View the al Sabah Collection at the Google Cultural Institute

Source: al Sabah Collection, from the Google Cultural Institute. Captioned. 'Inscribed Royal Gemstone, 1,001 AD'. Rectangular emerald stone, w3.35 x h2.92 cm, inscribed with seven lines of 'naskhi' script from the Quran (2:255). View this item online.

The al Sabah Collection, regarded by international authorities as one of a small handful of the most comprehensive collections of Islamic art in the world.  has 48 items available for viewing online via the Google Cultural Institute.

The Collection was begun in 1975 when Sheikh Nasser Sabah al Ahmed al Sabah purchased a mid-14th century enamelled glass bottle from a London art gallery. Curated by Sheikh Nasser and his wife Sheikha Hussah Sabah al Salem al Sabah, the Collection was moved in 1983 from Sheikh Nasser’s private residence to a new location at the Kuwait National Museum. The building became known as Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah (DAI), and Sheikha Hussah became the organisation’s Director General. Since its inception in 1983, DAI has diversified from managing the loan of the al Sabah Collection of art from the Islamic world to the State of Kuwait to becoming an internationally-recognised cultural organisation.

The Collection has now grown to more than 30,000 objects representing the full geographic and chronological range of the Islamic world, from Spain to China, from the 7th to 19th centuries. It features all aspects of art, including arms and armour, calligraphy, carpets and textiles, ceramics, coins, ivory, jewellery, extraordinary manuscripts and miniatures, metalwork, scientific instruments, stone and stucco, wood and glass. The Collection actively publishes volumes focused on its holdings, organises special exhibitions, and loans objects to exhibitions elsewhere in the world.

Interested?

View the Suroor Asia blog post on the Google Cultural Institute and the Aan Collection

CIDB refurbishes prayer hall in Kampung Andus, Sabah

Ramadhan, being a time for giving, has seen many corporations come together for corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.

Source: CIDB. The handover ceremony.

The newly-repaired Al-Mukminin Surau at Kampung Andus, Sabah, Malaysia, was handed over to villagers by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) on July 20 in a handover ceremony officiated by Deputy Works Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.

Using funds raised from corporate companies through its “Build Brigade” Programme, launched as a CSR initiative last November, CIDB strengthened the building structure, repaired parts of the buildling, and added an ablution area for women. 

Through Build Brigade, CIDB helps communities living in the interior and needy groups. Twelve private companies, including JH Teguh, Bumisem Engineering, Jad Reka Kaya, Cement Industries Sabah and the management of Dayaku Construction donated nearly RM40,000 and materials for the success of the surau restoration. 

“Such CSR projects are certainly encouraged for implementation by agencies under the Ministry and construction industry players to extend their assistance and contribution to local communities in a more meaningful and beneficial way," said Datuk Rosnah. 

Prior to this, CIDB had constructed two community halls for the Sungai Miak Orang Asli village in Janda Baik, Pahang, and the Penan community in Long Keluan, Sarawak, as well as repaired the Sungai Berua Orang Asli community centre in Hulu Terengganu and a kindergarten in the Post Brooke Orang Asli village in Gua Musang, Kelantan.

Other charity-minded projects organised this Ramadhan include:

Accor Hotels, Indonesia with the Time to Give, Time to Forgive online campaign

Al Hilal Bank with its Jood Bil Khair social media campaign
Du has a 30 Days of Sharing social media campaign