Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage in Dubai organized a virtual lecture entitled “Contemporary Trends in Research on Manuscript Qur’ans.” The lecture, presented by Dr. Ghanem Qaddouri Al-Hamad, Professor of Quranic Studies at the University of Tikrit, attracted the participation of more than one hundred researchers and specialists in the field.
The selection of the lecture topic stemmed from the increasing scholarly interest in manuscript Qur’ans in recent years, both among Muslim academics and Orientalist researchers. These manuscripts contain invaluable data that address numerous inquiries regarding the historical development of the Quranic text, affirming its documented preservation and the consistent integrity of its content across different manuscripts.
Dr. Al-Hamad reviewed the efforts of contemporary scholars in cataloging manuscript Qur’ans and publishing them using modern imaging technologies. He also shed light on descriptive and analytical studies featured in academic dissertations and peer-reviewed journals, focusing on both the thematic dimensions and the artistic characteristics of these manuscripts.
Throughout his presentation, Dr. Al-Hamad showcased visual examples of prominent manuscript Qur’ans, including the Qur’an of Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo, dating back to the first Islamic century; the Qur’an of Ibn Al-Bawwab, completed in Baghdad in 391 AH; and the Qur’an of Al-Mulla Ali Al-Qari Al-Harawi Al-Makki, written in 999 AH, among others.
At the conclusion of the lecture, attendees expressed their deep appreciation for the scholarly insights provided by Dr. Ghanem Qaddouri Al-Hamad, underscoring the importance of such initiatives in highlighting the historical significance of manuscript Qur’ans and their pivotal role in preserving the authenticity of the Quranic text.
