Over 34,000 manuscripts digitized at Islamic University library

The Islamic University in Madinah has announced that its central library holds 34,615 fully digitized film manuscripts and 916 original paper manuscripts that have also been digitized, with some dating back to the 7th century Hijri.

In a statement, the university highlighted notable original manuscripts in its collection, including "Al-Mafatih fi Sharh Al-Masabih" on Hadith by Mazhar al-Din al-Zaydani (died 727 AH), copied in 719 AH on 191 folios, and "Tawali' al-Anwar" on rare Hadith terms by Nasir al-Din al-Baydawi (died 685 AH), copied in 780 AH on 180 folios. Both manuscripts are written in Mashriqi script.

The university noted that these manuscripts offer a valuable academic resource, connecting students and researchers to original Islamic heritage sources. They enable access to primary handwritten texts for research and study, and provide insight into scholarly methods of writing and copying across centuries. The university added that preserving these works is part of its academic and research mission, contributing to safeguarding Islamic heritage for the community and future generations.

The digitization project is part of the university's efforts to embrace digital transformation and enhance the user experience at the central library. Through the "Manuscripts Platform," users can search original manuscripts by author or title, browse them by subject, and submit electronic requests for digital copies.

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