Visitors to the Holy Quran Museum in Mecca’s Hira Cultural District can now view a world-record artifact: the largest handwritten copy of the Holy Quran, officially open to the public.

According to news agencies, the manuscript measures 312 by 220 centimeters and consists of 700 pages, earning the museum recognition from Guinness World Records for exhibiting the world’s largest handwritten Quran.

The manuscript is a magnified reproduction of a historic Quran dating back to the 16th century. The original copy measures 45 by 30 centimeters, with most chapters written in Thuluth script, while Surah Al-Fatiha was penned in Naskh, reflecting the refined calligraphic traditions and artistic diversity of the period.

This Quran stands as a remarkable example of Arabic calligraphy, gilding, and bookbinding. It showcases the richness of Islamic art through intricate decorations, sun-shaped motifs on the opening folio, and elaborately designed frontispiece and title pages that demonstrate exceptional artistic mastery.

The manuscript was endowed as a waqf in 1883, and its original version is currently preserved at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries. It remains a lasting testament to Muslims’ reverence for the Holy Quran and the enduring legacy of Islamic arts across the centuries.