Algerian Radio
The 9th edition of the "Calligraphy and Manuscript Nights" launched yesterday evening, Monday, at the National Public Museum of Islamic Calligraphy in the center of Tlemcen, within the framework of reviving the nights of the holy month of Ramadan.
The first night of this edition, organized under the title "The Moist Branch of Andalusia" (Ghosn Al Andalus Al Ratib), included an exhibition titled "The Noble Prophetic Ornament" (Hilya), featuring eight decorated panels of the Prophetic description and displaying a sample of part of an Andalusian manuscript Quran by the scribe Abdallah El Ghattousi El Balansi.
On this occasion, a practical presentation with a workshop titled "The Noble Prophetic Ornament: Masterpieces of Art and Heritage" was given by calligrapher Toufik Ayadi from the wilaya of Bordj Bou Arreridj. In it, he addressed the definition of the Prophetic Ornament (Hilya), which is an artistic calligraphic panel containing a precise description of the attributes of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), written in Naskh and Thuluth scripts and decorated with gold. He also discussed its history and content as an art form in itself, providing explanations about the text of the Prophetic Ornament and its stages until its use in the certification (Ijazah) of calligraphers as a testament to their competence.
During the second and final night of this event, four presentations are expected. The first will cover "Researcher Boubaya's Journey with Manuscripts of Andalusian History," while the second will showcase the manuscript of the history of Majorca by its author Ibn Amira El Makhzoumi. There will also be a presentation introducing the manuscript library of Sidi Adda Ibn Ghoulamallah in the wilaya of Tiaret, and another on "The Creativity of Andalusians in Manuscript Documentation," led by professors from the universities of Tlemcen and Oran. This is in addition to an opening intervention on "The Scholars of Tlemcen through Nafh Al-Tib" by Dr. Mahi Guendouz El Nedroumi from the University of Tlemcen, as explained by the organizers.
This event, organized by the National Public Museum of Islamic Calligraphy of Tlemcen in coordination with the Laboratory of Literary and Andalusian Studies at the University of Tlemcen, aims to highlight the Andalusian manuscript heritage and the reality of working on its study and verification, as well as introducing manuscript libraries across the national territory and those responsible for them, as indicated.
