TABUK — Sculpting is one of the creative professions well early in the life of mankind and it is a creative state of art that artists practice with full professionalism while mastering abilities to come up with an attractive piece of art that narrates historical chapters of various nations and civilizations from the past.

Tabuk Region in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has inspired and interested people in sculpting and painting to care and develop the profession, especially since Tabuk is the gateway of Saudi Arabia and an area of palaces and castles.

Historical evidence show that the region was home to several nations, such as Thamud, Arameans and Nabataeans, where its archaeological sites show the presence of mankind since several centuries BC.

Sculptor Husban Bin Ahmad Al-Enizi from Tabuk region told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that sculpting was known since the descent of Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, to earth to build it and worship Allah.

Due to the first humans' need for food, they refined wood and made plow for agriculture, then Prophet Noah made the ship and carved wood, then came the people of Prophet Saleh who were known for sculpting their homes on mountains, and then came Iram of the Pillars.

Al-Enizi stressed that the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince gave sculpting in the Kingdom high levels of concern and interest through establishing the Heritage Commission that accredited sculpting as an indigenous profession.

He said that his interest in the profession started around 20 years ago when he showed interest in the Arabic language, the language of the Holy Qur’an, and was determined to make a magnificent manuscript, where he sculpted a whole stone encyclopedia of basmalah (the opening verse of chapters of the Holy Qur’an) written in various Arab calligraphies through all ages and sculpted it on Tabuk's stone blocks and granite.

The artist said that he also participated in sculpting works in many national events, festivals and occasions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noting that he aspires to establish a center to train young males and females on the profession so as to have a generation that keeps pace with the development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and realizes the aspirations and targets of the Saudi Vision 2030.

Al-Enizi culminated his works with sculpting the entire Holy Qur’an over eight years through carving it with using Ottoman calligraphy on 30 green marble slabs, where each slab contains a whole part of the Holy Qur’an. He is currently seeking to register this achievement at the Guinness World Records in the name of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. — SPA