WEST BANK: Calligrapher in Hebron works overtime to make manuscripts for Palestinians to decorate their houses during Ramadan

Record ID: 560711

  • Title: WEST BANK: Calligrapher in Hebron works overtime to make manuscripts for Palestinians to decorate their houses during Ramadan
  • Date: 24th August 2011
  • Summary: HEBRON, WEST BANK (AUGUST 18, 2011) (REUTERS) HAND OF FAISAL SHAHADA DRAWING ISLAMIC MANUSCRIPTS SHAHADA'S FACE SHAHADA'S DRAWING MANUSCRIPT SHAHADA'S HAND DRAWING CALLIGRAPHY TOOLS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CALLIGRAPHER, FAISAL SHAHADA, SAYING: "I started my career - it was my hobby to know Arabic calligraphy when I was in the second or third class. I was around 10 or 11 years old. God gave me this hobby, I wanted to write." SHAHADA ENTERING HIS WORKSHOP VARIOUS OF SHAHADA DRAWING INK BOTTLE VARIOUS OF WORKS BY SHAHADA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CALLIGRAPHER, FAISAL SHAHADA, SAYING: "I am a member of the international committee, which is part of the Islamic conference in Turkey, Istanbul. I participate every three years to show my work." SHAHADA TEACHING ISLAMIC AND ARABIC CALLIGRAPHY STUDENT SHAHADA TEACHING PORTRAIT BY SHAHADA SHAHADA WATCHING STUDENT DRAW VARIOUS OF STUDENT DRAWING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CALLIGRAPHER FAISAL SHAHADA, SAYING: "During Ramadan we work hard to write these statements for the people to enjoy them in Ramadan. When I write these words I feel more close to God. This is worship." SHAHADA'S HANDS WHILE TEACHING STUDENT STUDENT WATCHING SHAHADA MORE OF SHAHADA TEACHING
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: Arts,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA8Z7B0EBRW2RGKV44T1LVMZWSH
  • Story Text: An 81-year-old calligrapher has seen his income double during the month of Ramadan with customers keen to commission his work of Koranic verses to hang in their homes during the holy month.
    Faisal Shahada, from Hebron, in the south of the West Bank, said his talent for Arabic and Islamic calligraphy was a gift.
    "I started my career - it was my hobby to know Arabic calligraphy when I was in the second or third class. I was around 10 or 11 years old. God gave me this hobby, I wanted to write," he said.
    Shahada who started his career in 1950 is eager to pass on his talent to young, aspiring calligraphers as it is a skill in popular demand in the Palestinian territory, despite tough economic times.
    He says he and his students work hard during Ramadan to meet demand.
    "During Ramadan we work hard to write these statements for the people to enjoy them in Ramadan. When I write these words I feel more close to God. This is worship," says Shahada.
    Due to the bespoke nature of the manuscripts, some can take more than a day to make.
    Shahada didn't comment on the amount of money that he has made during the month so far, but the price of his manuscripts start from 28 U.S dollars.
    Elsewhere in the West Bank the month of Ramadan is made difficult for many by soaring unemployment, the United Nations reports that around a quarter of West Bank Palestinians are unemployed.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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