Manama Attractions

Venue: Beit Al-Qur'an    When: Daily; not Fri

Beit Al-Qur'an is a cultural institution built in 1990 in Manama, Bahrain, dedicated to the study of the Koran and the dissemination and understanding of Islamic beliefs around the world. Its collection of calligraphy is world famous.

The institution, whose name means "House of the Koran", comprises several exhibition halls, a lecture hall, study rooms and a mosque. The museum houses an internationally celebrated collection of historic Koranic manuscripts from various parts of the Islamic world, including China and Spain. They represent a progression of calligraphic traditions from the first century of the Islamic era (7th century) to the present day.

Exhibits include Korans big and small, published in many languages (the aim is one day to have examples of the Koran in every living language). Artists have used beautiful calligraphy to write verses on wooden tablets, paper, parchment and even two grains of rice and split peas! The collection is spread through ten halls and over two storeys. There is plenty of space to enjoy the precious manuscripts and the museum has a reverential, solemn air about it.