Cultural / Rare Quranic Manuscript Combining All Surahs of the Holy Qur'an Within a Drawing of the Grand Mosque at the Red Sea Museum

Jeddah, Safar 03, 1448 AH corresponding to July 17, 2026, SPA - A rare Quranic calligraphic panel is drawing the attention of visitors to the 'Sea of Faith' hall at the Red Sea Museum in historic Jeddah, as it combines all surahs of the Holy Qur'an within a detailed drawing of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, in an artistic work that took a full year to complete, blending the precision of calligraphy, the spirituality of the Quranic text, and the beauty of visual composition. The Quranic manuscript carries a story that encapsulates a part of the pilgrims' journey across the Red Sea to Mecca, combining the sanctity of the Holy Qur'an, the aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy, and an image of the Grand Mosque, becoming an artistic testament to the connection between Islamic art and pilgrimage routes through the ages. The manuscript originates from Mysore, India, and was completed by Ghouth Mahboob Ghaleb around 1859–1860 CE, using Diwani script with black ink and gilding on thick paper, with the Kaaba at its center within a circular composition evoking the landmarks and architectural details of the Grand Mosque, in a work reflecting the spiritual status Mecca occupies in the hearts of Muslims. The uniqueness of the work lies in its inclusion of all surahs of the Holy Qur'an in highly precise calligraphy within the elements and details of the panel, starting with Surat Al-Fatiha at the top and continuing through the surahs to Surat An-Nas, in an artistic achievement that combines the skill of Muslim calligraphers and the precision of Quranic manuscript copying, highlighting the level of mastery attained by Islamic manuscripts in the 19th century. The visual composition enhances the artistic value of the panel, with the Kaaba at the center of the scene, surrounded by landmarks of the Grand Mosque, while Quranic script intertwines with decorations and architectural details in harmony that combines letter and image, transforming a single page into an integrated spiritual scene. The value of the Quranic manuscript is not limited to its artistic beauty; it also documents an aspect of the cultural heritage that pilgrims carried with them on their sea voyages to the holy lands, as these works served as a means of expressing love and longing for the Two Holy Mosques and contributed to the transmission of Islamic arts between regions of the Islamic world through Red Sea ports. The 'Sea of Faith' pavilion presents this manuscript as part of a collection of Qurans, manuscripts, and rare items related to pilgrimage journeys, showcasing the cultural heritage that accompanied pilgrims across the Red Sea to the holy lands, and the artworks and manuscripts they carried that embodied their spiritual connection to Mecca and helped document a part of the history of the faith journey across the sea. // End // 14:23 T M 0064