(MENAFN) The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art in London's Kew Gardens is currently showcasing a new exhibition titled "Plants of the Qur'an," which features 25 paintings by botanical illustrator Sue Wickison. The exhibition is the result of a six-year collaboration between Pakistani scientist Dr Shahina Ghazanfar and Wickison, offering wonderful insight into the plants named in the Qur'an.

Dr Ghazanfar, an honorary research associate at the Royal Botanic Gardens and a Gibbs Fellow at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, has been exploring the historical and cultural significance of the 30 most featured plants from the Qur'an. Her interest in this area is both professional, due to her work at Kew, and personal, as a Muslim.

When researching her book "Plants of the Qur'an: History & Culture," Dr Ghazanfar went back to ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform texts and semitic languages of Aramaic and Hebrew to trace those plants that do not have modern Arabic names. This research allowed her to uncover the deep historical and cultural attachment that each plant holds, which must never be forgotten or lost.

Through the "Plants of the Qur'an" exhibition, visitors can see how Wickison has brought the plants to life through her intricate and detailed botanical illustrations. The exhibition highlights the beauty of Islamic botanical heritage, allowing viewers to appreciate the deep connection between Islamic culture and the natural world.

The exhibition is a reminder of the importance of preserving the knowledge and cultural significance of the plants featured in religious texts like the Qur'an. Through the collaboration of Dr Ghazanfar and Wickison, this important aspect of Islamic heritage has been brought to life in a new and visually stunning way.

MENAFN06042023000045012476ID1105956332