A two-century-old rare Quran copy returns to Uzbekistan

The international forum “The Great Heritage of the Past — Foundation of an Enlightened Future,” held in Tashkent, became a historic event. During the event, one of the oldest printed copies of the Quran, published over two hundred years ago, was ceremoniously presented to Uzbekistan, reported the “Madina” publishing house.

The unique gift to the Center for Islamic Civilization was personally handed over by Ilyas Saduriy, head of the Russian publishing house “Madina.” Among the donated books, a Quran printed in St. Petersburg in 1787 during the reign of Catherine II holds special significance.

Experts note that this mus’haf is considered one of the first and most complete printed editions of the Quran in the Islamic world. A special metal font was created for its publication, and the decorative work was done by the Tatar calligrapher Usman Ismail.

According to historical sources, the initial circulation was around 1,200 copies, which was regarded as a major achievement in publishing at that time.

This publication was not only religiously significant but also marked an important step in the development of Islamic printing and literature in Russia. Later, the city of Kazan continued these traditions, becoming the center of Islamic publishing in the 19th century.

This gift carries both historical and spiritual value. Representatives of the Center for Islamic Civilization described it as a symbolic bridge connecting the past and the future.

Thus, the unique mus’haf, preserved for two centuries across the world, has once again returned to Uzbekistan and become part of the nation's spiritual heritage.