The Arab and Islamic Heritage Collection of the Qatar National Library (QNL) has a large number of heritage and cultural items that are many centuries old, including books, historical maps and globes, Arab manuscripts, scientific instruments and early photography.

Established in 1979 by Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed al- Thani, the collection is an unparalleled contribution of historical sources about Qatar and the region. The collection was handed over to the Qatar National Library.

Sheikh Hassan has contributed almost 95% of the collection. At present it is a national resource which includes writings by travellers and explorers, who came to the region over the centuries.

At a media tour of the collection, Dr. Joachim Gierlichs, QNL’s associate director for Special Collections, said: “The collection includes over 2,400 precious manuscripts, 600 historical maps and many globes and other artefacts and instruments. All these will be moved to the Qatar National Library upon its completion and will be set up at the centre of the new structure.”

Dr Gierlichs highlighted a map that belongs to 15th century. “Among the 600 historical maps preserved by QNL, this one is very special. It is one of Ptolemy’s maps printed in Rome in 1478. This is the oldest map in the collection and it shows the name of Qatar written in Latin as ‘Catara’. “

The manuscripts are both religious and academic. Among them are Mushafs (Holy Qur’an) and Arabic literature. Others are academic with primary focus on sciences such as geography, astronomy, mathematics and others. This is complemented by artefacts from the early European period.”

The associate director also pointed out a special collection of the Egyptian history documented by the French historians after the conquest of that country by Napoleon Bonaparte. “This elephant-sized collection is a very special one, with a set of 20 books. This gives a complete picture of Egypt right from the ancient Egyptian civilisation era. There are only six of them in total all over the world. One of them is here in Qatar,” he said.

Dr Gierlichs said remarked that the manuscripts were written during the period of 13th to 19th century. “It  includes some of scientific manuscripts which were used in some of the European universities to teach medicine.”

“ Printing was introduced in the Arab world in 18th  century. The collection includes some of the earliest books printed in the Arab world. It also includes the first Bible printed in Aleppo in 1706,” he concluded.