Quran Manuscript Pages: Gold and Lapis Lazuli Muhaqqaq Script from Qatar

Qatar National Library provides a high-resolution digital master copy of manuscript HC.MS.2018.0053 from its Heritage Collection. The 337.3 MB ZIP file contains pages from the Quran written in the Muhaqqaq script with gold and lapis lazuli decoration. The dataset was last updated on June 2, 2026, and is shared under a CC0 1.0 public domain license.

Use Cases

• Training image segmentation models to identify decorative elements like gold and lapis lazuli pigments.
• Developing optical character recognition (OCR) systems specialized for classical Arabic calligraphic scripts.
• Analyzing artistic styles and scribal practices in Quranic manuscripts from the Gulf region.
• Creating high-fidelity digital surrogates for cultural heritage preservation and online exhibitions.

Strengths

• High-resolution digital master copy suitable for detailed visual analysis.
• Clear provenance from the Qatar National Library Heritage Collection with a specific manuscript identifier (HC.MS.2018.0053).
• Released under a permissive CC0 1.0 license, allowing unrestricted use.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The specific number of pages (rows) and detailed file structure within the ZIP are unknown.

Provenance

Source

Qatar National Library Heritage Collection.

Collection Method

Digitization of a physical manuscript.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-02 09:11:12; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Qatar (inferred from the institution).