King Abdulaziz Public Library Unveils 1,000-Year-Old Quran Manuscript

The King Abdulaziz Public Library has unveiled a 1,000-year-old Quranic manuscript titled Gharib Al Quran, authored by early scholar Abu Ubaidah Ma‘mar Ibn Al Muthanna. Dating back to the fourth century, the manuscript comprises 23 folios measuring 17 by 22 cm. It is written in Andalusian script, with the names of surahs inscribed in Kufic, and remains an unpublished work in Quranic studies.

The library noted that its broader collection spans several centuries and includes rare manuscripts focused on Quranic interpretation and linguistics. Among these are works by Abu Ishaq Al Zajjaj and Ibn Qutaybah Al Dinawari, as well as sections of Tafsir al-Tabari copied in the sixth century. The archive holds more than 185 rare manuscripts dedicated to Quranic exegesis, alongside hundreds of texts covering recitation, grammar and interpretation.

The King Abdulaziz Public Library added that it aims to spotlight its rare collections of manuscripts, documents, photographs, coins and artefacts, while opening new avenues for studying and engaging with heritage in its many forms. It also seeks to support academic research by making these rare materials more accessible to scholars.