As the Sun Appears from Beyond: Twenty Years of the Al Burda Award

Guided by the Quranic theme of "Divine Light," this collection of award-winning art honors the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad through painting, poetry, calligraphy and more

For 20 years, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Culture's Al Burda Award has honored "excellence in ornamentation, poetry and calligraphy." Spanning winners old and new, this publication, published to commemorate the associated exhibition, features a selection of artwork and essays highlighting the prize's profound legacy. The theme of "Al Noor (Divine Light)" inspired by the 49th verse of Al Busiri's Qasidat Al Burda (Ode of the Mantle), celebrates the Prophet Muhammad as a source of divine light and guidance. The journey unfolds through a meditative and immersive progression of artworks across multiple mediums--including interpretations of Qur'anic verses, the Qasidat Al Burda and Ahmed Shawqi's Nahj Al Burda. The exhibition culminates in works inspired by the Muhammad 's Farewell Sermon--an eternal call to compassion, unity and enlightenment.