Al-Quds University Fine Arts student Mira Ghneim was awarded third place in the fourth edition of the Ishraqat Art Competition, held at Al-Qasimia University in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, for the academic year 2024/2025. Her painting, entitled “A Miniature Story,” was selected out of approximately 900 artworks submitted to the competition, which included submissions in the disciplines of painting, Arabic calligraphy, and photography.

Ghneim, a student representing Al-Quds University, was in attendance at the conclusion of the course’s concluding activities, accompanied by Mr. Sameh Erekat from the student activities office at the Deanship of Student Affairs, amid a wide participation of 150 students representing 23 universities from across the Arab world.

Ghneim stated that the painting incorporates symbols that reflect Arab and Islamic identity, with an elderly sheikh in traditional attire holding an ornate jar that symbolizes authentic heritage and Arab hospitality. Behind him stands a falcon with extended wings, a symbol of strength and freedom. Islamic motifs are intricately woven into the background, serving as a visual conduit between the past and the present.

“On the right side of the painting, the Dome of the Rock, radiant in gold and surrounded by minarets, symbolizes the spirit of Islamic civilization. Other elements, such as the richly patterned oriental carpets, contribute to a visual harmony that unites all these elements in a scene that reflects authenticity and historical depth,” she added.