Arabic Calligraphy Contest

Showcase your creativity and celebrate the timeless beauty of Arabic calligraphy. Inspired by artworks in the Heritage collection at our Heritage Library, we invite to you to participate in creating your own calligraphic designs.

Submission Guidelines

Theme

• Your artwork must feature Arabic calligraphy, inspired by the manuscripts and calligraphic panels available at our Heritage Library.  
• The design must include one of the poetry verses provided.

Target Audience 

The Arabic Calligraphy Contest is open to anyone with a passion and interest in Arabic calligraphy. We welcome submissions from: 

• Art and calligraphy enthusiasts. 
• Students and emerging artists. 
• Anyone eager to discover and practice the art of calligraphy. 

This contest is a chance to celebrate creativity, connect with cultural heritage and share your unique artistic expression. 

Artwork Specifications

Size: 

•    A4 (21 x 29.7 cm) or 
•    A3 (29.7 x 42 cm)

Medium:

•    Digital design (created with digital design software) or
•    Hand-drawn artwork (scanned in high resolution)

Important: Please note that AI-generated artwork will not be eligible for entry.  

Selected Verses

Participants must select one of the following Arabic texts to feature in their calligraphic artwork. Using one of these phrases is mandatory for submission eligibility.

(1)
سبحانك
ما أضيق الطريق على من لم تكن دليله
وما أوحش البلاد على من لم تكن أنيسه
من مناجاة إحدى العابدات
-----------------
(2)
إلهي
وسيلتي إليك أنعُمُكَ علي
وشفيعي إليك إحسانك إلي
ذو النون المصري (توفي 245 هـ / 859 م)
-----------------
(3)
إلهي
كل فرحٍ بغيرك زائل
وكل شُغْلٍ بسواك باطل
والسُّرور بك هو السرور
والسُّرور بغيرك هو الغرور
عبد العزيز الدِّريني (توفي 694 هـ / 1295 م)
-----------------
(4)
إلهي
من الذي عاملك فلم يربح؟
من الذي التجأ إليك فلم يفرح؟
ومن وصل إلى بساط قُربِكَ واشتهى أن يَبْرَح؟
عبد العزيز الدِّريني (توفي 694 هـ / 1295 م)
-----------------

(5)
إذا هبَّتْ رياحُك فاغتنِمْها
فإن لكل خافقةٍ سُكونُ
ولا تَغفلْ عن الإحسانِ دوما
فلا تدري السكونُ متى يكونُ
الإمام الشافعي (توفي 204 هـ / 820 م)
-----------------

Script

Participants are welcome to use various types of traditional Arabic calligraphic scripts to create their design. The choice of script should reflect the artistic intent of the design and enhance the meaning of the selected phrase. 
Here are some Arabic calligraphic script options to consider:

•    Naskh 
•    Reqaa 
•    Thuluth 
•    Kufic 
•    Diwani 

Eligibility

• Open only to holders of a valid Qatar National Library membership. If you are not a member yet, you can register here. 
• Participants must be 16 years and above. 

Submission Process

• Upload your entry through the submission form here.
• Deadline for submission: 10 July, 2025.

Voting and Judging

• All entries will be evaluated and shortlisted by Qatar National Library.
• Public voting will be held via Qatar National Library’s Instagram Stories from 15 to 31 July, 2025.
• Each poll will present two submissions. The one with the most votes advances into the next round.
• In case of a tie, an additional voting round will decide the winner.
• The winner will be contacted either on Instagram Direct Message, email or text message.

Important Notes

• Submissions not meeting the guidelines will not qualify for the voting stage.
• Each participant may submit only one entry.
• Late entries will not be accepted, submissions will close on 10 July, 2025 at 11:59 PM. 

Prize

• iPad Pro

Key Dates

• Submission Deadline: 10 July, 2025
• Voting Period: 15–31 July, 2025
• Winner Announcement: 13 August, 2025 (World Calligraphy Day)

Inspiration

The following items have been selected from our collections to inspire you.