The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in Abu Dhabi has launched a renewed display at its “Light and Peace” museum, featuring a carefully curated selection of rare Islamic artefacts as part of its mission to preserve heritage and promote cultural sustainability. The rotating exhibit introduces visitors to historically significant items—many on public view for the first time—that showcase the richness and artistic diversity of Islamic civilization across centuries.
Highlights of the new collection include a rare page from the Blue Qur’an, written in gilded Kufic script on indigo parchment and containing verses from Surah Al-Baqarah. Also displayed is a gold-plated copper candlestick gifted to the Prophet’s Mosque in 1539 AD by the court of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, exemplifying masterful metalwork from that era. Other notable pieces include a 17th-century Transylvanian-style prayer rug, a 15th-century Mamluk ivory-inlaid wooden door, and a piece of silk from the inner covering of the Holy Kaaba dated 1861 AD.
The exhibit also features a 17th-century astrolabe crafted by Muhammad Mahdi Al-Yazdi, along with rare manuscripts, Andalusian woodwork, and books documenting key Islamic landmarks. Each item illustrates the scientific, artistic, and cultural achievements that have characterized Islamic civilization throughout history.
Through this refreshed display, the Centre reaffirms its commitment to heritage preservation and cultural dialogue, embodying the values of coexistence and tolerance championed by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The rotation of artefacts ensures returning visitors can experience new dimensions of Islamic art and history, reinforcing the mosque’s role as a global beacon of culture and spiritual inspiration.
