course
of the year, we interviewed the President
of the Sharjah Art Foundation and Head
of Events Committee for the celebrations
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s h a rjah i s l a mi c cult ure cap ital
of the Sharjah Islamic Culture Capital,
Her Excellency Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan
Al Qasimi.
Discussing the significance of this
celebration, HE Sheikha Hoor Bint
Sultan Al Qasimi said: “In 1998 Sharjah
was named Cultural Capital of the Arab
World, and 16 years later, Capital of
Islamic Culture. It is a great honour for
Sharjah to be recognised for its achievements in organising, producing and hosting exhibitions, events, festivals and conferences over the course of 30-40 years.
With Sharjah’s focus on education, we
see, for example, the Sharjah Museum of
Islamic Civilization which teaches and
informs the visitor about the scientific
and cultural advancements of the Islamic
World through inventions, scriptures,
architecture and craftsmanship.”
HE Sheikha Hoor acknowledged
that Sharjah’s investment in education
and culture over the years would not
have been possible without the vision
and commitment of the UAE Supreme
Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah,
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin
Muhammad Al Qasimi. His Highness
believes that the challenges faced by the
world today necessitate the establishment of academic and cultural infrastructures that can benefit future generations.
This year we witness the inauguration
of a number of important new initiatives. This includes the Islamic Botanical
Garden, Al Qasimia University and Al
Majaz Amphitheatre which hosted the
newly commissioned Clusters of Light.
With regard to the events and
projects taking place in Sharjah this
year, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi noted,
“Sharjah has a rich calendar of cultural
events taking place over the course of
each year which include the Sharjah
International Book Fair, the Sharjah
Children’s Reading Festival, Sharjah
Theatre Days, Sharjah Heritage Days,
the Islamic Arts Festival, the Calligraphy
Biennial, the Childrens’ Biennial
and Film Festival, the Sharjah Light
Festival the Sharjah Biennial as well as
numerous exhibitions, conferences and
other events.
This has always been the lifestyle
of Sharjah and its exuberant pulse. However, the events that are taking place
during this year have a specific focus on
the Islamic world.”
“In Sharjah, we have been fortunate
to have grown up with access to the
various cultural activities organised and
supported by the Department of Culture
and Information since the early 1980s,”
HE Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi added. ” It is
important to recognise the Department
of Culture and Information’s role in
making culture a part of everyday life,
through their local, regional and international projects.”
In regards to Sharjah Art
Foundation and its vision, Sheikha
Hoor commented: “Sharjah Art
Foundation was established in 2009
to carry forward the mission of the
Sharjah Biennial. Launched in 1993,
the Sharjah Biennial has grown in
importance over the years, developing a number of initiatives that we
believed would benefit from an institutional structure that supported a
year-round programme. Sharjah Art
Foundation continues to organise the
Biennial every two years, but we now
have an active schedule that includes
exhibitions, conferences, film screenings and very strong education and
public programmes. With all of these
activities, we are strongly committed
to bringing the best of contemporary
culture to the communities of Sharjah,
the UAE and the region. At the same
time, we actively work with a range
of local and international partners on
projects and initiatives that promote
collaboration and cultural exchange. s har jah i s l am i c cu lt u r e cap i ta l
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CULTURE
CLUSTERS OF LIGHT A SUCCESS
Sharjah brings down the curtain on
“Clusters of Light”
THE ‘CLUSTERS OF LIGHT’ epic,
which shone in Sharjah’s skyline as the
opening event celebrating the crowning of the emirate as “Islamic Culture
Capital for 2014”, will keep echoing in
ears and minds for a long time to come,
as it succeeded in painting an impressive
picture covering all dimensions of its
artistic and technological domains. The
play attracted an audience of more than
15,000 spectators, including hundreds of
officials, artists, cultural and media figures, who arrived from different regions
to attend this great event.
After five presentations, and before
Sharjah could ring down the curtain
on its first season on April 4, this event
managed, with its unique and integrated
aspects, to make considerable advancements in artistic presentations, both at
the Arab arena and workable sphere,
simultaneously, highlighting Sharjah’s
identity and creative aspirations. The
Clusters of Light epic attracted big headlines and made an imprint in both social
and traditional media. Quoted below are
the opinions of some actors in this work,
as well as impressions expressed by some
of the audience’s distinguished artists and
media figures.
AL-ASHMAWI: WE BREATHE
ISLAMIC HISTORY
Saudi poet Abdul Rahman Al -Ashmaawi,
who wrote Clusters of Light, the epic that
incarnates the history of Islam and the
biography of the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), says: “We breathe Islamic history. It is with us and we are with it. It
neither needs to move to us nor do we
need to move to it, and that is exactly
what the rhymes incarnate in [Clusters
of Light].”
He pointed out that all people love
and enjoy light and because it drives
out darkness and delusions, that is what
makes the meanings of Islam great. The
light spreads to human souls disseminating the spirit of stability, calmness, tranquillity and serenity. “Clusters of Light”
symbolises a broader sense that is neither
bound by limits nor blocked by obstacles.
The light spreads with ease, and should
anything interrupt its path, it is capable of passing over it smoothly until it
reaches its destination. And if anything
stood in its way it would be expelled
and burnt by its blaze especially when
there are millions of eyes waiting for the
“Clusters of Light” to drive out the dark.
KHALID AL- SHEIKH:
“CLUSTERS OF LIGHT”
IS A CHARMING JOURNEY
Bahraini composer Khalid Al-Sheikh
describes his journey in the completion
of the play as a journey full of charm,
love, cooperation and appreciation,
from conceptualising the initial melodies, sound montage and recording the
orchestra’s creations, right down to its
premiere, which everyone has been
awaiting eagerly.
“The goal of this work is primarily
aesthetic, seeking to paint a picture that
expresses this emirate’s great history,”
says Al-Sheikh.
“From the beginning we realised that
the epic’s content is itself fit for stirring
emotions of the viewers, but we wanted
to add another dimension through the
inclusion of the honourable biography
of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in
order to shed light on its great meanings
and venerable values.
while allowing them to visualize and
make mental connections thus enriching their overall experience.
HUSSAIN AL JASSMI:
SHEDS LIGHT ON THE TRUE
PICTURE OF ISLAM
Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi
expressed his great pleasure in
participating in the play, saying: “With
it [Clusters of Light], I am adorned with
the crowning of Sharjah as the Islamic
Culture Capital.
“I am celebrating and feeling proud
of the globally influential achievements
realised by my country,” he said, adding
that the heroic work of Clusters of Light
holds many aspects, the most important of which, is shedding light on the
true picture of Islam, its humanitarian
values​​and sublime message in promoting peace and love.
“The genuine idea is to produce an
artwork of high-level to serve Islam,
and clarify its magnanimous reality. At
the same time it is an historic work that
influences the entire world and generations to come.”
ALI HAJJAR:
A DAZZLING
AUDIOVISUAL WORK
Ali Hajjar, the famous Egyptian singer,
says that it is an unprecedented and
monumental work of a kind, adding:
“It teaches the entire world the biography of our guide, Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) and his emigration from Mecca
to Medina, as well as the message of
Islam, which is singled out by Allah to
guide mankind since the dawn of Islam,
in order to correct some people’s misconceptions about the religion, using an
easy and fast reaching language in a real
artistic and masterly executed work.”
He also pointed out that the difference between this work and other works
covering Islam and the biography of the
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the
fact that they have never before been
produced with such magnitude, and
dazzling artistic and audiovisual effects.
LOTFI BOUCHNAK:
UNFORGETTABLE
HISTORICAL EVENT
Tunisian tenor Lotfi Bouchnak stresses
that history will never forget this event,
pointing out the great importance of
this epic as it captures the real image
of Islam and its ideals such as love,
tolerance, justice and goodness for
all creation.
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CULTURE
Left:
Left:
Mohammed Assaf
Hussain Al Jassmi
Right:
Right: Lotfi
Ali Hajjar
He expresses his wish to display this
masterpiece outside the borders of the
Arab world in order to contribute to
raising awareness of the true message of
Islam, and refute the misrepresentations
that it is exposed to, especially when
it comprises valuable artistic features.
The work, in Bouchnak’s own words,
was “absolutely integrated in terms of
music, performance, singing and usage
of the latest technologies, in addition
to its simulation of the biography of the
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Bouchnak
also said that the high technical level
of the work confirms the capabilities
of Arab artists and their unparalleled
talent which has been refined through
the generous support from the emirate of
Sharjah for cultural and creative works.
MOHAMMED ASSAF: IT
CONFIRMS SINCERITY OF
SHARJAH’S COMMITMENT
TO ITS ISLAMIC IDENTITY
Mohammed Assaf expressed delight for
his participation in this work alongside
“prominent and creative figures with
rich careers and an outstanding presence in the Arab art and music scene.”
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s h a rjah i s l a mi c cult ure cap ital
Bouchnak
Assaf says that the huge work invested
in depicting the biography of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) confirms the sincerity of Sharjah’s commitment to its
Islamic identity and its pertinence to the
Arab world. He added that this project
constituted the most challenging work
for him as he is still at the beginning of his
artistic career. At the same time however,
he believes that it enhances has helped
him boost his confidence on stage.
“Through this work [Clusters of
Light], we will prove the merit of Sharjah
in obtaining the title of Islamic Cultural
Capital of the two worlds: Arab and
Islamic, together with its eligibility for
the title of Cultural Capital of the World.
“Sharjah has a proven track record of
its capability to host high-level art activities that require special equipment, a
solid team with rich experiences.”
WALID TAWFIQ:
HUMAN VALUES
Lebanese singer Walid Tawfiq expressed
his pleasure in launching this work in
the emirate of Sharjah, which focuses
on developing art and culture, as well
as seeking to organise distinctive and
influential events and activities. Clusters
of Light sheds light on great human
values, notably justice, love, forgiveness
and generosity.
“These values have always characterised Islam,” he pointed out, adding
that the world has respected this great
religion throughout history. He also
praised the distinguished actors’ performances, and the teamwork that
generated an integrated masterpiece
worthy of showcasing in various countries worldwide.
PARWEEN HABIB:
UNMATCHED ARTISTIC EPIC
Nothing delighted Parween Habib more
than kicking off the ceremony of the
“Sharjah Islamic Culture Capital” with
the epic Clusters of Light.
“A work of such splendour that
is unprecedented in the Arab world
reflects Sharjah’s leadership when it
comes to cultural schemes,” she notes.
“The emirate has always been home
to writers, poets, artists and intellectuals,
providing them with continuous support
for all aspects of cultural and artistic
creativity,” she said. Habib also praised
the work for its attractiveness to a diverse
audience who watched the oratorio with
full attention and enjoyment.
MAHER SLEIBI: ONE OF
THE WORLD’S MOST
IMPRESSIVE PREMIERS
Maher Sleibi, the distinguished Syrian
artist, believes that Clusters of Light could
be appraised right from its magnificent
host Al Majaz Amphitheatre.
“This Roman-style stage is a valuable
and a built edifice that add qualitative
dimensions to regional and global cultural monuments.”
“It is a historical opportunity offered
by Sharjah to elite creators and playwrights,” he continues, considering
Clusters of Light as a “tremendous and
impressive work that is harmonious with
the venue’s grandeur and celebration’s
exclusiveness.”
He applauds the charming work saying:
“It is not easy to execute a show that lasts
for two hours keeping the viewers entertained, and it is not easy as well to create
a visual biography that tries to depict
the biography of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) with a conceptual approach.
Mr. Salibi says this masterpiece
is the fruit of hard work done in an
exceptional visual, musical, artistic and
technical style.
“Sharjah has been able to organise
an exciting opening ceremony, which
deserves to be rated as one of the world’s
most breathtaking premieres. It is a real
artistic work that is worthy of respect,
appreciation and praise.”
MAKADI NAHHAS: THE MOST
DAZZLING ARTWORK
Jordanian singer Makadi Nahhas views
Clusters of Light as an impressive and dazzling artwork.
“It is an integrated work by all means,
from the theatre, visual technologies,
performance of the singers and actors, to
the finishing touch of Khalid Al-Sheikh,
which was evidently clear in the rhythm
of the harmonious musical.”
To her, “This celebration reflects
the identity of Sharjah and its civilised
approach, while conveying Islam’s message, the message of peace, enlightenment and knowledge. she adds. Nahhas
affirms that Sharjah is close to her soul,
and feels that it is a ground for “serenity,
tranquillity and relaxation, besides
being truly an Islamic Culture Capital,
as it is the Capital of Arab Culture.” She
says that Sharjah will always remain
faithful to humanitarian needs.
SHANTAL SOROUR: AN EPIC
OF URGENT NECESSITY
Lebanese media figure, Shantal Sorour,
argues that Clusters of Light is a work
of urgent necessity, not only on artistic
and technical levels which are drafted so
skillfully, but also as a necessity to shed
light on the true image of Islam, and
emphasise the essence and nature of this
great religion.
“It is an impressive work by all measures, from the use of modern techniques,
to the light effects, and from the participation of top Arab singers who enriched
the work with their strong voices, to
the melodious tunes that immersed the
whole venue,” she says.
“I’m delighted with the work as
it reflects the identity and nature of
Sharjah as a closely connected emirate
to the essence and ideals of Islam, and
that is clearly evident in its diversified
initiatives and schemes.” s har jah i s l am i c cu lt u r e cap i ta l
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VOICES
SHARJAH’S
KNOWLEDGE AND
ACADEMICS ARE
TRUE MIRRORS OF
ISLAMIC CULTURE
DR. ABDUL AZIZ BIN
MUHIYUDDIN KHOJA,
MINISTER OF CULTURE
AND INFORMATION,
THE KINGDOM OF
SAUDI ARABIA
THE ISLAMIC BOTANICAL GARDEN
A magnificient presentation of gems
mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah
ON 31 MARCH 2014, UAE Supreme
Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah,
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin
Muhammad Al Qasimi, inaugurated
the Islamic Botanical Garden, located
at the Desert Park on Al Dhaid road.
The garden, which is one of a series of
projects chosen to grace the celebration
of Sharjah’s coronation as the Islamic
Culture Capital, is emblazoned with
fragrant plants that are amongst others
mentioned in the noble Quran and the
Prophet’s (PBUH) Sunnah (sayings and
teachings).
For several years, His Highness the
Ruler of Sharjah has expressed a keenness for these plants and studied them.
These efforts resulted in the acquisition
of 50 species of plants, 30 of which are
verifiabily mentioned in the Quran.
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s h a rjah i s l a mi c cult ure cap ital
They vary from annual and perennial
plants, to bushes and seasonal gardens.
Among them are palm, saffron, ginger,
figs, olives and many more which go
beyond those mentioned in the Quran.
Located in custom made houses that
allow visitors an all-embracing experience, legends identify the verses of the
Quran mentioning the plants. It is here
that one sees verses such as Q 34:15,
(Surat Saba): “There was for Saba in
their dwelling place a sign: two gardens
on the right and on the left. Eat from the
provisions of your Lord and be grateful
to Him. A good land [have you], and a
forgiving Lord.” Then verse 16 (Surat
Saba) “But they turned away, so We
sent upon them the flood of the dam,
and We replaced their two gardens with
gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and
something of sparse lote trees.” For the
palm and pomegranate, the Almighty
said in Chapter 55 verse 68 (Surat
Ar-Rahman): “In both of them are fruit
and palm trees and pomegranates.”
The garden also includes a section comprising 42 different species
of plants that have been mentioned in
the Prophet’s Sunnah. Among them
are black seed, arak, saffron, cactus
and mustard.
Two plants that have been mentioned
in the Quran and Sunnah were not
included. One of them is the Zaqqum
tree, which grows in jahanam (hell), and
the other is the Algrdaq tree, which is
not grown anywhere, except Palestine.
The Islamic Botanical Garden serves
as a reminder to ponder the verses of
God and the miracle behind the mentioning of these plants in the noble
Quran. Furthermore, it is a work of
cultural heritage that contributes to
science in both the botanical and biological fields, in addition to providing an
environment conducive to facilitating
links between Islamic cultural heritage
and biodiversity.
FIRST OF ALL, I would like to congratulate the leaders and people of the UAE on the
occasion of crowning Sharjah as the Islamic Culture Capital for 2014. I would also like
to congratulate the emirate of Sharjah on its achievements and great efforts placed in
accordance with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi,
UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, which seeks to promote human
beings and invest in their knowledge. This aligns with the cultural growth witnessed
by the UAE, in its cities and its cultural, scientific, social, economic and media institutions making it one of the most prominent countries in the region.Just recently, HE
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Executive Committee for the
Celebrations of Sharjah Islamic Culture Capital 2014, and Chairman of Sharjah Media
Corporation and Sharjah Media Centre, received the banner of Sharjah as the Islamic
Culture Capital for 2014 from the 8th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers in Medina,
the city of the Prophet (PBUH). The function was met with warm welcome from the
conference participants. They were keen to offer congratulations and blessings to the
emirate of Sharjah and wished it success on this special occasion. They emphasized the
right of Sharjah to receive this title in light of its internal and external cultural efforts.
The accelerating cultural achievements we witness in Sharjah make us feel proud
and honoured as Muslims and Arabs. We see Sharjah hitting 1,000 mosques by the end
of this year, let alone its numerous Islamic landmarks including the Sharjah Museum of
Islamic Civilization and many Islamic cultural activities, such as the Sharjah Holy Quran
and Sunnah Award, Sharjah International Book Fair, and Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival.
Furthermore, the emirate is keen to adopt Islamic architecture in its buildings and
mosques, highlighting the greatness of Islamic civilization and its history. The Islamic
architecture is also evident in the emirate’s markets distinguishing it from other cities in
the Arab world. Add to that one hundred events, and a wide array of heritage, touristic,
cultural and urban projects which enrich the legacy of the emirate and match its position
as the Capital of Islamic Culture.
HH the Ruler of Sharjah issued an Emiri decree on establishing an Islamic university
named Al Qasimia University and presented more than 120,000 books for Islamic studies and others written in English to the university. This emphasises the role of Sharjah
as a capital of the Islamic culture in spreading awareness of Islamic civilisation and the
history of Islam through academic and scientific institutions.
In conclusion, I wish for Sharjah, the emirate of science and knowledge and the
capital of Islamic culture 2014 to remain a mirror for Islamic civilisation and maintain
its identity with its enduring cultural features. I am pleased to confirm the full cooperation of the 8th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers with our brothers and sisters in
Sharjah in support of the activities being held during the year 2014.
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