Diyarbakır sanctified by new exhibition of holy heritage

DİYARBAKIR - Anadolu Agency

The exhibition includes 99 copies of the Quran written by famous calligraphers. They are on display at the city’s Zinciriye Madrasah Mesopotamia International Quran Research Center. CİHAN photos

The southeastern province of Diyarbakır has welcomed a new display of 99 “Mushaf-ı Şerif” (handwritten copies of the Quran) from between the ninth and 18th centuries as part of the traveling “Mukaddes Miras” (Holy Heritage) exhibition.

The selection has gone on display at the city’s Zinciriye Madrasah Mesopotamia International Quran Research Center next to the historic Ulu Mosque having previously been exhibited at Istanbul’s Sultanahmet Madrasah and in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa.

“The opening of such an exhibition in the Zinciriye Madrasah, where Islamic scholars have lived and added countless works to Islam and Islamic civilization, is very important for this city,” said Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker at the opening.

Eker said Diyarbakır was the center of civilizations and that Islamic civilization had thrived in Diyarbakır for 1,400 years. 

At the same time, Eker lamented that the city was now more known for the troubles of the past three decades between the army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “Unfortunately, Diyarbakır is more known for these [events] over the last 30-40 years. It’s as if its beauties are under ashes. We are now aiming to make this city a center of peace and civilization.”

Speaking about the importance of opening the exhibition in Diyarbakır, Gov. Cahit Kıraç said the city had been known as the city of love and brotherhood. “Diyarbakır is known for the tombs of two prophets, who are mentioned in the Quran, and Ulu Mosque. We are working to make more people know it. We are also working to revive the historic structure in this city of 12,000 years,” he said. 

Islamic Culture and Art Platform President Hüdai Yılmaz said Diyarbakır was the third destination of the exhibition “Holy Heritage.” “You will see unique Qurans written over 1,000 years across the Muslim world.”

Quran copies, calligraphy works 

The exhibition includes 99 copies of the Quran written by famous calligraphers such as Hafız Osman, Mehmet Emin Üsküdari, Mahmud Sivasi, Hafız Yusuf and Derviş Mehmed, and includes examples from places as diverse as Mongolia and China and from Muslim dynasties like the Abbasids and Umayyads.

Also in the exhibition are the hüsni-hat calligraphy works by significant names like Şeyh Hamdullah, Sami Efendi, Mahmud Celaleddin, Yesarizade Mustafa İzzet, Ömer Vasfi Efendi, Hulusi Yazgan, Kamil Akdik and Mehmet Şefik.

All of the works were gathered from private collections.