CALCUTTA, 25 January 2005 — An Indian artist has etched the entire holy Qur’an on aluminum sheets to create what is being described as the world’s first metal Qur’an.
Shiraz Hussain, who lives in Calcutta’s predominantly-Muslim Metiabruz locality, has engraved the full text of Islam’s holiest book on 240 aluminum ‘pages’ weighing 30 kg. Each page has 29 lines. The spiraling pages are mounted on a steel base.
Shiraz, who did masters in Arabic and Urdu from Calcutta University, calls his handiwork an “Ode to Allah”. He has staked his claim for a place in the Guinness Book of World Records and its Indian version, Limca Book of Records.
“I believe that the first Qur’an was recorded on animal skins. It was subsequently copied on leaves and bark of trees and even on wood. But never before was it etched on metal,” said the 30-year-old Shiraz who is negotiating a deal with Hyderabad’s Salarjung Museum to display his awesome creation.
Shiraz says the idea struck him as he watched a craftsman in Bombay’s Bhindi Bazaar engrave his mother’s name on metal utensils before her Haj pilgrimage a few years ago.
“I accompanied my mother to Bombay on her way to Makkah in 2000. Like countless other pilgrims, she got her name and address engraved on steel utensils for easy identification. I was so fascinated by the intricate art that I immediately became his disciple.
“After my mother left for Jeddah, I spent a week in Bombay to master the art of etching on metal. And my knowledge of Arabic proved to be a big boon”, explained Shiraz.
Back in Calcutta, etching the Qur’an turned out to be a noisy project. Shiraz acknowledges his gratitude to his neighbors, wife Farida and daughter Maria who lived through it without complaining about noise pollution.
“Once I started, I was determined to engrave all the 30 juz (chapters) however long it took. The task became easier when it progressed. But the secret of my success lies in patience and perseverance”, revealed Shiraz.
The unassuming artist recently wrote to embassies in New Delhi enclosing color photographs of his unique creation. Now congratulatory replies are pouring in from foreign missions floored by his achievement.
