Sunday, July 19, 2026

Hilal Al-Thubaiti - Jeddah:

A rare Quranic calligraphy panel captivates visitors at the 'Sea of Faith' hall in the Red Sea Museum in historic Jeddah, as it combines all surahs of the Holy Quran within a detailed drawing of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, an artwork that took a full year to complete, merging precision of calligraphy, spirituality of the Quranic text, and beauty of visual composition.

The Quranic manuscript tells a story encapsulating part of the pilgrims' journey across the Red Sea to Mecca, combining the sanctity of the Holy Quran, 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 throughout the ages.

The manuscript originates from Mysore, India, completed by Ghouth Mahboub Ghalib around 1859–1860 CE, in Diwani script using black ink and gilding on thick paper, with the Holy Kaaba at its center within a circular composition evoking the landmarks and architectural details of the Grand Mosque, reflecting the spiritual status Mecca held in the hearts of Muslims.

The uniqueness of the work lies in containing all surahs of the Holy Quran in extremely precise calligraphy within the panel's elements and details, beginning with Surah Al-Fatiha at the top, followed by surahs up to Surah An-Nas, an artistic achievement combining 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 artwork's artistic value; the Holy Kaaba dominates the center of the scene, surrounded by landmarks of the Grand Mosque, while Quranic script intertwines with ornaments and architectural details, in harmony that combines letter and image, turning a single page into a complete spiritual scene.

The value of the Quranic manuscript is not limited to its artistic beauty, but it documents an aspect of the cultural heritage carried by pilgrims on their sea voyages to the holy lands, as these works were 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 among a collection of Qurans, manuscripts, and rarities 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 an aspect of the history of the faith journey across the sea.