German Researchers Launch Major Study of Historic Quran Manuscripts from Sana’a

German Researchers Launch Major Study of Historic Quran Manuscripts from Sana’a

Researchers from the University of Hamburg and the Berlin State Library have launched a long-term scientific project to conduct a comprehensive study of historic Quran manuscripts discovered at the Great Mosque of Sana’a, considered one of the world’s most significant collections of early Quranic manuscripts.

The collection contains 929 Quran manuscripts discovered in 1973 at the Great Mosque of Sana’a. Dating from the seventh to the 11th centuries, the manuscripts are considered highly important for academic research into the history of the Quran and early Quranic manuscript traditions.

Due to Yemen’s current political situation, researchers are unable to access the original manuscripts. However, around 24,000 microfilm images, along with 5,000 color slides and black-and-white photographs produced during the 1990s, were transferred to the Oriental Department of the Berlin State Library in 2019 and subsequently digitized.

The resulting digital collection has enabled researchers to study the Sana’a manuscripts comprehensively without requiring direct access to the originals in Yemen.

With support from the German Research Foundation (DFG), Islamic studies specialists from the University of Hamburg and the Berlin State Library have launched a 12-year research project to examine and analyze the collection.

The first phase, running from 2026 to 2029 under the title “From Minute Details to the Bigger Picture,” has received €934,301 in DFG funding. The project is led by researcher Alba Fedeli of the Berlin State Library and Professor Thomas Eich of the University of Hamburg’s Department of Islamic Studies.