As part of the celebration of Arabic Manuscript Day, which falls on April 4th every year and involves many Arab cultural institutions and centers, Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage in Dubai organized a virtual scientific lecture on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023. The lecture was titled “Heritage Verification: The Dead and the Living” and was presented by Dr. Hassan Ahmed Al-Othman, an expert in heritage verification and the director of the digital library at the Manuscripts House in Istanbul. The lecture witnessed a significant turnout from enthusiasts of Arabic manuscript heritage.
The lecture covered important main topics, including: Principles and Branches: Conflict and Convergence, Balancing Serving the Text and Committing a Crime Against It, and Texts and Losing Both Civil and Criminal Rights.
Dr. Hassan Al-Othman stated during the lecture, “Many enthusiasts of manuscript heritage aspire to revive it, dedicating precious time, knowledge, and resources, providing readers with high-quality, greatly beneficial verifications. Another group of individuals involved with heritage, however, commit crimes against it, and perhaps even murder it. In this lecture, we clarify when verifications exhibit either of these two characteristics, and we elucidate the steps an investigator should take to ensure that their work revives heritage, respects it, and honors it.”
It’s worth noting that Juma Al Majid Center celebrates Arabic Manuscript Day annually, aiming to shed light on the importance of manuscripts as a significant cultural heritage for every nation. The celebration also seeks to promote awareness of the efforts of Arab-Islamic civilization and its accomplishments, as well as the rich legacy left behind by our ancestors.
