King Fahd National Library Contains 79,000 Manuscripts: Cultural Treasures and Civilizational Heritage

(MENAFN - Saudi Press Agency) Riyadh, May 14, 2020, SPA -- Manuscripts are an important link between the past and the present and a reliable record of the heritage of civilizations, peoples and their culture, reflecting the human's desire since ancient times to document, record and codify. Since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is gifted with profound historical and cultural weight in the world, being the land of cultural and civilized treasures, it has become the home to thousands of valuable and rare manuscripts which abound in its cultural institutions. Therefore, the regulation regarding the manuscripts'' heritage was issued by the Royal Decree No. (M / 23) dated (12/08/2001) to absolutely embody the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's keenness on protecting this heritage, through legislation and regulations that represent an important link in completing the structure of the cultural system. In the same context, we remember with deepest pride and gratitude the essential and vital role being played by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud who was advocating for the culture and intellectuals so far since he was the Governor of Riyadh Region when he proposed the draft bill of manuscripts'' heritage, fully cognizant of his responsibility as a general supervisor of King Fahd National Library. Maintaining manuscripts heritage witnesses great support from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. King Fahd National Library's endeavors over the past years have been culminated in imaging of approximately 73,000 manuscripts after the Library kicked off a scanning for about 90,000 manuscripts. The library also holds 6,000 original manuscripts and these collections are rare and precious. Among the rare and precious manuscripts being kept by King Fahd National Library are a copy of the holy Quran written in Kufic script dated back to the 3rd century AH and was written on parchment and another copy of Quran in naskh script, probably dated back to the 10th century, as well as collections of extremely valuable books, manuscripts and documents with deep-rooted history. --More 13:20 LOCAL TIME 10:20 GMT 0010 MENAFN20052021000078011016ID1102101996