Birmingham Quran web
Birmingham Qur'an - Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham continues the UAE tour of its major interactive digital exhibition telling the fascinating story of the Birmingham Qur’an to Dubai for the first time.

The exhibition takes place at Dubai Design District (d3), in Building 7, from 19 April to 3 May 2018.

Some 25,000 people in total visited the exhibition in November at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) and Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi, where they explored the manuscript in digital form as well as viewing a detailed replica of the holy script.

One of the oldest surviving Islamic manuscripts, the Birmingham Qur’an is considered a global treasure.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, viewed the exhibition in Sharjah after chairing an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at SIBF where the UK was Guest of Honour in celebration of the UK UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration.

University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood said: “The Birmingham Qur’an manuscript is of huge significance to Muslim heritage and the academic study of Islam. We are immensely proud to host such a treasure at the University of Birmingham.

“Following the success of this interactive digital exhibition in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, where it was visited by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and thousands of people, we are honoured to bring the exhibition to Dubai.

“Together with the development of our campus in Dubai, this exhibition symbolizes the University’s deep commitment to working with partners in UAE to enhance academic opportunities and cultural understanding.”

The Birmingham Qur’an exhibition was a highlight of the UK/UAE 2017 Year of Creative Collaboration, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and HRH The Prince of Wales.

The University of Birmingham has worked closely with the British Council, UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development as strategic partner, and d3 as a venue host to bring the unique exhibition to the UAE.

Electro-acoustic music experts at the University of Birmingham’s School of Languages, Cultures, Art History and Music combined Quranic recitation with sounds inspired by the night sky at the first encounter between Prophet Mohammad and angel Jibreel into the exhibition’s soundtrack.

Researchers Tasawar Bashir and Scott Wilson used a piece of specialist computer software to discover what the night sky would have looked like on 24 August 610. They then turned the brightest elements of the firmament into the music that now accompanies the Birmingham Qur’an digital exhibition. Certain Maqqata’at and verse 109 from Surah Al Kahf are referenced throughout this work – entitled ‘The Revelation’.

The exhibition will feature a range of Birmingham Qur’an-related education activities for young people, including exhibition tours, activity sheets and free calligraphy workshops for local schools designed and delivered by the world famous Dubai based artists Gallery Arabesque.

It will also be possible for people to discover the story behind the treasured manuscript, thanks to an innovative and free online course developed by the team looking after the manuscript at the University’s Cadbury Research Library.

The four-week course, ‘The Birmingham Qur'an: Its Journey from the Islamic Heartlands’ is now open for registration and begins on 14 May.

The course explores the origins and journey of the Birmingham Qur’an from the Islamic heartlands, its significance and the methods used to determine its age and how it is cared for at the University of Birmingham.

For more information, please contact: Samantha Dancy, Footstep Communications on 055 5711006, 

Listen to the exhibition soundtrack.

  • The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.
  • Founded in 1900, the University of Birmingham was England’s first civic university, where students from all religions and backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis.
  • The Birmingham Qur’an manuscript is a remarkable fragment of history. Part of the University’s Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts, it consists of two leaves containing parts of Suras (chapters) 18 to 20 and dates back to the seventh century. It is written in Hijazi, an early form of Arabic script.
  • UK/UAE 2017 was a year of creative collaboration and cultural exchange between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, designed to celebrate the long-standing relationship between the UK and the UAE, giving it greater focus, depth and contemporary relevance. More information can be found at https://www.britishcouncil.ae/en/uk-uae-2017
  • The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It works with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year it reached over 65 million people directly and 731 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. It makes a positive contribution to the countries it works with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 it is a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. It receives 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. www.britishcouncil.org
  • Dubai Design District, d3, Dubai Design District, (d3), a member of Dubai Holding, is a destination dedicated to design. Created to provide a home to the region’s growing number of designers, creatives and artists, d3 has fast become the hub for inspiration and innovation. Located in the heart of Dubai, the thriving community provides a platform where individuals can unite, collaborate and create. Visitors can discover an authentic shopping and dining experience with unique lifestyle boutiques, fashion ateliers, art galleries, design workshops and home grown restaurants. d3 has also become a popular events space, attracting international crowds and artists to cultural exhibitions such as Dubai Design Week, Fashion Forward and Sole DXB.