Historic Libraries in the Islamic World: Beacons of Knowledge and Pathways of Transmission

Historic Libraries in the Islamic World: Beacons of Knowledge and Pathways of Transmission

Qatar National Library presents a special symposium exploring the role of historic libraries in preserving and transmitting knowledge across Islamic societies during the medieval and early modern periods.

The symposium examines how library collections were established and expanded, how manuscripts and written culture circulated, and how books were used to preserve intellectual traditions. It explores the historical role of libraries across regions including al-Andalus, the Maghreb, Iraq, Bilad al-Sham, and Egypt, highlighting their importance in shaping regional identities and the development of Islamic scholarship.

The discussion will also consider the preservation of written heritage, the emergence of parallel collections of Arabic books and manuscripts in Western institutions, and the dispersal or plundering of libraries over time. Through historical case studies, speakers will explore the present condition of these collections and the lessons they offer for preserving knowledge for future generations.

Speakers

• Professor Konrad Hirschler — Professor of Middle Eastern History and Director of the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures at the University of Hamburg. He will discuss the journeys of books and manuscripts after the disappearance of historic libraries and how they continued to circulate between cities and collections over the centuries.

• Tamer El-Gebaly — Researcher in Manuscript Studies and Critical Text Editing. He will examine the Al-Azhar Library as a record of intellectual and social history, including its endowment structure and its role in the production and organization of knowledge.

Moderator

• Dr. Moez Dridi — Senior Archivist at Qatar National Library.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, 4 November 2026

• Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

• Venue: Auditorium, 2nd Floor, Qatar National Library, Doha, Qatar

• Language: Arabic and English

• Target Audience: Academics, students, and researchers

• Organizer: Qatar National Library

This symposium offers an opportunity to explore the history of libraries and manuscripts, understand their contribution to intellectual life across the Islamic world, and reflect on the importance of safeguarding this heritage for future generations.