Khaberni - The Quran Museum in Hira Cultural District in Mecca exhibits a noble Mushaf considered one of the rare Quranic treasures that embody the Muslims' care for the Book of Allah across the ages, written on 'roll' paper, and completed in India during approximately the twelfth century Hijri/eighteenth century AD.
This Mushaf was prepared in a distinctive museum format, written in both Naskh and Thuluth calligraphy in an artistic harmony that reflects the scribe’s skill and precision, characterized by diverse writing directions and forms, in a non-traditional style that showcases artistic creativity and innovation in the design of Mushafs during that era.
The Mushaf includes some verses written with precise lettering formations, clearly indicating the extreme care in controlling the Quranic text and its visual aesthetics, while considering the clarity of reading despite the limited surface area of the paper.
The length of the Mushaf is about five meters, with a width not exceeding seven centimeters, making it a unique example in terms of shape and size, and revealing the craftsmen's skill in utilizing narrow spaces while preserving the clarity and aesthetic beauty of the text.
This Mushaf is preserved within the collections of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, which hosts one of the richest libraries and collections of rare Islamic pieces in the world, before it was recently displayed to visitors at the Quran Museum in Mecca.
The Mushaf serves as a living witness to the flourishing of Islamic calligraphy arts in the Indian subcontinent, and to the great esteem the Quran holds in the hearts of Muslims; it was not merely a text to be recited, but an artistic and spiritual endeavor in which the calligraphers excelled and through which they immortalized a rich civilizational heritage.
The display of this Quranic masterpiece is part of the participation of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in the activities of the Quran Museum, within a cultural partnership aimed at highlighting treasures of Mushafs and rare manuscripts, enhancing the knowledge and cultural experience of the museum visitors, and providing access to unique examples of written Islamic heritage.
