Mashhad Library: 500 Years of Learning

The Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi in Mashhad, Iran, stands as a beacon of knowledge, offering the world of science a priceless collection of rare and ancient manuscripts.

Speaking to Anadolu, the library’s Director Ebulfazl Hasanabadi said: “The Astan Quds Manuscript Library has a 500-year history.”

Describing the library as Iran’s largest manuscript center, Hasanabadi said: “What sets this place apart from other libraries is that the books are either written here or donated and endowed to this institution. Generations have donated books here.”

Hasanabadi explained that, according to their records, three generations from the same family have donated books to the library.

He said that the library preserves over 90,000 manuscripts and more than 50,000 lithographic works.

Including works from other sections in the complex, the number of manuscripts exceeds 120,000, and the lithographic works surpass 68,000, Hasanabadi noted.

Hasanabadi explained that the library houses works dating from the end of the first century of the Islamic calendar to the Qajar period (until 1925).

Works in library

Hasanabadi highlighted that the library contains thousands of copies, sections, and pages of the Quran, making it one of the largest centers of handwritten Qurans in the world.

Underlining that researchers could access the library’s works through its website, he said: “We have more than 20,000 copies of the Quran and sections from the first century of the Islamic calendar until the end of the Qajar period (1925). Including individual Quran pages, this number exceeds 30,000.”

Hasanabadi also said that the “Senan Mushaf” in their collection dates back to the 40s and 50s of the Islamic calendar and is known as one of the oldest Quran copies in the world.

While introducing another copy of the Quran in the library, Hasanabadi said: “The world’s oldest complete Quran, believed to be from the years 80 to 110 in the Islamic calendar, is attributed to Hazrat Ali, the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from 656 CE to 661.”

“It is in good condition. The two-volume manuscript, written in the Hijazi (Kufic) script, includes a donation inscription on the first page. Its printed version (facsimile) will be introduced soon,” Hasanabadi noted.

He also noted the library contains thousands of works on literature, medicine, pharmacy, and similar fields.

“There are manuscripts from poets and scholars such as Ferdowsi, Hakim Nizami Ganjavi, Razi, Hafez, Saadi Shirazi, Ibn Sina, and poets from the Qajar period,” he added.

Hasanabadi further explained that the library holds works not only on Islam, medicine, and literature but also on other religions.

“For instance, we have very valuable resources on Zoroastrianism, such as the Avesta and Kata. Torah and Bible are also preserved here,” he said.

“After examinations, it is likely that the Torah manuscripts are from the 4th century (Islamic calendar) and are considered among the finest copies in the library,” he added.

Related Posts

Dalal Abu Amneh: A Musician, A Neurologist

She is a Palestinian singer, producer, and a PhD researcher in neurology from the Haifa Institute of Technology, the Technion.

Dalal Abu Amneh was born in Nazareth on 9 August, 1983 and became captivated by science and music at a young age. In music, Dalal got to be known for her melodious voice and ability to perform various musical styles.

In this she forged a global Palestinian identity producing all of her musical projects while making three albums: “Ya Baladi,” “Ya Sitti,” and “Nour,” underlined in the spirit and heritage of the Palestinian and Arab people while at the same developing didactic vocal styles including classical Tarab, Andalusian singing, Sufi spiritual chanting, and her revival of Palestinian and Levantine folk traditions.

Dalal grew up in an artistic family. Her mother, Juhaina Al-Hawari, has a beautiful voice but has not pursued a professional musical career, but looked after her children. Her father, Ghazi Abu Amneh, plays the oud and owns a fish restaurant. She has four sisters: Nida, Salam, Jihan, and Faten. Salam and Jihan work in the arts and singing, while Nida and Faten work in visual arts due to their hearing impairments.

Dalal began singing at the age of four, participating in the Princess of Spring competition and winning the title in 1987 with her song “Maryam Maryamti.” By the age of 16, she was known for her masterful performances of classical Arabic songs and traditional roles, in addition to her renditions of Palestinian and Levantine folk songs. Leading musicians in the Arab world, such as Salah El Sharnouby and Asala Nasri, have praised her voice, which they said blends authenticity with modernity.

Dalal is commited to socially-conscious art and is working to develop Palestinian art scene in a way to preserve its authenticity while appealing to younger generations and western audiences to strengthen Palestinian identity and support the Palestinian cause.

Over the years, Dalal participated in major international and Arab festivals, such as the Jerash Festival and the Arab Music Festival at the Cairo Opera House and represented Palestine in several Arab operettas, including “Land of the Prophets” (2012) and “Call of Freedom” (2014).

She also regularly participates in cultural and artistic events locally, regionally, and internationally. In addition to her performances with her own band, Dalal is the principal singer of the MESTO World Orchestra, performing traditional Arab and Palestinian songs with western musicians and orchestral arrangements worldwide.

Dalal released several popular songs, including “Ana Qalbi wa Rouhi Fidaak” (My Heart and Soul Are Yours) in 2001, with lyrics by Adnan Abbasi, music by Alaa Azzam, and arrangement by Habib Shehadeh. It was recorded at Karam Matar Studios.

She also released “Khallini Fi Balak” (Keep Me in Mind) in 2003 and two albums: “Kareem Ya Ramadan” (Generous Ramadan) in 2007 and “An Baladi” (About My Country) in 2013, an album that explores Palestine from various perspectives and through diverse musical styles.

One of her songs, “Ain Al-Adhraa” (The Virgin’s Eye), was a radio hit, and “Bokra Jadeed” (Tomorrow is New) was among the five songs selected for the Euromed International Festival in 2006. Dalal, also known as Amna, combined her artistic career with her academic studies.

She graduated from the Bishop’s School (Clerical School) in Nazareth in 2001. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science and Psychology from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, followed by a MA degree. She was then accepted to study medicine at the Technion in Haifa.

She became the first Palestinian Arab to study this specialized field, which combines computer science, medicine, biology, biophysics, psychology, and philosophy. In 2006, she enrolled in the graduate program at the Technion where she earned a MSC degree in Medical Sciences, specializing in neuroscience.

In 2011, she began working as a researcher and doctoral candidate at the same institute in the field of neuroscience, where she is developing a new technological method for treating chronic neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

She is a Palestinian singer, producer, and a PhD researcher in neurology from the Haifa Institute of Technology, the Technion.

Dalal Abu Amneh was born in Nazareth on 9 August, 1983 and became captivated by science and music at a young age. In music, Dalal got to be known for her melodious voice and ability to perform various musical styles.

In this she forged a global Palestinian identity producing all of her musical projects while making three albums: “Ya Baladi,” “Ya Sitti,” and “Nour,” underlined in the spirit and heritage of the Palestinian and Arab people while at the same developing didactic vocal styles including classical Tarab, Andalusian singing, Sufi spiritual chanting, and her revival of Palestinian and Levantine folk traditions.

Dalal grew up in an artistic family. Her mother, Juhaina Al-Hawari, has a beautiful voice but has not pursued a professional musical career, but looked after her children. Her father, Ghazi Abu Amneh, plays the oud and owns a fish restaurant. She has four sisters: Nida, Salam, Jihan, and Faten. Salam and Jihan work in the arts and singing, while Nida and Faten work in visual arts due to their hearing impairments.

Dalal began singing at the age of four, participating in the Princess of Spring competition and winning the title in 1987 with her song “Maryam Maryamti.” By the age of 16, she was known for her masterful performances of classical Arabic songs and traditional roles, in addition to her renditions of Palestinian and Levantine folk songs. Leading musicians in the Arab world, such as Salah El Sharnouby and Asala Nasri, have praised her voice, which they said blends authenticity with modernity.

Dalal is commited to socially-conscious art and is working to develop Palestinian art scene in a way to preserve its authenticity while appealing to younger generations and western audiences to strengthen Palestinian identity and support the Palestinian cause.

Over the years, Dalal participated in major international and Arab festivals, such as the Jerash Festival and the Arab Music Festival at the Cairo Opera House and represented Palestine in several Arab operettas, including “Land of the Prophets” (2012) and “Call of Freedom” (2014).

She also regularly participates in cultural and artistic events locally, regionally, and internationally. In addition to her performances with her own band, Dalal is the principal singer of the MESTO World Orchestra, performing traditional Arab and Palestinian songs with western musicians and orchestral arrangements worldwide.

Dalal released several popular songs, including “Ana Qalbi wa Rouhi Fidaak” (My Heart and Soul Are Yours) in 2001, with lyrics by Adnan Abbasi, music by Alaa Azzam, and arrangement by Habib Shehadeh. It was recorded at Karam Matar Studios.

She also released “Khallini Fi Balak” (Keep Me in Mind) in 2003 and two albums: “Kareem Ya Ramadan” (Generous Ramadan) in 2007 and “An Baladi” (About My Country) in 2013, an album that explores Palestine from various perspectives and through diverse musical styles.

One of her songs, “Ain Al-Adhraa” (The Virgin’s Eye), was a radio hit, and “Bokra Jadeed” (Tomorrow is New) was among the five songs selected for the Euromed International Festival in 2006. Dalal, also known as Amna, combined her artistic career with her academic studies.

She graduated from the Bishop’s School (Clerical School) in Nazareth in 2001. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science and Psychology from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, followed by a MA degree. She was then accepted to study medicine at the Technion in Haifa.

She became the first Palestinian Arab to study this specialized field, which combines computer science, medicine, biology, biophysics, psychology, and philosophy. In 2006, she enrolled in the graduate program at the Technion where she earned a MSC degree in Medical Sciences, specializing in neuroscience.

In 2011, she began working as a researcher and doctoral candidate at the same institute in the field of neuroscience, where she is developing a new technological method for treating chronic neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Continue reading
Stitch in Time – Palestine
  • HebaHeba
  • August 6, 2026

Travel Palestine

Embroidery is not merely a handicraft. It is a timeless heritage embodied in every stitch of thread and needle, proudly sharing the authenticity of our generations with the world.

Continue reading

You Missed

UNICEF: 300 Children Died in 300 Days in Gaza

UNICEF: 300 Children Died in 300 Days in Gaza

Dalal Abu Amneh: A Musician, A Neurologist

Dalal Abu Amneh: A Musician, A Neurologist

Israel Slams 100s of Fines on Moathneen in Arab Cities

  • By marwan
  • August 6, 2026
  • 5 views
Israel Slams 100s of Fines on Moathneen in Arab Cities

When Will The Israeli Bombs Stop Falling?

When Will The Israeli Bombs Stop Falling?

Israeli Troops Raid Qalandiya For 2nd Day

  • By marwan
  • August 6, 2026
  • 8 views
Israeli Troops Raid Qalandiya For 2nd Day

Stitch in Time – Palestine

  • By Heba
  • August 6, 2026
  • 7 views
Stitch in Time – Palestine