{"id":35881,"date":"2025-11-08T05:32:32","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T05:32:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/?p=35881"},"modified":"2025-11-08T05:57:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T05:57:02","slug":"replica-of-millennium-old-quranic-manuscript-showcased-for-the-first-time-at-sharjah-book-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/08\/replica-of-millennium-old-quranic-manuscript-showcased-for-the-first-time-at-sharjah-book-fair\/","title":{"rendered":"Replica of millennium-old Quranic manuscript showcased for the first time at Sharjah Book Fair."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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At the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), visitors have the unique opportunity to admire a remarkable piece of Islamic heritage \u2014 a replica of a Quranic manuscript crafted over a millennium ago by the famed calligrapher Abu al-Hasan Ali Ibn Hilal, better known as Ibn al-Bawwab.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The meticulously recreated manuscript is being showcased at the Safir Ardehal booth from Tehran, allowing guests to appreciate the elegance and intricate artistry of early Arabic calligraphic traditions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\u201cThis is among the earliest complete Quran manuscripts attributed to a recognized calligrapher,\u201d explained Hamed Deshdashti of Safir Ardehal. \u201cIt\u2019s a replica of the Quran transcribed by Ibn al-Bawwab in 391 AH, roughly around 1000 CE. The original manuscript is carefully housed at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, Ireland. What sets it apart is that Ibn al-Bawwab was more than a scribe \u2014 he elevated Arabic script into a refined art form defined by balance, harmony, and spiritual depth.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Deshdashti noted that the manuscript is inscribed in the naskh style \u2014 a script that Ibn al-Bawwab mastered and refined to perfection. Each page features sixteen lines of precisely arranged text, marked by graceful letters, uniform spacing, and consistent strokes. \u201cIn this Quran, every letter seems alive within its own space,\u201d he remarked. \u201cIbn al-Bawwab\u2019s philosophy was that true beauty emerges from balance \u2014 where every curve and dot aligns in rhythm and harmony.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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In contrast to the earlier Quranic scripts like Kufic, known for their angular and rigid shapes, Ibn al-Bawwab\u2019s naskh style brought a sense of grace and legibility to the text. \u201cHis writing moves with the rhythm of poetry,\u201d Deshdashti said. \u201cEven modern Arabic calligraphy \u2014 whether in print or graphic design \u2014 continues to follow the principles he established over a millennium ago.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Deshdashti mentioned that the Chester Beatty Quran was most likely both penned and ornamented entirely by Ibn al-Bawwab himself. He not only transcribed the sacred verses but also created the intricate gold embellishments and chapter titles. \u201cHe was meticulous in every detail \u2014 the script, the gilding, and the floral motifs all reflect the touch of one master hand,\u201d he explained.<\/p>

The calligrapher crafted his work using natural ink made from soot mixed with gum arabic and employed a carefully cut reed pen (qalam<\/em>), shaped at a precise angle to produce both delicate and bold strokes in a single movement. The manuscript was written on vellum \u2014 a fine parchment made from animal skin \u2014 providing a durable, smooth surface that has helped preserve it for over a thousand years.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\u201cFor those visiting, this facsimile represents far more than an ancient manuscript \u2014 it\u2019s a glimpse into the artistry and devotion of the past,\u201d Deshdashti said. \u201cWhat stands before you is a testament to human mastery; no technology can truly capture the unity between ink, form, and faith.\u201d<\/p>

The original Quran by Ibn al-Bawwab is regarded as one of the most precious artifacts of Islamic heritage and is carefully safeguarded at the Chester Beatty Library. \u201cYet showcasing its replica here in Sharjah holds immense significance,\u201d Deshdashti added. \u201cIt celebrates the genius of Muslim craftsmen and the timeless inspiration their artistry continues to bring to the modern world.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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For the first time, a replica of a thousand-year-old Quranic manuscript is being displayed at the Sharjah International Book Fair, offering visitors a rare glimpse into centuries-old Islamic heritage and artistry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35882,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"post_template":[],"top_category":[],"class_list":["post-35881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35881"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35881\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35891,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35881\/revisions\/35891"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35881"},{"taxonomy":"post_template","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_template?post=35881"},{"taxonomy":"top_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/top_category?post=35881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}