Shah Alam, Selangor
Yayasan Restu (Restu Foundation) is a non-profit Islamic arts organisation founded in 1987 to revive and preserve Malaysia's tradition of illuminated Quranic calligraphy, based today at the Selangor International Islamic Arts Complex in Shah Alam. Its founding question, posed by Executive Chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Mirasa, was why Malaysia had no mushaf written and illuminated in its own artistic style; the answer became Mushaf Malaysia, the country's first fully handwritten and illuminated Quran manuscript, developed over five years by four local calligraphers, ceremonially launched on 26 January 1997 and first published in March 2000. The foundation has since produced further editions, including multilingual translations and Mushaf Mahasin al-Huffaz, and runs a diploma programme in mushaf arts through Restu International College. In February 2025 its International Festival of Quranic Art (RESTU 2025) drew 30,000 visitors over ten days.
Selangor International Islamic Arts Complex (Kompleks Seni Islam Antarabangsa Selangor)
Name of the 14-hectare complex housing Yayasan Restu in Shah Alam
1987
Yayasan Restu is founded as a non-profit Islamic arts organisation, prompted by Executive Chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Mirasa's question of why Malaysia had no mushaf written and illuminated in its own artistic style.
Early 1990s
Research and writing begins on Mushaf Malaysia, Malaysia's first fully handwritten and illuminated Quran manuscript, a five-year undertaking carried out by four local calligraphers using traditional materials including batang handam (fern-stem pens) and 24-karat gold leaf.
26 January 1997
Mushaf Malaysia is ceremonially launched at the Balai Pameran Islam, Pusat Islam Kuala Lumpur, its 30 juz decorated with Malay-Islamic motifs drawn from mosques and palaces across Malaysia.
March 2000
The first printed edition of Mushaf Malaysia is published for public distribution.
February 2025
Yayasan Restu's International Festival of Quranic Art (RESTU 2025) draws 30,000 visitors over ten days at the Selangor International Islamic Arts Complex.
Mushaf Malaysia
The country's first fully handwritten, illuminated Quran manuscript, its 30 juz hand-inscribed and decorated with Malay-Islamic motifs drawn from mosques and palaces across Malaysia.
Traditional writing materials and gold illumination
Calligraphers used batang handam or resam, a fern-stem writing implement, in the manuscript's production, with decorative pages finished in 24-karat gold leaf.
Multilingual Quran editions
Later editions and translations extend into English, Hausa, Khmer, Mandarin and Kazakh, carrying the foundation's work to exhibitions in multiple countries.
Restu International College
Offers a diploma programme in mushaf arts, training a new generation of calligraphers and manuscript illuminators.
Selangor International Islamic Arts Complex setting
The foundation's 14-hectare campus in Shah Alam combines its mushaf production workshops with galleries on Islamic calligraphy, architecture and design.
Yayasan Restu was founded in 1987, prompted by founding chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Mirasa's question of why Malaysia had no Quran manuscript written and illuminated in its own artistic style.
Mushaf Malaysia is Malaysia's first fully handwritten and illuminated Quran manuscript. It took five years to research and write, was ceremonially launched on 26 January 1997, and its first printed edition was published in March 2000.
Yes. It was the first organisation in the country to produce a fully handwritten and illuminated mushaf, an achievement that has since led to exhibitions of its work in multiple countries.
Its International Festival of Quranic Art, RESTU 2025, drew 30,000 visitors over ten days in February 2025 at the Selangor International Islamic Arts Complex.
Yes. Restu International College, part of the foundation, offers a diploma programme in mushaf arts for aspiring calligraphers and manuscript illuminators.
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