Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization

The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is a museum in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The museum, opened in 2008, covers Islamic culture, with more than 5,000 artifacts from the Islamic world.^[1] Objects include calligraphy, carvings, ceramics, coins, glass, manuscripts, metalwork, and scientific instruments. It was formerly known as the Islamic Museum and opened in 1996 before being moved and re-housed in the current building.^[2]

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Location

The museum is located on the Corniche Street in the Al Majarrah area, on the opposite side of the street from Sharjah Creek. It is openly visible because of its large size and characteristic golden dome.^[3] The museum is situated in the historical centre of Sharjah on the Majarrah Waterfront, in a building originally constructed as a souq (indoor market).^[4]

Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council of the UAE and ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the museum on 5 June 2008.^[5] It celebrated its tenth birthday in November 2018, with an exhibition titled "Crossroads: Cultural Exchange between the Islamic Civilization, Europe and Beyond", mounted in co-operation with the Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin.^[6]

Displays

The museum displays over five thousand Islamic artifacts which have been collected globally and displayed in seven thematic galleries,^[7] six of them dedicated to housing permanent exhibitions.

A gallery dedicated to the history and nature of Islam, the Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic Faith, displays, among other objects, a copy of the Quran of the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, who ruled from 644–656 AD. Alongside rare objects such as this and a Kiswa, the covering used for the Kaaba in Mecca, are early black and white images of Sharjah citizens embarking on the then arduous Haj pilgrimage.^[8]

A gallery devoted to the history of Islamic science, technology and innovation, the Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery of Science and Technology, includes displays showing Islamic scientific advancements, including complex early clocks, navigational aids and weapons. Four further galleries display Islamic art through the ages,^[9] as well as displays of modest fashion and contemporary pieces.

Displays along the central boulevard include cases of Islamic coins as well as clocks and other items.

A seventh gallery houses temporary exhibitions, with a regular roster of displays co-curated with other museums, ranging from Ottoman Masterpieces from the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest to Persian calligraphy from the Islamic Arts Museum of Malaysia.^[10]^[11]

Facilities

The museum features prayer rooms, a cafeteria, a souvenir shop, spacious parking, rest rooms and has facilities and wheel chair access for the disabled.^[12]

References

^ Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization Archived 2011-05-31 at the Wayback Machine, Sharjah Museums, UAE, 2008.
^ "Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization". universes.art.
^ Contact Us, Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, UAE.
^ Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization Archived 2009-02-03 at the Wayback Machine, Sharjar Tourism, UAE.
^ Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization opened by Sultan Archived 2009-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, AMEinfo.com, 7 June 2008.
^ "Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization highlights cultural exchanges among states". Sharja24.
^ "Sharjah Museums Department - Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization". Archived from the original on 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
^ "Sharjah museum links past and present". 2008-07-02.
^ "Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation opens its doors". The National. 7 August 2011.
^ Staff Reporter. "Rare Islamic calligraphy on display at Sharjah museum". Khaleej Times.
^ "Sharjah Museum Of Islamic Civilisation Showcases Ottoman Treasures". Harper's BAZAAR Arabia.
^ [1]^{[dead link]}

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation.

Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization website

Islamic museums

Africa

Egypt (Museum of Islamic Art, Museum of Islamic Ceramics)
Libya (Islamic Museum of Tripoli, Red Castle Museum)
Morocco (Dar Batha Museum, Majorelle Garden, Marrakech Museum)
Tunisia (Bardo National Museum, Mahdia Museum, National Museum of Islamic Art)

Asia

South	Afghanistan (Museum of Islamic Art) India (Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences) Maldives (National Museum) Pakistan (Multan Museum, National Museum of Pakistan)
South East	Malaysia (Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Islamic Heritage Museum, Kelantan Islamic Museum, Malay and Islamic World Museum, Malacca Al-Quran Museum, Malacca Islamic Museum, Penang Islamic Museum, Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum, Sabah Museum) Philippines (Aga Khan Museum of Islamic Arts) Singapore (Asian Civilisations Museum)
West	Bahrain (Beit Al Quran) Iran (Astan Quds Razavi Central Museum, Museum of the Islamic Era) Iraq (National Museum of Iraq, Sulaymaniyah Museum) Israel/Palestine (Islamic Museum, Museum for Islamic Art) Jordan (Prophet Mohammad Museum) Kuwait (Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah, Tareq Rajab Museum) Qatar (Museum of Islamic Art, National Museum of Qatar) Syria (National Museum of Damascus, National Museum of Aleppo, Raqqa Museum) Turkey Bursa Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, İstanbul Archaeology Museums, Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam, Museum of Turkish Calligraphy Art, Sadberk Hanım Museum, Topkapi Palace Museum, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum) United Arab Emirates (Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, Zayed National Museum)