Two manuscripts behind a display case at the National Museum of Qatar

Collection Highlight: The Al Zubarah Qur’an

19 July 2022

By Ali Alzuheiri

The Al Zubarah Qur'an, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Mureikhi, 1806. Semi-transparent paper, bound by a leather cover stretched over cardboard; the dimensions of the volumes are 30x43 cm, and 29.5x42.5 cm respectively. © Qatar Museums 2022

The National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ) is home to an extensive collection of artefacts, shining a light on the country’s unique history and ongoing legacy. One of the most noteworthy items on view is an 18th-century Qur’an recently discovered in Al Zubarah.

This is the first copy of the Qur’an attributed to the city of Al Zubarah, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the northwest coast of Qatar. We know from its detailed inscriptions that the transcript was completed on 28 October 1806 by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Mureikhi from Al Zubarah city. It was written in two volumes, each containing 15 parts of the Holy Qur’an.

The first volume contains the chapters from Al-Fatiha until Al-Isra’, and the first verses of Al-Kahf. The second includes the chapters from Al-Kahf until the end of Al-Nas. The last page features different prayers as well as the calligrapher’s name and date of production.

In order to protect the pages from damage, each volume is bound by a leather cover decorated with intricate geometric and floral patterns.

1 / 5

Paper

This manuscript is written on large-scale paper that has aged naturally into a yellow-ish, caramel hue but remains smooth in texture. It is semitransparent in weight, with lightly worn edges, due to natural weathering.

Some pages appear to be supported with a different type of material, especially at the edges, in what seems to be an attempt at preservation. The manuscript is made up of double paper sets bound together with thread. Decorative elements and watermarks adorn these, alongside 14 lines of script on each page. © Qatar Museums 2022

2 / 5

Ink

Different colours of ink are used across the manuscript but the most commonly found are black and red.

Black is used in writing, tashkil’ and i’jam (specific to Arabic grammar and pronunciation) across the entire work, while red is used on a smaller scale to mark the names of Surahs ( chapter in the Qur’an) and to number the Qur’anic verses.

Red ink is then used for some madd (prolonging the sound of a vowel in Arabic grammar) markers, tashkil, margins at the beginning of different sections and some verses which were inadvertently omitted during the act of copying.

Red also marks different qira’at (ways of reading) of the text and to mark verses on reward and punishmentThe Arabic letters ع and ح are marked in red several times within the margins.

The colours yellow, green and red appear in decorative elements on the first two pages of each volume. In the first two pages of the second volume, blue is used in addition to these three colours. © Qatar Museums 2022

The Al Zubarah Qur’an takes a permanent position of pride at NMOQ; a part of an ever growing collection highlighting Qatar’s rich history and tradition. Learn more about the galleries and plan your visit today.

Ali Alzuheiri is a Senior Editorial Specialist at Qatar Museums.

Qatar Museums on the Map

Explore our museums, galleries and creative spaces and see what’s happening at our various locations. Plan your trip in advance or find specific facilities or venues.

Museums, Galleries and Creative Spaces
Public Art
Heritage Sites

Collection Highlight: The Al Zubarah Qur’an

Paper

Ink

Calligraphy

Binding

Decorations

You may also like

Qatar Museums on the Map