” I have consulted this library several times. There is no better collection in India than this. I have also seen the libraries of Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Europe. And I can say that this library is richer than any one.” – Shibli Nomani about Rampur Raza Library.
The oldest library of India came into existence in 1774 with the personal collection of books of Nawab Faizullah Khan, founder of the Rampur State.
His successors kept adding to it.
The library is housed on the magnificent Hamid Manzil inside the Qila.it was shifted to Hamid Manzil in 1957.
After the merger of Rampur to the Union of India the library was taken ovrr by Givt of India and is managed by a board set up under the Ministry of Culture.
One of the priceless books in the library is the unique parchment manuscript of Quran attributed to Hazrat Ali (d 661) of the 7th century AD.
I was overwhelmed.
All I could do was pray to Maula Ali for all my loved ones.
The cover added later
All these are additions
The parchment in the middle is original. The borders and mounting are done later
By Hazrat Ali
There are two more Quran Sharif one attributed to Imam Jafar Sadiq which is given below:
The cover added later
The size of the folios are small and writing very small
There is another ornately decorated Quran Sharif attributed to Imam Raza a.s.
Remember the parchments are original and the mounting and decoration are latter day embellishments
Something g which didn’t meet approval has been blacked out
The parchment with Kufic writing only is Imam Raza ‘ s. Rest is added later
Slightly fading letters
