Arabic Manuscripts

Arabic manuscripts are an authentic and vital part of human heritage. Moreover, they represent the largest body of written heritage known to humanity, spanning from the earliest writing of Qur’anic codices—the first Arabic manuscripts in the scholarly sense of the term—until the introduction of printing to the Arab world in the eighteenth century CE. Therefore, it is essential to preserve them and study them systematically to understand the significance of the contributions made by Arab-Islamic civilization to humanity.

This underscores the importance of the field of Arabic manuscript studies, which examines all aspects related to Arabic manuscripts—including their historical origins, production methods, and the elements that constitute an Arabic manuscript, forming the distinctive features that set them apart from other manuscripts. The field also extends to methods of making these manuscripts accessible, as well as their editing and publication for interested scholars.

By the end of the course, the learner will be able to:

• Gaining a general understanding of Arabic manuscripts.
• Acquiring the essential skills needed to handle Arabic manuscripts