Rare Quran exhibition in Holy Najaf features copy attributed to Imam Ali
Rare Quran exhibition in Holy Najaf features copy attributed to Imam Ali
The Imam Ali Holy Shrine in Holy Najaf, Iraq, opened a rare Quran exhibition on Tuesday as part of Ghadir Week celebrations, showcasing over 50 historic Qurans and manuscripts spanning from the 1st to the 14th century Hijri. The highlight is a rare facsimile of a Quran attributed to Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), marked as manuscript No. 1 and dated to the 40th year of Prophethood.
The exhibition offers a unique cultural experience tracing the evolution of Arabic calligraphy and Quranic writing. It includes works by renowned calligraphers such as Yaqut al-Musta‘simi, Ahmad al-Nayrizi, and al-Suhrawardi, as well as manuscripts penned by skilled female scribes.
According to curator Ammar Mashaallah, the display emphasizes the spiritual and artistic depth of Quranic calligraphy. Researcher Ahmed al-Najafi added that the exhibit also explores the development of Quranic notation, from unvoweled text to the introduction of diacritics and vowel marks by early Islamic scholars.
