RIYADH — King Abdulaziz Public Library has revealed a 1,000 year old manuscript titled “Gharib Al-Qur’an” (Rare Terms in the Qur’an), authored by the prominent scholar Abu Ubaidah Ma’mar ibn al-Muthanna.
The rare manuscript — dating back to the 4th century— consists of 23 folios measuring 17 by 22 cm.
Althrough written in clear Andalusian scriot, this unpublished work in the field of Qur’anic sciences, has the names of the surahs inscribed in Kufic script.
The library houses diverse and rare collections of Qur’anic exegesis manuscripts, including I’rab Al-Qur’an wa Ma’anih by Abu Ishaq al-Zajjaj written in the 5th century AH, and Ta’wil Mushkil Al-Qur’an by Ibn Qutaybah al-Dinawari, a manuscript copied in the 7th century AH.
The collection also includes parts of Tafsir Al-Tabari (Jami’ Al-Bayan fi Tafsir Al-Qur’an) by Al-Tabari, copied in the 6th century AH and consisting of 77 folios. Another work, Fi Ma’ani Al-Qur’an wa Tafsirih by Abu Bakr Muhammad al-Naqqash, comprises 113 pages and dates back to the 7th century AH.
The library’s heritage archive contains more than 185 rare manuscripts on Qur’anic interpretation, in addition to hundreds of other manuscripts covering various Qur’anic sciences, including grammar, linguistic analysis, and verse interpretation.
These manuscripts are categorized into four main fields: exegesis (tafsir), recitations and tajwid, Qur’anic sciences, and Qur’anic manuscripts (mushafs).
Among the manuscripts in the field of exegesis are Lubab Al-Ta’wil fi Ma’ani Al-Tanzil, Al-Taysir fi Al-Tafsir by Umar Al-Nasafi, Hall Al-Ishkalat fi Fahm Ba’d Al-Ayat (12th century AH / 17th century CE), Al-Bahr Al-Madid fi Tafsir Al-Qur’an Al-Majid by Ahmad ibn Ajibah, and Ma’alim Al-Tanzil by Al-Baghawi, among many others.
Other rare works include Tafsir Al-Jalalayn, Al-Durr Al-Masoon fi ‘Ulum Al-Kitab Al-Maknun, Al-Durr Al-Manthur fi Al-Tafsir bil-Ma’thur, Al-Jawahir Al-Hisan fi Tafsir Al-Qur’an, as well as numerous specialized manuscripts addressing linguistic, grammatical, and interpretive aspects of the Qur’an.
The library aims to showcase its rare collections of manuscripts, documents, photographs, coins, and artifacts, highlighting new avenues for studying and engaging with heritage in its diverse forms. It also seeks to support systematic academic research by presenting these rare manuscripts.
