The Department of Arabic has launched its annual Arabic language contest, featuring different themes and promising winners coveted prizes.

The annual contest has drawn competitors from across the campus with contributions ranging from calligraphy, dictation, literature, poetry recitals to the design of an application specifically created for the promotion of Arabic language.

However, interest in the contest is not confined to the students of the Arabic language. “Many of those winning the top prizes have come from specialization other than Arabic," said Dr. Mariam Balajeed, head of the Arabic Department and organizer of the contest.

Asked whether the department received entries from outside the campus, Dr. Balajeed said: “Only in one occasion we allowed participants from outside the university to take part, and some of them won the top prizes."

The contest is part of a symposium the Arabic Department holds annually to promote the use of the Arabic language.

This year's symposium and the accompanying contest, the fifth so far, featured Arabic language scholars from the United Arab Emirates, France, Lebanon, and other countries.

The contest, held by the end of February, targets Sharjah University students. In previous years, the competition drew wide interest and scores of competitors.

It aims at raising awareness of the importance of Arabic language, encourage students to write in it and provide both moral and financial support for students with Arabic literary skills.

Most interesting and eye-catching in contests like these are pieces vying for the calligraphy prize. Arabic calligraphy is an art, and calligraphic works beautifully designed in various Arabic fonts adorn living rooms in the Arab and Muslim world.

The application promoting Arabic calligraphy was “creative and beautify … it extends a service to the beauty of the Arabic language," said Dr. Balajeed.

While the contest organizers have a preference for three major Arabic fonts, namely Thulth, Kufi and Diwani, students can contribute w designs in any font they are familiar with.

Arabic has more than 100 decorative fonts, which are mostly used to provide creative designs of the verses of the Holy Koran.

Mosques in the Arab and Muslim world are adorned with calligraphic sculptures bearing citations from the Muslim Holy Boo​k.