Sharjah Ruler Opens 'Eternal Letters' Exhibition Featuring Historic Qur'an Manuscripts
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the 'Eternal Letters: Qur’an Manuscripts from the Abdul Rahman Al Qwais Collection' exhibition at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), and Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ruler's Office.
The exhibition offers a cultural journey through 1,300 years of Quranic manuscript history and Arabic calligraphy. It showcases exhibits from the private collection of Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention. This collection has been carefully curated over two decades to reflect diverse styles and traditions in Arabic and Islamic calligraphy.
His Highness explored various sections of the exhibition, which features 81 Quranic manuscripts displayed for the first time. These manuscripts celebrate Arabic calligraphy's heritage and aesthetic value across different eras and regions. They represent exquisite examples of Quranic production, including writing, preservation, decoration, binding, and colouring.
The exhibition is divided into seven sections that highlight different historical periods of Quranic manuscripts. These sections showcase pages in varying sizes, scripts, and Islamic ornamentation. Themes include "From Text to Art: The Early Islamic Centuries" and "The Art of Writing in an Era of Change: 10th to 13th Centuries."
The exhibition also explores regional calligraphy traditions such as "Andalusia and North Africa: The Western Tradition" and "Imperial Designs: Iran, India, and Türkiye." Another theme is "The Lineage of Calligraphers: Ottoman Script Traditions," reflecting the evolution of Arabic and Islamic calligraphy over centuries.
His Highness received detailed explanations about items on display, including the Blue Quran written in gold on indigo-dyed parchment. Other manuscripts were commissioned by prominent figures from different times. These works highlight the beauty of Islamic calligraphy and diverse transcription methods.
Diverse Scripts
The scripts showcased range from Muhaqqaq to Ta’liq, Moroccan scripts in various forms, Naskh, Ruq’ah, Rayhan, Thuluth, among others. His Highness examined rare pages written in Hijazi and Kufic scripts from the 7th century. Gilded pages from later periods like Ottoman, Persian, and Andalusian eras were also featured.
At the ceremony's conclusion, His Highness received a commemorative gift from Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais. The gift was an Arabic manuscript of the Holy Quran—a Safavid model from Iran—crafted by Mir Mohammed Saleh Mohammed Hussein Al Mousawi in 1682 AD using black ink on paper in Naskh script.
With inputs from WAM
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