Monday 17 / March / 2025
Muscat: The National Museum, in collaboration with the Sharjah Museums Authority, inaugurated on Monday, an exhibition titled “Masterpieces of Art from the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization.”
The event is held with the aim of highlighting the beauty and evolution of Islamic art, alongside the scientific contributions of Muslim scholars throughout the ages.
The event was held under the auspices of Salim Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum, and in the presence of Sheikh Sultan Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah. The event was also attended by a number of individuals interested in cultural and museological affairs.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until 3 May 2025.
The exhibition features 82 unique artefacts from the treasures of Islamic civilisation and the achievements of Muslim scholars, reflecting the richness and diversity of Islamic culture.
Several pieces are being displayed outside the United Arab Emirates for the first time, most notably the first Qur’an printed using the lithographic technique, and a silver cup adorned with vegetal motifs, engraved with the tughra of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
The exhibition is divided into three sections: Calligraphic Arts, Sciences and Innovations, and Harmony and Diversity.
Jamal Hassan Al Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, stated:
“As part of the cultural diplomacy pursued by the National Museum, we are proud to host the exhibition ‘Masterpieces of Art from the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization’. This exhibition continues the path initiated by the National Museum with the opening of ‘Omani Civilisation: Origins and Development’ in 2023 at the Sharjah Archaeology Museum. That milestone paved the way for further collaboration between the National Museum and the Sharjah Museums Authority.”
He added, “The exhibition presents artefacts that serve as intellectual treasures from various Islamic eras, attesting to the scientific, cultural, and intellectual advancements of those times. They reflect how Islam laid the foundations of a robust civilisation based on knowledge, the advancement of understanding, and the elevation of human intellect in the service of the Earth and humanity.”
Aisha Rashid Deemas, Director-General of the Sharjah Museums Authority, commended the significance of the exhibition and expressed pride in the collaboration with the National Museum. She affirmed the pivotal role of the exhibition in celebrating the deep-rooted cultural and fraternal ties between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, firmly rooted in shared heritage and values.
She stated, “Such partnerships not only strengthen the longstanding relations between the two countries but also embody the broader mission of cultural diplomacy by fostering understanding and unity through shared artistic heritage.”
The Calligraphic Arts section in the exhibition highlights the beauty of Arabic calligraphy across historical and artistic periods through a collection of Islamic manuscripts, textiles, and coins.
This includes Qur’anic manuscripts and folios, curtains from the Prophet’s Mosque, an embroidered frame from the Kaaba’s Kiswa (Qandil), writing tools, and a range of Islamic coins from the Umayyad and Abbasid periods. The miraculous style of the Holy Qur’an inspired Muslim scholars and captivated the hearts of calligraphers and artists across generations, fuelling their creativity and enriching the evolution of Arabic calligraphy and ornamentation.
The Sciences and Innovations section sheds light on the accomplishments and inventions of Muslim scholars from across the Islamic world in disciplines such as astronomy and medicine. Exhibits include astrolabes, celestial globes, a medical manuscript translated into Arabic, as well as dental and cauterisation tools.
The Harmony and Diversity section showcases the aesthetic richness of Islamic art through geometric, floral, and figurative designs, and its development between the 2nd–14th centuries AH (8th–20th centuries CE). It features a distinctive collection reflecting social life and the influence of artistic and commercial exchange across the Islamic world. Highlights include a hexagonal dining table bearing the name of Al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun (one of the most prominent Mamluk sultans), along with various dining ware including glazed ceramic and metal pitchers, bowls and jars, glass and metal flasks, incense burners, lamps, and candlesticks.
