Enjoyable Journey

Siraj Allaf learned Arabic calligraphy in a classic and rigorous way through a regular study with his teacher the famous calligrapher Ibrahim Al-Arafi in the corridors of the Holy Mosque in Makkah until he obtained the Arabic Calligraphy license (Ijazah) from him.
As an integral part of the Meccan culture, the sciences taught in the Holy Mosque require high discipline and commitment in addition to diligence and perseverance.
On the other hand, the academic major he chose was influenced his personality. Studying computer engineering, in which he reached the doctorate stage, led him to have an open mentality to modern technologies and different cultures, and formed his artistic personality influenced by the strict classical school, which requires the highest sober technical standards, in addition to absorbing the vast spaces provided by modern technologies and various arts to produce artworks characterized by high craftsmanship, modernity, and openness to other cultures.

And the journey continues

Al-ijazah or the license in Arabic calligraphy is considered as one of the literature of classical learning. Its concept is to reach a cognitive and scientific stage that qualifies the calligrapher to hold the title of a teacher in addition to the title of artist. To achieve this, the calligrapher has to get a certificate from his teacher allowing him to teach this art in a systematic and methodical way that guarantees the quality of what he presents to his students according to the literature of learning the art of Arabic calligraphy.

Siraj Allaf obtained his license in Arabic calligraphy from his teacher and began to practice teaching and training Arabic calligraphy on a continuous basis through many courses and regular lessons, and this led to the apprenticeship of a large number of male and female students around the world. Siraj chose a method that combines the use of traditional tools in teaching Arabic calligraphy in addition to modern technical options such as distance learning techniques, and became one of the most providers of this type of courses around the world.  Allaf’s courses were also distinguished by a new methodology based on providing a flexible interactive environment that ensures a high level of benefit from the courses.

Research and development

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Research and development

Siraj believes that the development of any art is closely related to the ability of those interested in it to make optimal use of the available technologies at any point in time and using them to appear in a different way that bears the same artistic characteristics in addition to the ability to work with the ongoing changes and upcoming challenges. Therefore, it is the duty of the artist to search for new ideas and know the precise methods of expressing art in a modern style.

Siraj Allaf is considered one of the first specialists in the field of artificial intelligence who adapted AI techniques to serve and teach the art of Arabic calligraphy, especially since there is a global trend to digitize arts and sciences, as well as the  Saudi tendency to spread Arabic and Islamic art globally.

Allaf has adapted complex AI techniques to serve many technical and educational purposes, according to a unique and unprecedented academic methodology. He has published refereed scientific papers in this field, which helps to transform the Arabic letter into a modern, advanced, and adaptable tool of knowledge at all levels.

Merit

The technical and cognitive experience gained by calligrapher Siraj Allaf, in addition to his different artistic views, led him to appear as a speaker, lecturer, and presenter of training workshops in many cultural institutions and prestigious universities in the world such as UNESCO, Ithra, and KAUST.

Siraj Allaf received many awards and merits during his years of practicing the art of Arabic calligraphy by obtaining advanced positions in a number of competitions, in addition to selecting a number of his works for acquisition from many personalities and destinations around the world. A number of his works were also selected for public display in some important sites in The kingdom. He was also selected as an arbiter for the largest Arabic calligraphy competitions in Saudi Arabia.

The Professional Artist

The Professional Artist

During his years of work as a professional calligrapher, Siraj Allaf worked as a consultant and technical expert in a number of technical projects with many well-known authorities. He gained their trust and appreciation which resulted in the repetition of experiments for several times. The reason for this is due to his high professionalism due to his professional experience as a certified engineering consultant in addition to his experience in the field of Arabic calligraphy and technology spanning more than 20 years.

In 2013, Siraj Allaf established Hrofiat Est. (The World of Islamic Art) in order to develop the work in the art field in an institutional way to be a professional umbrella that brings together distinguished calligraphers and provides professional services to the public.

Hrofiat is the first Saudi establishment in this field, and Siraj Allaf is currently chairing its board of directors.

Arabic Calligraphy is a pure art.. it can only bear Beauty

| Personal Biography

Siraj Reda Siraj Allaf

Born in Holy Makkah in 1401 A.H. / 1980 A.D

Bachelor of Electrical and Computer Engineering 2003 / Umm Al-Qura University

Master’s degree in Computer Engineering 2016 / King Abdulaziz University

PhD Candidate in Computer Engineering / King Abdulaziz University

Former Consultant engineer at Saudi Electricity Company

A licensed calligrapher and teacher of Arabic calligraphy in Holy Makkah

He is married and has three sons and two daughters

          Awards and Merits

Second place in the seventh Arabic calligraphy competition – 2000 

First place in the first Makkah Forum competition for the gifted – 2001

First place in the Umm Al-Qura University competition – 2002

Second place in the ninth Arabic calligraphy competition – 2003

Third place in the tenth Arabic calligraphy competition – 2005

First place in the twelfth Arabic calligraphy competition  – 2009

First place in the Arabic calligraphy competition in the Fifth Scientific Forum at King Abdulaziz University – 2014

First place in the Arabic calligraphy competition in the Fifth Scientific Forum for the Saudi universities  – 2014

Second place in Jeddah Municipality competition – 2019

         Memberships

Co-founder of the Saudi Scientific Society for Arabic Calligraphy

Former Member of Forsan of Excellence Program in the Saudi Electricity Company

Lecturer and trainer in the field of Arabic calligraphy in the Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) for three consecutive years.

Calligrapher of graduation certificates at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) from 2011 to 2017

Speaker at the UNESCO celebration on the occasion of the Arabic Language Day in Paris in 2014, about Arabic calligraphy and technology

General Supervisor of Arabic Calligraphy Activities at the Jeddah Book Fair for the year 2017

Participation in the arbitration of Jeddah Education Competition for Arabic Calligraphy for the years 2017 and 2018

Co-founder of Hrofiat Est. and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Participation in the arbitration of (Khatt men Turathona) Competition for Arabic Calligraphy – 2019

lecturer and trainer in Ithraa Academy – 2022 and 2023

         Exhibitions and workshops

Exhibition (Arabic Calligraphy Between Authenticity and Formation) – 2001

Exhibition of Arabic calligraphy in Tunisia in – 2005

Saudi Cultural Days in the Arab Republic of Egypt – 2007

Exhibition (letter and color) – 2010

The exhibition accompanying the Arabic calligraphy activities within the Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in 2012/2013

A workshop on Arabic calligraphy at UNESCO headquarters during the celebration of the Arabic Language Day in 2014

The Arabic calligraphy exhibition accompanying the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Saudi-Japanese relations in Tokyo in 2015

A workshop accompanying the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Saudi-Japanese relations in Tokyo in 2015

Exhibition (Thmarat Harf) in Jeddah in 2015

A workshop on Arabic calligraphy at UNESCO headquarters during the celebration of the Arabic Language Day in 2016

Arabic calligraphy workshop within the activities of the International Book Fair in Jeddah 2017

A personal exhibition in Ottawa, Canada, as part of the celebration of the Saudi Cultural Attaché on the International Day of the Arabic Language 2018

Arabic calligraphy workshop in Ottawa, Canada, as part of the celebration of the Saudi Cultural Attaché on the International Day of the Arabic Language 2018

| On Media..

صحيفة عكاظ

خطاطون لـ«عكاظ»: «الثقافة والفنون» لم تنصفنا

التلفيزيون السعودي

على طريق الإبداع | لقاء الخطاط سراج علاف​ للحديث عن الخط العربي

فيديو خاص

الأستاذ الخطاط إبراهيم العرافي يدعو ويسلم تلميذه سراج علاف إجازته

Ministry of Education

SACB Holds a Presentation about the Arabic Language at the Glashan School

صحيفة الشرق الأوسط

خطاطون سعوديون: التقنية سلبت الخط العربي روحه

اخبارية بقعاء

تنمية بقعاء تنفذ ورشة عمل الخط العربي ” الخط الديواني “

قناة إقرأ

فضاءات سعودية | تقرير عن الخطاط سراج علاف ورحلته مع الخط العربي

وزارة التعليم

الخط العربي ينال الإعجاب في احتفالية الملحقية الثقافية  في جامعة كارلتون

صحيفة اليوم

الخط العربي.. فن نقي لا يحتمل إلا الجمال

مجلة القافلة

وزارة‭ ‬الثقافة‭ ‬تحتفي‭ ‬بالخط‭ ‬العربي‭ ‬وفنونه‭ ‬وتمد‭ ‬فعالياته‭ ‬حتى‭ ‬نهاية‭ م 2021‭ 

صحيفة الجزيرة

الملحقية الثقافية في كندا تقدم عرضاً عن اللغة العربية في مدرسة (قلاشان) الحكومية

وكالة الأنباء السعودية

الملحقية الثقافية السعودية في كندا تكرم جامعة كارلتون لاستضافتها معرض الخط العربي

برنامج سيدتي

م. سراج علاف – اهتمامي بالخط العربي بدأ هواية وتحول إلى شغف

وزارة الثقافة

الخط العربي سفيرنا نحو العالم. ضمن سلسلة خطاطون

Arab News

The complex relationship between Arabic calligraphy & technology