Iran, Malaysia Sign MoU on Cooperation, Discuss Publication of Mushaf for Persian Speakers
It includes cooperation on publishing a Mushaf for speakers of Persian, as well as jointly printing a copy of the Quran with the participation of the two countries’ calligraphers and Tazheeb (illumination) artists.
Nasyrul Quran, according to its website, is the world’s second-largest Quran production center after the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex in Medina.
The foundation, which is located in Putrajaya, a city near the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, is also a tourist attraction visited by those who love the Quran and Quranic arts from around the world.
Thanks to the efforts made by Datuk Abdul Latif Mirasa, the director of the Malaysian foundation of the Quran manuscript and publishing (Yayasan Restu), preparations for establishing the Nasyrul Quran foundation began in 2015 with support from the Malaysian government.
Mirasa traveled to many countries, including Iran, to purchase the required machinery and hold talks with activists in the field of Quran printing and publication.
The first phase of the Quran printing center was launched in June 2017. Then Malaysian deputy prime minister Zahed Hamidi attended the inauguration ceremony.
Nasyrul Quran has two main divisions, one that includes the printing factory equipped with related machinery and the second section including management offices, galleries, educational sections, conference halls, and restaurant.
The foundation has the capacity to produce three million copies of the Quran annually and currently prints one million copies every year. It also publishes translations of the Holy Book in different languages such as English, Chinese, Bahasa, Thai and Russian.
A copy of the Quran written in Javi script and having Iranian Tazheeb decorations as well as a copy containing Quran translations in eight Southeast Asian languages are among other Quranic books published in the center.
On the sidelines of its activities, Nasyrul Quran also organizes various workshops on Quranic calligraphy, Tazheeb and page layout.
The Iranian delegation, headed by Quran and Etrat Deputy of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Alireza Moaf, had traveled to Malaysia for the country’s 62nd international Quran competition. After the conclusion of the contest, the delegation, accompanied by Iran’s Ambassador to Malaysia Ali Asghar Mohammadi and Cultural Attaché Mohammad Ali Oraei Karimi paid a visit to Nasyrul Quran.
During the visit, Mohammad Asyaharim bin Abdul Latif, deputy chief of Yayasan Restu and son of its chairman Abdul Latif Mirasa, welcomed the Iranian delegation. A clip featuring the activities of Nasyrul Quran was also played.
Then, the Iranian delegation toured various sections of the foundation and learned more about its activities, especially in the field of printing and distributing Quran.
The two sides also discussed the possibility of elevating cooperation and the need for the Malaysian side to visit Iran to learn about the Quranic activities of the Islamic Republic.
Moaf expressed Iran’s readiness to define new areas of cooperation and share experiences in the area of promoting Quranic teachings.
He said Iran has taken strides in interdisciplinary Quranic studies and extensive academic activities in such fields as the relation between the Quran and mathematics, Quran and empiricism, Quran and rationalism, and so one as well as Quran and global and religious thoughts.
According to Moaf, compatibility of the religion with modern phenomena has been among attractive issues that have received a lot of attention in Iran in recent years. “We like you, have thought about and presented models regarding theories like return to the Quran, acting about the Quran, and Quranic lifestyle …,” he stated.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the deputy culture minister proposed the idea of printing a joint copy of the Quran, saying the Mushaf can be produced with the cooperation of Iranian Quranic calligraphers and Tazheeb artists and those from Restu.
He also hailed Restu’s attention to the tastes of people in different countries and its professional work in learning about people in various Muslim countries.
Moaf also invited Restu to take part in the upcoming edition of the Tehran International Quran Exhibition, which will be held in Iranian capital during the holy month of Ramadan.
Mohammad Asyaharim bin Abdul Latif, for his part, said the aim of Restu is promoting Quranic life and making efforts to further acquaint people with the Holy Book.
He added that Restu is close to becoming 30 years and during these years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been the only country that has cooperated with it.
“That is why we think we can produce and publish a joint Mushaf. This Mushaf will be a special copy for Iranians and Persian speakers,” he stated.
He expressed hope that the joint Mushaf will become a flag and symbol of unity between Iran and Malaysia.
Mohammad Asyaharim bin Abdul Latif added that the Mushaf will serve not only Iranians but also Persian speakers in other countries.
He further said organizing joint cultural and Quranic programs is a good field for continuing cooperation between Iran and Malaysia, calling for participation of Iranian and Malaysian art and cultural figures in joint programs, including a Quran exhibition planned to be held by Nasyrul Quran next month.
At the end of visit, the MoU was signed on development of cooperation and exchange of experiences between the two sides.
Also the Iranian and Malaysian sides exchanged copies of the Holy Quran as gifts.
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