Oct 2 marks the deadline for entries for the country's first Arabic and Chinese calligraphy competition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.

The competition is based on the 'golden rule' - to treat others as you would have them treat you - a theme central to all religions and of great resonance in both multi-religious Malaysia and our increasingly shrinking world.

Specifically, the Arabic calligraphic competition is based on the famous Islamic verse of 'No one of you (really) believes in (Allah and Islam) until he loves for his brother what he loves for his own self'

The Chinese calligraphic competition has similarly adopted the Confucian version of the principle in the precept 'what you do not wish to be done to yourself, do not do to others.'

The key theme of the golden rule is the promotion of religious tolerance.

"As a matter of fact, the golden rule is found in the holy scriptures of all major religions and faiths - in different words but with the same divine meaning," said Peter Schier, Malaysian representative of the German-based Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation, one of the contest organisers.

Two different age groups

According to the organisers, the medium of calligraphy has been a popular and expressive means of communication for centuries, crossing both cultural and geographical boundaries over time.

Combining this widely appreciated art with the universally humane theme of the golden rule, the competition hopes to capture the imagination of Malaysia's multicultural populace.

The competition gives all Malaysians, including permanent residents a chance to give a thought to interfaith understanding, with participants divided into two different age groups; group A for those between 7 and 18 years old and group B for those above 19.

For further information on the competition, visit the Islamic Arts Museum's website .