UAE | Leisure

Master artist carves out Quran verses on a grain of rice at fair

Raein Akbar Khanzadeh is offering visitors verses of the Quran engraved on a grain of rice.

  • By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:56 October 30, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
  • Raein Akbar Khanzadeh, writer of the tiniest Quran World Wide, wows guests with his artistic talent, during the Sharjah Book Fair 2008 at Sharjah Expo Centre.
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Sharjah: Raein Akbar Khanzadeh is offering visitors verses of the Quran engraved on a grain of rice.

Hailing from Tehran, Iran, Khanzadeh is a master of the art in his own right as he writes down verses of the Quran without the aid of a microscope.

"My sight is three times stronger than the average person. I found out I had this talent when I was 19 years old, and after practising I became a professional," he said.

Khanzadeh's writing is not limited to rice but to items that are tiny in size, such as a grain of sugar and a strand of hair. Armed with a custom-made lead pencil, he is able to focus his vision on the object at hand and displays the end result underneath a microscope for visitors to see.

"It takes me about one hour to write 160 lines of the Quran on a grain of rice. I have been in this business for 10 years and have dedicated my life to this profession," he pointed out. In his works, the artist imitates the calligraphy writing of Osman Taha, one of the most popular calligraphers in Saudi Arabia.

Khanzadeh's profession is sponsored by an Iranian organisation, which is responsible for sponsoring Iranian residents with special talents. Some of his works include writing on precious jewels, diamonds and gold.

Visitors at the book fair were in for a surprise while Khanzadeh was demonstrating his talent, as it was fairly unexpected.

"I did not know that the book fair had these sorts of stalls, and it was quite interesting to watch him. I had no idea that there were such talented people," said Zainab Ebrahim.

"I will bring my children this weekend to see this man at work. It is incredible to see him writing in such small handwriting.

I have heard about these kind of things being done before, but never knew that it can be done without using any sort of technology," said Saleem Nader.

The 27th annual Sharjah World Book Fair started on October 29 and ends on November 7 at the Sharjah Expo Centre.

Over 725 publishers from 41 countries are exhibiting their publications. This includes eight foreign publishers who have collaborated for the first time with Arab publication houses in translating their books. An estimated 100,000 book titles are displayed in Arabic, English and other languages spread over 400 stalls in four halls.

Exhibition timings

Daily: 9am-1pm, 5-10.30pm

Friday: 4.30-10.30pm

Children's Activities: 9.30-11am, 5.30-7.30pm

Associated Activities: 5.30-9pm

Admission is free.

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