New Imaging Techniques Reveal Hidden Qur'anic Verses In The Blue Qur'an Manuscript

Researchers at Zayed National Museum have revealed hidden text beneath a gold leaf layer on a page of the Blue Qur’an. This manuscript, dating back to 800-900 CE, is renowned for its vivid blue pages and gold Kufic script. Using multispectral imaging, they uncovered verses from Surah al Nisa’. The Blue Qur’an originally had 600 sheepskin sheets, but only about 100 remain today.

The team employed multispectral imaging to uncover faded text and images invisible to the naked eye. This technique revealed that the decorative layer might have been added to correct a calligrapher's error, possibly duplicating text. Reproducing an indigo-dyed sheepskin sheet was costly, so intricate patterns were used instead. Such decisions by calligraphers are rarely seen in Islamic manuscripts of this era.

Five pages of the Blue Qur’an will be displayed at Zayed National Museum. The exhibit is part of the "Through Our Connections" gallery, highlighting the spread of Islam and the development of the Arabic language. The museum celebrates UAE's rich history and culture, honouring Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's legacy.

Mai Al Mansouri, Associate Curator at Zayed National Museum, stated: "Zayed National Museum’s groundbreaking research on the Blue Qur’an sheds new light on the origins and production of this important manuscript and underlines the role of the museum in the cultural and academic life of the UAE and beyond."

Significance of Research

Nurul Iman Bint Rusli, Curator at Zayed National Museum, remarked: "Only one copy of the Blue Qur’an is thought to exist and the 100 or so of its known pages have fascinated scholars for many decades. The advanced technology used to shed new light on this page of the manuscript is helping to provide additional perspectives on the production of this rare copy of the Qur’an."

The museum's research programmes aim to deepen understanding of past cultures and ideas. Discoveries about UAE heritage highlight its historical role as a centre for communication and cultural exchange. These findings illustrate its contribution to art, knowledge, and civilisation interactions.

The unveiling of hidden text in the Blue Qur’an offers fresh insights into its origins and production methods. This research underscores Zayed National Museum's commitment to cultural exploration and academic advancement in UAE and beyond.

With inputs from WAM