CAIRO - Al-Azhar, the world's most prestigious seat of Islamic learning, has celebrated the completion of the project of Mohamed Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, the Prime Minister and Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Absolute Monarch of Dubai, to preserve the manuscripts of Al-Azhar and publish them online. The participants in the celebration, which was held last week at Al-Azhar Convention Centre, praised the efforts made by Al-Maktoum to support the project, which has cost LE38 million. The project has involved documenting and preserving 50,000 of Al-Azhar's manuscripts, comprising more than 8 million pages and 63 sections in various artistic and scientific disciplines dating back to the beginning of Islamic history, in addition to 53,000 printed works, the most recent of which was published 60 years ago. “The project will provide Al-Azhar to reach the largest possible number of students and researchers worldwide, wishing to take advantage of works of reference from Al-Azhar. “There are more than 9,000 Al-Azhar institutes around the world with more than 70 faculties and 2.5 million students,” said Ahmed el-Tayeb, Imam of Al-Azhar. “This project is a glorious example of co-operation and joint effort between the UAE and Egypt for the good of the people in both countries,” said Emad Abu Ghazi on behalf of Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf. The idea for preserving the manuscripts emerged during a visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed to Al-Azhar a decade ago. He was told of the archived manuscripts and books as he discussed ways to provide an opportunity for all Muslims to take advantage of this Islamic intellectual legacy with the Imam of Al-Azhar, according to Mohamed Abdullah Al-Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs. “The project reflects the fascinating relations between the UAE and Egypt, inviting us to take advantage of the capabilities and potential in both countries. “The scientific and cultural co-operation between the UAE and Egypt has not emerged recently, as it dates back to the days of the country's inception under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan,” added Al-Gergawi. The project has archived the manuscripts and made 125,000 references available electronically through a dedicated website, in addition to establishing an internal communications network to link the main Al-Azhar institutes. During the ceremony Al-Azhar launched its electronic library that stores scientific books and references within its website (www.alazharlibrary.gov.eg), allowing researchers and students around the world to browse a huge collection of Islamic intellectual reserves. The technical infrastructure for the project will be developed by IBM to ensure the highest global standards in document storage and archiving, with the help of the latest equipment and advanced technologies. IBM was chosen for their expertise in this area and experience in working on similar large-scale projects around the world, such as the Vatican Archives and the Congress Library. “The project of Al-Azhar is a leap in the science of manuscript conservation, as it is the third of its kind in the world. “The manuscripts are unique Islamic intellectual material, gathered by many scientists and students of Al-Azhar, the first university in the world, which increases the value of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed's gift to preserve the heritage of human civilisation,” said Jamal Bin Hoirab, General Supervisor of the project.
