P r e f a c e
Makkah’s, nomination as the Capital of Islamic Culture for the year 1426 H ( 2005 ), is what inspired me to organize this exhibit. It reflects my believe in Art as an important tool to convey our eternal Islamic message to people all over the world. The holy city of Makkah has been the capital of human culture since the dawn of history and will remain so forever. Makkah’s unique place in the civilization of humankind has been reinforced by the birth of Islam in this holy place 14 century ago. Since then, it has spread all over the world, unifying Muslims through the faith of monotheism. The Exhibition titled “The Ultimate Journey to the Three Holy Mosques” is an important project, which I undertook to deliver a message of unity and diversity through the works of seventeen male and female artists representing thirteen Islamic countries. All of them had the creative freedom to express their ideas while painting these holy places, which have been mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). They are: The Haram Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The result of this endeavor, thanks to Allah, is as expected, reflects a variety of beautiful and fascinating paintings in different styles, representing various cultures that have been influenced by their environments, societies and thoughts. Despite the differences in presentation, the spiritual message of Islam and the historical significance of the holy places have unified these paintings. This again reflects the unique power of Islam in bonding and strengthening the unity of its followers, regardless of their language, color or race. By displaying these paintings in one place, the message that I would like to see ultimately delivered to the whole world, with the support of Allah, is that the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem play a significant role in unifying the Islamic Ummah, strengthening its vision and setting out its goals despite their differences.
Faisal Bin Abdallah Bin Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud
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