The Holy Quran Museum at the Hira Cultural District is showcasing a monumental handwritten copy of the Holy Quran, recognized as the largest Quran of its kind in the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The manuscript measures 312 by 220 centimeters and comprises 700 pages, earning the museum recognition from Guinness World Records for displaying the world's largest Quran, SPA said.
The manuscript is a magnified reproduction of a historic Quran dating back to the 10th century AH (16th century CE). The original copy measures 45 by 30 centimeters with the chapters written primarily in Thuluth script, while Surah Al-Fatiha was penned in Naskh, reflecting the refined artistic choices and calligraphic diversity of that era.
The Quran is a unique example of Arabic calligraphy, gilding, and bookbinding, showcasing features of Islamic art through intricate decorations, sun-shaped motifs on the opening folio, and frontispiece and title pages, reflecting the high level of artistic mastery of that era.
The manuscript was endowed as a waqf in 1300 AH (1883 CE). Its original version is currently preserved at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, remaining a lasting testament to Muslims' enduring reverence for the Quran and the richness of the Islamic arts associated with it across the centuries.
