Uzbekistan gifts copy of Katta Langar to Holy Quran Academy

Sharjah 24: Dr. Firdavs Abdulkhalikov, Director of the Centre of Islamic Civilisation in Uzbekistan, gifted a copy of the Katta Langar manuscript—one of the oldest known Qur’anic manuscripts—to the Holy Qur'an Academy in Sharjah.

Warm reception and institutional tour

Accompanied by his delegation, Dr. Abdulkhalikov was welcomed by Dr. Abdullah Khalaf Al Hosani, Secretary-General of the Academy. Dr. Al Hosani provided an in-depth presentation of the Academy’s initiatives, including Qur’anic research, the Sharjah Global Digital Qur’an Recitation Platform, and various museums, conferences, and symposia focused on Qur’anic readings and interpretation

Strengthening educational cooperation

Dr. Abdulkhalikov praised the Academy’s global educational impact and expressed hope for collaborative efforts between his Centre and the Academy to further support Islamic scholarship.

About the Katta Langar Manuscript

Named after the Langar Ota Mosque in Uzbekistan’s Qashqadaryo region, the manuscript is believed to date back to the late 8th century CE, coinciding with the foundational development of Arabic grammar.

Manuscript features and preservation

The manuscript is written on vellum from polished calfskin, measuring 52.5 × 34.0 cm per page. It is transcribed in Hijazi Kufic script—the oldest form of Arabic calligraphy. Eighty-one of its folios are currently housed at the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts in Saint Petersburg, Russia.