The preparation process for the “114 Qur’ans” book-album project is nearing completion

🔴 Pages that radiate light: rare manuscripts gathered at the Islamic Center

🔴 Qur’ans from the Turkic world to Transoxiana

In the Qur’an Hall section of the Museum of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, the “114 Qur’ans” project of great scholarly and spiritual significance is being implemented. The main goal of the project is to select Qur’an manuscripts preserved in museums and archives around the world that are connected to Uzbekistan’s historical heritage and present them to the wider public.

Recently, at a meeting of the Academic Council held at the Center, Professor Emek Uşenmez of Istanbul University gave a comprehensive presentation on this project. In his lecture, he provided detailed information about the album being prepared.

The album consists of an “Introduction” section and four main chapters, covering Qur’an manuscripts created from the 7th to the 20th centuries. Among these works are world-renowned copies such as the Uthman Mushaf, the Katta Langar Qur’an, and the Blue Qur’an, along with rare pages belonging to the Samanid, Ghaznavid, Timurid, and other dynasties.

In the album, two gold-illuminated pages from each manuscript will be presented in facsimile form. Through these pages, the project aims to create a complete visual panorama of the Holy Qur’an. To date, 103 manuscripts have been paginated, bringing the album to 90% completion. The remaining 11 manuscripts are expected to be finalized in the coming days.

The album will also feature a Qur’an copy transcribed in 1467 by Shodmulk Khatun, the daughter of Muhammad Sultan, grandson of Amir Temur, as well as a copy presented by the Kokand Khan Amir Umar Khan to the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II. In addition, Qur’an pages written in 1318 on gold leaf and dedicated to Uzbek Khan of the Golden Horde with a history of 700 years were highlighted as one of the most important parts of the project.

It was announced that the Qur’an copies intended for the exhibition would be displayed on a rotational basis.

The total volume of the album is close to 500 pages, and in the Qur’an Hall section of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, this heritage will vividly showcase the vast spiritual wealth and historical significance of world civilization.

The meeting also featured the presentation of the project’s cover design, which, in its shape, decoration, and aesthetic concept, was noted to resemble the exterior of the Kaaba. The council members approved this proposal.