Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has unveiled a rare 1,000-year-old Quran manuscript titled “Gharib Al Quran” (Rare Terms in the Quran). The manuscript was written by the famous early Islamic scholar Abu Ubaidah Ma’mar ibn al-Muthanna in the fourth century Hijri (around the 10th century AD).
The precious document has 23 folios and measures 17 by 22 cm. It is written in clear Andalusian script, while the names of the surahs (chapters) are written in beautiful Kufic script. This work explains difficult or rare words used in the Holy Quran. It remains an unpublished piece in the field of Quranic sciences.
The library’s rich collection includes more than 185 rare manuscripts on Quranic interpretation (tafsir). It also holds hundreds of texts on recitation, grammar, linguistics, and explanation. Other important works in the archive include writings by scholars such as Abu Ishaq Al Zajjaj, Ibn Qutaybah Al Dinawari, and parts of the famous Tafsir al-Tabari from the sixth century.
This unveiling highlights Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect and share its Islamic heritage. The library aims to help researchers and students study these old manuscripts. It also displays coins, photographs, and other historical items to connect people with the past.
Experts say such ancient documents give deep insight into early Islamic scholarship and how Muslims understood the Quran over a thousand years ago.
The rare “Gharib Al Quran” manuscript is now open for academic study and public appreciation.
