A rare manuscript written nearly a millennium ago has surfaced in Saudi Arabia, providing a detailed look at early Quranic scholarship. The discovery not only highlights the depth of classical Islamic studies but also brings new attention to the vast archive of rare texts preserved for scholarly study.The title of the manuscript is Quran (a rare term in the Quran) was unveiled by the King Abdulaziz Public Library. It was written by the famous early scholar Abu Ubaidah Ma’mar ibn al-Muthanna and dates back to the 4th century. The work, which has not yet been published, is considered a major contribution to the field of Qur’anic science. Physically, the manuscript consists of 23 folio pages, each measuring 17 x 22 cm. It is written in legible Andalusian script, while the chapter titles are written in Kufic script, reflecting a fusion of classical calligraphic traditions.The library’s broader holdings place this manuscript within its larger historical context. It houses a diverse collection of rare Quranic exegetical works spanning several centuries. Among them are Quran wa Ma’anih Author: Abu Ishaq al-Zajjaj, 5th century AH, and Tawer Mushkiel Quran Written by Ibn Qutaybah al-Dinawari, copy dated to the seventh century AH. The archive also includes the following sections Tafsir Tabari (jami bayan quran) by Al-Tabari, copied in the 6th century AH, 77 folios. Another noteworthy work, Fi Ma’ani Al-Qur’an wa Tafsirih Written by Abu Bakr Muhammad al-Naqqash, 113 pages, dating from the 7th century AH.In total, the Heritage Archives preserves more than 185 rare manuscripts dedicated to the interpretation of the Quran. In addition to this, there are hundreds of additional texts covering various Qur’anic sciences, including grammar, linguistic analysis, recitation methods, and verse interpretation. The manuscripts are systematically divided into four main areas: commentary (tafsir), recitation and tajwid, Qur’anic science, and Qur’anic manuscripts or mushafs. In the annotation category alone, the collection contains the following works: Lubab Al-Ta’wil on behalf of Ma’ani Al-Tanzil, Al-Tasir al-Tafsir Omar Nasafi, Al-Ishkalat fi Fahm Ba’d Al-Ayat Hall Dating back to the 12th century Islamic calendar (17th century AD), Al-Bahr Al-Madid for Tafsir Al-Quran Al-Majid Ahmed bin Ajiba, and Maalim Tanzil Author: Al-Baghhawi. Other important texts include Tafsir Jalalan, Al-Durr Al-Masoon stands for ‘Ulum Al-Kitab Al-Maknun, Dur Mantur Tafsir Bill Mathurand Al-Jawahir Al-Hisan in the Quranand a large number of professional manuscripts dealing with the language, grammar, and interpretation of the Qur’an.by unveiling gharib quranthe Library reinforces its broader goal of showcasing rare cultural assets, including manuscripts, documents, photographs, coins and artifacts. The institution aims to open up new ways of engaging with heritage while supporting systematic academic research. By preserving and displaying these materials, it aims to make historically significant works more accessible to scholars and deepen the study of Quranic science for generations.
