The second issue of Rewaq, History and Heritage was published in June, 2016, covering various high standard technical historical, archaeological and heritage researches. In his research entitled “From Arabia to the Silicon Valley”, Michael Morgan has reviewed some aspects of the contributions of Arab and Islamic civilization in human civilization, whereas, Professor. Jamal Mahmoud Hajar, presents his research “Peace Dialogue between Russell and Abdel Nasser 1962-1966”, Professor Youssef Mohamed Abdullah reviews a set of literary images derived from archeological souvenirs in pre-Islamic Arabia. In his research “Zawya-Derkaouia in Morocco from Criticizing and Opposing the Makhzen to Rejecting and Resisting the French Occupation, Professor Qasim Hadik sheds light on an aspect of modern political history of Morocco. professor Jalal zin El abidine touches on the “Political Violence in Morocco in the Wake of Independence”, Professor Ali Ahmed Mohammed Sayyid touches on his research “Humphrey II (died 1179/575 H): Constable of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem”,
In this issue, and on the occasion of the International Year of light, Professor Rushdi reviewed the position of Ibn al-Haytham and his contributions in Mathematics and Optics, and Professor Nasser Ahmed Suleiman wrote about “Seyahatname of Egypt (1673-1680): a Critical Reading of the Dimensions of Ottoman Discourse”. In his article entitles “Kiswah and Drapes of Prophet’s Mosque and Chamber: Preliminary Study of their Origin, History and Artistic Patterns”, the researcher Mohammed bin Hussein Al-Mojan reviewed a documented historical account about the Kiswah and its development. Professor Lutfullah Qari handled in his article “The Historical Sets of Surgical Instruments in Museums of the World and the Importance of Introducing Them”. And in the field of Greek Literature, Professor Magda El-Nowieemy reviewed “The First Arabic Edition of Iliad of Homer” showing the peculiarity of translating this epic poetry and its determinants. Professor Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani Ibrahim presented his article entitled "King Abdul Aziz: his Divan and Types of Najdi Traditions in the Book of “the Phoenix of Arabian Peninsula” as an eyewitness. Professor Maher Issa answered “Why Egyptians Turned to Arabic?” In the field documentary studies, Professor Penelope Tuson, a curator of archives and historian, wrote her article “Qatar and Arabian Gulf States in Documents of British Archives”.
Survey statistics of the last three months (October –December 2016) derived from the electronic databases “Al-Manhal”, has shown that, researches of the Magazine Rewaq, History & Heritage, had attracted officials in some international universities, such as: China, India, United States of America, Malaysia, Turkey, Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Palestine, in addition to the Libraries of Qatar Universities and Qatar National Library.
The Center organized a seminar, in which the expert of calligraphy, manuscripts, archeology and Islamic arts, reverend Professor Yousef Zanoun, discussed the onset of Arabic calligraphy proliferation in Mecca, which calligraphy was named after Mecca, thence named “Mekki Pen” or, “Mekki Calligraphy”, where he shed light on the beginnings of the Arabic calligraphy that coincided with the revelation of the Holy Quran, and the calligraphy styles that prevailed in the first three centuries of Hegira, which was launched from Mecca during the time of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the name of Mekki calligraphy, It is the first Arabic calligraphy, and the focus was on writing the Quran in Mekki script and took two tracks during the first and second centuries. The seminar has discussed certain terminologies that need to be re-visited, including the term Kufic calligraphy, which denotes the “Al-Mawzon Calligraphies” which is known to be of “Mekki origin; The truth is that “Kufa” may not have any role in the development of the calligraphy, and this name came in the seventh century of Hegira and beyond, and was launched due to lack of accurate knowledge of the names of calligraphy scripts in its various times, so this calligraphy was named “Kufi calligraphy” The lecturer also touched upon the recently discovered manuscript of the Holy Qur'an, known as the "University of Birmingham Qur'an", and compared it with the calligraphies of the first three centuries of Hegira, saying that it is not from the first century of Hegira at the very least.
Rewaq of History and Heritage Magazine won the platinum prize, best in category, at the conference of Creativity International Awards of 2016, in book and publication design. The design was designed by the New Zealander designer Rehan Saiyed and his company Storm World Wide. More than 3500 entries were received from 40 countries, 2 Canadian Provinces and 25 US States. Only 3% made it to Platinum this year, Gold 4%, Silver 24% and Bronze 27%. It is worth noting that the platinum award, which was won by the magazine, is granted for one entry of the category; and Rewaq magazine was an undoubted winner among the judges to grab the Best in Category honor. It was mentioned in the Press Release of the Conference of Creativity International Awards that the winning entries will be showcased in the conferences and events of designing starting with Adobe Max in San Diego, California from November 2-4, 2016. Winners will receive 2 professionally designed certificates commemorating the winning entry with entry title and a Trophy, with winning entries featured on Website, and iPad App of Creativity International Awards.
The center has entered into partnership of electronic distribution with Al-Manhal Company, where the company will publish and distribute the issues of the center electronically. Al-Manhal is an electronic distribution company specialized in scientific materials issued in the Middle East. The database of Al-Manhal is characterized by its first, most advanced and single search system specialized in the academic and scientific materials issued electronically in the Arab World. The purpose of this is to enable Arab universities, publishing houses and research institutions to benefit from the most developed projects and from the distribution channels of its investors and partners.
The center issued the book of “Noor al-Dalalah …Al-Jabr Al-Hisabi fi Al-Qarn Al-Thalith Ashar”. It is written by Al-Khilati and examined by Dr. Rushdi Rashid. It is a textbook in which the author combined the most important findings that he arrived at in Mathematical Algebra, and some findings of Number theory. The author is Fakhr al-Din Abdul Aziz bin Abdul-Jabbar al-Khilati (1197-1282), in ascription to the town of Ahlat. As for the examiner Dr. Rushdi Rashid, he is currently working as honorary research director (distinct group) at the National Center for Scientific Research in Paris. He is the former director of the Center of History of Arab Sciences, middle Ages and Philosophy in Paris at the University of Denis Diderot. He wrote about fifty books in English and French, among which six important books dedicated to the Mathematics, Optics and Astrology of Ibn al-Haytham. These books were published in English, Arabic and French.
Mr. Mohammed Hammam Fekri, the editorial general supervisor of Rewaq of History and Heritage, was hosted by the program “Doha This Evening”, which is broadcasted from Qatar. Mr. Hammam talked about the tendencies of the magazine pointing out that it is scientific-oriented. He also indicated that the magazine aims at adding a new branch to the Arab cultural and intellectual life, at a time when information became abundantly available. He added that in this atmosphere the magazine emerges extramural as a refereed academic scientific magazine to address the average reader in order to create a scientific dialogue with society and to be a bridge between academicians and intellectuals. He also pointed out that the magazine is biannual and that the published articles undergo secret refereeing according to the international scientific quality standards.
In a colloquium entitled “The Role of Archives in Writing the History of Nations and Peoples” organized on the 1st and 2nd of May, 2012 by Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Mr. Mohammed Hammam Fekri gave a lecture entitled “Efforts in Documenting the History of Qatar: Hassan Bin Mohamed Center as an Example”, where he reviewed the role of the center in documenting the history of Qatar and discussed in detail the project undertaken by the center in examining the local and foreign historical sources, referring in particular to the project of translating the British documents