RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Public Library houses a remarkable collection of over 400 rare manuscripts of the Holy Quran, dating from the 10th to 13th centuries AH, offering a glimpse into the richness of Islamic arts and heritage.
Beyond their Islamic heritage value, these manuscripts showcase the brilliance of Arab-Islamic art through exquisite calligraphy, engraving, formation, and ornamentation, reflecting the majesty and reverence of the Holy Quran, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The diverse collection is organised by calligraphy style, region, date of creation, and decorative elements.
Each manuscript includes decorated frontispieces and colophons, showcasing early Andalusian and Moroccan manuscripts on square parchment, Indian manuscripts adorned with floral motifs, as well as examples from Chinese, Kashmiri, and Mamluk traditions.
The library is a vibrant hub for cultural enrichment, offering diverse programmes and projects. It strives to foster cultural awareness among all society segments and promote Arab and Islamic culture globally.
By providing researchers and students with access to these valuable resources, the library plays a vital role in preserving and sharing the rich heritage of the Arabic language and Islamic culture.
The King Abdulaziz Public Library highlights the aesthetic beauty of the Arabic language through a series of curated exhibitions featuring rare collections.
It includes a dedicated section for these valuable holdings, which encompass a rich array of historical and cultural artefacts, such as Arabic and Islamic manuscripts, photographs, documents, maps, coins, as well as rare books.
Among the manuscripts in the library’s collection related to Hajj are The Golden Poem on the Hajj by Mohammad Al-Halabi and Sawaanih Al-Hijaz by Bahaa Al-Din Al-Harithi Al-Dhahani, the latter written in 1622.
