A renowned Pakistani artist, Shahid Rassam, and his over 200 colleagues have been working since 2017 to prepare what he says is the world’s largest copy of the Quran.
On the Karachi Art Council wing, this copy of the Quran will be made in aluminum and plated with gold on a vast canvas.
Rassam, who spends an average of 10 hours a day working on this project, predicts that this rare project will be completed in 2026.
This rare artwork will be 8.5 feet long and 6.5 feet wide which is undoubtedly more extensive than the current record for the largest Quran, namely the 6.5 and 4.5-foot copies of the Quran that were prepared in Afghanistan in 2017 and is now housed in the Kul Sharif Mosque in Kazan City in Russia.
Copies of the holy book are usually made using conventional materials such as wood, paper, animal skins, and cloth. Still, it marks the first time in more than 1,400 years of Islamic history. The Quran will be printed in aluminum, according to Rassam.
The Karachi-based artist said that this project was quite challenging because it was related to the sanctity of the Quran, and one small mistake can ruin all their efforts.
The first sample of the project, which is Surah Rahman, will be displayed at the ongoing Dubai Expo 2020 in November.
Rassam said that his team created their own design after studying Turkish, Arabic, and Iranian art designs. However, it is not a mix of these designs, but it is an inspiration.
He added that around 200 kilograms of gold, 2,000 kg of aluminum, and 600 rolls of the canvas would be used to cast 77,430 words on 550 pages. Not only that, precious stones such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds will also be used to illuminate and enrich the design.
According to Rassam, he started the project using his own funds. There is no financial support from the government or any institution. However, there have been several foreign governments approaching him in this regard.
Rassam emphasized that his work is not only intended for Muslims but also to attract people from different religions through the Islamic arts and culture featured in this work.
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