Currently, the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is home to Eternal Letters: Qur’an Manuscripts from the Abdul Rahman Al Owais Collection, an exhibition that explores the artistic, spiritual, and historical dimensions of Qur’anic manuscript tradition. Running through 25 May 2025, this fascinating showcase takes one on a journey through more than a millennium of Islamic calligraphy and book arts.
Visitors are welcome to admire 81 significant manuscripts from the esteemed private collection of H.E. Abdul Rahman Al Owais that represent a wide geographical and temporal span, from the early Abbasid period to the Ottoman and Safavid empires. They demonstrate the reverence with which Muslim communities across cultures and centuries have approached the transcription and illumination of the Qur’an.
On view are finely penned folios in Kufic, Naskh, Thuluth, and Maghribi scripts, each reflecting the aesthetic ideals and religious devotion of its time. Richly gilded ornamentation, delicate marginalia, and distinctive regional styles all emphasise the Qur’an not only as a sacred text but also as a living legacy of visual culture.
Among the notable exhibits is a folio from a Hijazi Quran, supposedly originated in the 7th-8th century CE. Written on parchment in Hijazi script, it features 23 lines per page and includes verses from Surah Al-Tawbah. Another exceptional piece is a Holy Quran produced in July 1639 by calligrapher Muhammad al-Hafiz, known as Imam, for Sultan Murad IV. Created to commemorate Ottoman military triumphs, it reflects the grandeur of its historical moment.
Also on display are Sanjak Qur’ans, rare hexagonal manuscripts known as Sanjak Qur’ans traditionally carried into battle tied to flags as symbols of divine blessing and hope. These compact Qur’ans, dating from the 11th to 19th centuries, are adorned with gilded borders, illuminated panels, and finely wrought calligraphy in Naskh and Ghubari scripts.
The manuscripts are accompanied by displays giving information about the materials and techniques used in their creation, such as natural inks, gold leaf, handmade papers, and leather bindings. The exhibition also sheds light on their historical functions, from personal devotion and public recitation to institutional scholarship. It pays tribute to the calligraphers, illuminators, and patrons who contributed to preserving the sacred word through the art of the manuscript.
To get more information about Eternal Letters: Qur’an Manuscripts from the Abdul Rahman Al Owais Collection, please go to the official web page of the exhibition.
Additionally, you may be interested in visiting the Sharjah Calligraphy Museum.
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