Hawzah News Agency- Held at the Mosalla of Imam Khomeini in Tehran**, the annual exhibition has dedicated a vibrant section to children and youth programming. Among its most notable contributors this year is Hojatoleslam Seyyed Hossein Zakerzadeh, a Qur’anic illustrator specializing in content for young audiences.
Art as a Bridge to Revelation
Zakerzadeh, who holds an academic background in the arts and has years of professional experience in illustration, is conducting live drawing sessions centered on Qur’anic narratives. During these sessions, he narrates stories from the Holy Qur’an while simultaneously creating illustrations in real time before an audience of children.
The program is designed to be highly interactive. Rather than delivering a one-way presentation, the illustrator engages children in dialogue, asking questions about the prophets, key events, and moral lessons embedded in each story.
“For example, we ask the children which prophet a particular story relates to or what message it carries,” Zakerzadeh explained. “As they share their thoughts, I draw the corresponding scene live. This interaction creates an engaging educational and artistic atmosphere that encourages active participation.”
Creating Lasting Emotional Connections
Organizers say the initiative reflects a broader strategy to communicate Qur’anic teachings through experiential learning rather than purely abstract instruction. By combining conversation, visual storytelling, and creative participation, the sessions aim to anchor religious concepts in positive emotional experiences.
Zakerzadeh emphasized that children often connect more deeply through feeling and imagination than through theoretical explanation. “If a child forms a joyful memory associated with the Qur’an, the mosque, or the holy month of Ramadan, that positive experience can shape their relationship with faith for years to come,” he noted.
He also stressed the importance of constructive engagement in religious spaces, warning that negative childhood experiences can distance individuals from spiritual environments later in life. Art, he said, serves as a powerful medium to cultivate lasting and affectionate bonds with religious teachings.
Beyond Storytelling: Introducing the Art of Illustration
In addition to live drawing sessions, Zakerzadeh introduces young visitors to the creative process behind illustrated books. Samples of published works are displayed at the booth, where children learn about the stages of book production—from concept development and sketching to final design and printing.
Some participants receive small illustrated bookmarks or simplified drawings as gifts, while more detailed artworks are presented when time allows. The distribution of these artistic tokens has further enhanced engagement, offering children tangible reminders of their experience at the exhibition.
A Dynamic Youth-Focused Platform
Most of the live sessions are held after evening prayers and the breaking of the fast, attracting families visiting the exhibition during peak hours. Located on the second floor of the children and youth section, the booth has become a focal point for young visitors eager to witness—and take part in—the creation of Qur’anic imagery.
As the 33rd International Holy Qur’an Exhibition continues in Tehran, initiatives such as live Qur’anic illustration highlight the growing role of creative arts in religious education. By merging storytelling, dialogue, and visual expression, the program demonstrates how traditional sacred narratives can be conveyed to a new generation through contemporary artistic language.
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