Thai embassy gives Qatar a 198-year-old Quran

The Thai embassy in Doha donated a 198-year-old copy of the Holy Qur’an to Qatar National Library (QNL) last week at the Heritage Collection Building in a bid to promote cultural relations with Qatar.

Previously owned by Ustaz Yusuf bin Harun from Pattani, a province in Thailand, the Quran was handwritten by Al Sheik Al Khatib Hud bin Mahmoud, who also lived in the same place.

It took Mahmoud five years to finish the Qur’an, which was completed in 1236 of the Islamic Hijrah calendar during his Haj pilgrimage trip to Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Thai Ambassador Panyarak Poolthup handed over the holy book to Dr Claudia Lux, project director of QNL.

In an interview, Poolthup told Gulf Times that they wanted to build what he described as a “solid cultural relationship” with the people of Qatar, citing that 10% of Thailand’s population are Muslims.

It could be recalled that Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn had visited Doha, particularly the Heritage library, in January 2012 and was shown some of the ancient copies of the Qur’an.

“Her Royal Highness then deemed it appropriate to link the past to the present by donating a historical Qu’ran to the vast collection,” said Poolthup.

“I asked Ustaz if there is any ancient Qur’an in Thailand and he said he has seen some. After a month, he told me that he can get a copy, and here it is right now,” said the ambassador, who had a meeting with the owner of the book three months ago.

Meanwhile, Lux thanked the embassy for donating a special and rare Qur’an, beautifully designed in gold and red and “a very special expression of art”.

As part of the library’s most important and rare books, QNL’s latest collection is expected to be exhibited in the future. Families, students, researchers and tourists will be given the chance to read and explore the book that will stay inside the Heritage Collection Building.

Thousands of books, including those on Arab and Islamic heritage, Arab law and children and teenagers’ collections are also housed in the same building.

“I think we have to learn a lot from Thailand about what they have already done and how they have developed their heritage,” said Lux.

Besides having a growing number of valuable, rare and historical materials, it is learnt that the library has recently finished digitalising about 3,000 books and manuscripts.

Gulf Times