The Holy Qur’an Museum in Mecca is a public museum devoted specifically to the Qur’an: its revelation, its preservation, its manuscripts, its calligraphic development, and its role in Islamic civilization. It is located in the Hira Cultural District near Mount Hira (Jabal al-Nour), the mountain associated with the first revelation of the Qur’an. The museum combines historical artefacts (ancient manuscripts, rare historical copies) and modern interpretive technologies (interactive displays, visual exhibitions) to educate visitors about the Qur’an’s textual history, script evolution, transmission, and spiritual importance.
The Holy Qur’an Museum was inaugurated in March 2025 CE by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Mecca Region. It is under the supervision and support of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites. It is part of a larger complex / cultural initiative known as the Hira Cultural District, which spans approximately 67,000 square meters.
The Hira Cultural District includes multiple components besides the Holy Qur’an Museum: a Cultural Library, a Park (Hira Park), the “Revelation Exhibition”, and other visitor amenities.
Visitors to the museum can explore rare manuscripts, historical copies of the Qur’an, as well as interactive visual displays illustrating how the Qur’an has been preserved over time. Among exhibited items are a photographed copy of the Qur’an manuscript of Caliph Uthman bin Affan, stone inscriptions bearing Qur’anic verses, and some of the largest known copies of the Qur’an. Also, a piece of the Kaaba’s Kiswa (the cloth covering) embroidered with Qur’anic verse is displayed.
The location of the museum—near the Cave of Hira on Mount Hira—is symbolically potent because that is the place where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur’an. The museum thus places the material history of the Qur’an in immediate relation to its spiritual and spatial origins.
circa 2025 CE
One of the most prominent exhibits is what is described as the largest known copy of the Qur’an, displayed in a hall dedicated to that purpose. Another is the manuscript attributed to Uthman ibn Affan, presented via photographs, which underscores the tradition of early codification of the Qur’an. Stone inscriptions with Qur’anic verses are part of the display, letting visitors see tangible artefacts from early Islamic periods. The piece of the Kaaba’s Kiswa bearing embroidered Qur’anic verses is also a highlighted object.
Interactive and multimedia technologies are integral: exhibits allow visitors to walk through visual narratives of revelation, the process by which the Qur’an was revealed, compiled, preserved; multimedia displays help with understanding script styles, the physical process of manuscript copying and preservation. There is also a virtual or replica experience of Hira Cave to help relate the visitor to the place of first revelation.
The museum is designed to blend modern technology with spiritual quietude. Its location in the Hira Cultural District gives it a landscape and architectural context connected to the natural and spiritual geography of Mecca. Exhibits are arranged in thematic halls — e.g. manuscript preservation, revelation, calligraphy, transmission over eras — though detailed floor plans have not been publicly released. Lighting, interactive screens, and immersive displays are used to engage both pilgrims and non-specialist visitors.
circa 800 CE
Early Kufic Quran Manuscript
The hand written manuscript was composed in early Kufic script, duirng the second or third centuries Hijri. It is one of the earliest known handwritten copies of the Quran.
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The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
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