After being shown at the US Pavilion, Thomas Jefferson's translated version of the Qur'an leaves the Dubai Expo
On Wednesday, Thomas Jefferson's historical copy of the Holy Qur'an, displayed at the United States Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, set off on a journey back to the Rare Books and Archaeological Collections section of the American Library of Congress in Washington.
This copy is from the possessions of the third American president, Thomas Jefferson, who assumed the American presidency between (1801-1809), who acquired this translated copy of the Holy Qur’an, consisting of two volumes, in addition to a framed map of the Arabian Peninsula, which enables more than 800,000 visitors to visit Taking a look at them since the launch of Expo 2020 Dubai.
It is believed that Thomas Jefferson purchased this copy of the Qur'an, the first of which was translated into English by George Salle in 1734, when he was in his prime while studying at law school.
The two-volume edition was printed in London and had never traveled abroad since its arrival in colonial America. Keith Allison, the first Muslim congressman, swore to the two-year-old "Quran of Muhammad" at the swearing-in ceremony, underlining its importance in history. American.
These rare and highly sensitive artifacts were transported to Expo 2020 Dubai, in a custom-designed wooden box, where they were packed in a special way, with the box equipped with a device for sensing vibrations and monitoring changes in temperature. The box was accompanied by employees responsible for preserving the library’s holdings, and security men On my trip to Expo 2020, as well as on my return trip to Capitol Hill in Washington.
“We are loaning some artifacts for exhibitions organized by museums, but this is the first time that a historical piece of our artifacts has been shown in an international exhibition,” Yasmin Khan, Head of Paper Preservation at the US Library of Congress, said before the departure ceremony. The State Department wanted to show that Islam was a part of American history and that the Founding Fathers were interested in exploring different faiths while drafting the Bill of Rights."
For his part, Sheikh Dr. Abdulaziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, Environmental Adviser to the Government of Ajman and CEO of Al Ihsan Charitable Society, expressed his gratitude to the United States Pavilion for displaying this unique artifact in front of the entire world, and for enabling visitors to the international event to take a closer look at it. This has also talked about the virtues of the Holy Qur'an as a source of inspiration and enlightenment.
In this regard, Robert Clarke, Commissioner-General of the United States Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “One of the main attractions of the pavilion was Thomas Jefferson’s translated version of the Holy Quran, and in fact, on October 1, 2021, we had the honor of The visit of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, where he was surprised when he realized that this is the actual copy of the Holy Qur’an, and not an exact copy. United Arab Emirates".
