Display of a Thousand-Year-Old Quran Manuscript at Sharjah Book Fair

According to the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), quoting the Khaleej Times, this facsimile copy of the original Quranic manuscript, preserved in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, offers a rare opportunity for visitors to closely observe the art of Islamic calligraphy from the 11th century AD. This manuscript was penned by Abul-Hasan Ali ibn Hilal, known as Ibn al-Bawwab, and is considered a perfect example of the works of a famous calligrapher.

Hamed Dehdashti, representative of Safir Ardehal’s booth from Tehran, said: “This is one of the oldest complete Qurans written by a specific hand. The facsimile version displayed in Sharjah is a reproduction of the original manuscript, which Ibn al-Bawwab wrote in the year 391 AH, approximately 1000 AD. The original is securely preserved in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin. Ibn al-Bawwab was not only a calligrapher but also transformed Arabic writing into an art of perfect proportion and spiritual beauty.”

He added: “This manuscript is written in Naskh script, a style that Ibn al-Bawwab perfected and brought to its zenith. Each page has 16 lines of balanced text. The letters are soft and fluid, the spacing is precise, and the lines are regular. In this copy, one can see that each letter ‘breathes’ in its own space. Ibn al-Bawwab believed that beauty lies in balance, and every curve and every dot was designed with specific harmony and rhythm.”

Dehdashti clarified: “Compared to the old Kufic scripts, which were angular and cubic, Ibn al-Bawwab’s Naskh style has greater fluidity and readability. His lines flow like poetry, and these same rules are followed a thousand years later in Arabic calligraphy, printing, and design.”

He also noted: “The Chester Beatty Quran was probably entirely written and decorated by Ibn al-Bawwab himself. He not only copied the verses but also designed the headings and golden decorations. Natural ink, a precisely angled reed pen, and parchment paper all contributed to preserving the quality and durability of the work.”

The booth representative added: “For visitors, this facsimile is not merely an old book, but a window into history and human skill. What you see here is pure human art; no machine can reproduce the harmony of ink, line, and faith.”

Dehdashti concluded: “The original Ibn al-Bawwab manuscript is one of the greatest treasures of Islamic civilization and is kept under special protection in the Chester Beatty Library, but having its facsimile version in Sharjah is also valuable. This version reminds us how Muslim artists of past centuries inspired the world with their art, and their works continue to inspire.”