AhlulBayt News Agency

source : IQNA
Friday

31 May 2013

7:30:00 PM
425113

Al-Azhar Calls for Cancellation of Quran Manuscript Auction

Egypt’s Al-Azhar Islamic center called on UNESCO to call off an auction for selling a manuscript of the Holy Quran.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - According to Al-Quds Al-Arabi, Sheikh of Al Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayeb has sent messages to Egyptian Foreign Minister Muhammad Kamel Amr, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Othman Al-Tuwaijri, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova urging them to try to cancel the auction at Osenat Auction House in Paris. The manuscript copy of the Quran is a rare piece that was stolen from Al-Azhar during Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt. Al-Tayyeb said that the manuscript was a part of Al-Azhar’s heritage and that selling or gifting it was illigal. The copy, which is set to go on sale Sunday, June 9 at Osenat, narrowly escaped the burning of Al-Azahr Mosque in Cairo two centuries ago. Its value has been estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 euros. Its cover is made from brown leather embellished with gold. The copy contains the first two of the 114 chapters of the Quran. The name of the owner of this precious manuscript has not been disclosed.End item/ 149