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Sharjah Museum Of Islamic Civilization in 2024: Unraveling History

By Kuldeep Kumar

09-Nov-2024 0

Was it finding your next trip to the most historic places in the world? Then "Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization in 2024" is the next destination you must cut off your bucket list. The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is one of the museums in the prestigious city of Sharjah. It was one of the first museums to open its heritage doors in 1996. This museum was later closed down for its first reformation, after which it was opened to the public in 2008.

Meanwhile, all of its prominent collections were shifted to the building of the traditional Souq Al Majarrah. This was done according to the orders given out by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi. This newly opened museum consisted of about 5,000 artefacts that gave a detailed explanation of Islamic culture. Here you can see history come alive through the previous Islamic artefacts, which give out courageous and timeless Islamic civilization stories. The Islamic Museum takes you through various aspects of science, discoveries, and culture all in one place.

This new museum, located right at the heart of Sharjah on Corniche Street in Al Majarrah, opposite the Sharjah Creek, is one of the places you can locate even from afar due to its majestic golden dome visible even from a mile away. The building, now one of the historic places, was one of the indoor markets called Souq.

The Galleries

The museum's galleries house an awe-inspiring array of exhibits spanning various aspects of Islamic civilization. Each gallery offers a unique perspective, shedding light on the different facets of Islamic history and its profound impact on the world.

The prominent Amenity collection is now divided into 7 art galleries with their aspects and beauty. Out of these 7 art galleries, 6 are permanent, while one is a temporary exhibition.

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1. Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic Faith

A place to engage your soul, this gallery exhibits an introduction to Islam and the Holy Quran. The gallery also exhibits the five pillars of Islam, the various essential principles followed by the religion, and a descriptive account of the hajj, also known as a sacred Islamic pilgrimage. The various mosaic architectures around the world have also been explained in this gallery. While there's a limited collection of Quran manuscripts, there are various models, facts, and presentations for tourists to understand the Islamic religion. Rare objects, such as the Kiswah, are also used as covers for the Kaaba in Mecca.

2. The Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery of Science and Technology

This section covers the scientific achievements of the Islamic religion. It also gives an excellent description of the Islamic scholars and their accomplishments in science and technology, which led to an advancement in the world's heritage. The audiovisuals, 3D models, various charts, and representative articles make up this gallery, giving a vast idea of the contribution made by Islamic scholars in various fields such as astronomy, architecture, medicine, and so on.

3. Islamic art gallery 1

This gallery consists of pottery work, threadwork, wood carving, and other artefacts used at the beginning of the Islamic religion. The early period when Islamic culture was still flourishing from the Arabian Peninsula to the Atlantic and the borders of China has been depicted in this gallery. This gallery consists of other rare artefacts that date back to the 7th to 13th centuries AD.

4. Islamic art gallery 2

This art gallery depicts the post-Mongol invasion of the Islamic world in the 13th century. It also depicts the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal civilizations that were prevalent then. This gallery has objects that date back to the 12th and 19th centuries AD. This was when there was much enhancement in global trading and the economy. There was also a significant accomplishment in expanding various artistic, cultural, and religious beliefs among the communities.

5. Islamic art galleries- (3 and 4)

These art galleries exhibit objects and artefacts from the 19th to 20th centuries AD. The influence of European ideas on Islamic customs and traditions marked this era. This era saw a massive battle between the cheaper Western products being sold and the craftsmen and artisans. Various traditional ways of food and style had now been impacted by the Westerner traditions that had invaded. The traditional weapons were now popular among the people and were only used for parade ceremonies and other displays. Some of the artefacts were also collected for their own interests.

6. Al Majarrah temporary exhibition gallery

This gallery held exhibitions that were world-class and had a lot of tourists flooding in. This gallery held exhibitions twice a year, making it even more exciting and making the tourists curious about it. This gallery also showed some of the rare artefacts, among others, being displayed permanently.

Some of the most exciting exhibits of the exhibition can be mentioned as follows:.

1. The Sitara: The Sitara, also called the Al Burda, is one of the silk-embroidered cloths that was woven during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. This cloth, which was then woven, was kept in the museum for display among the tourists and attracted a lot of attention from the people.

2. The mosaic dome: People from various parts of the world visit the museum to look at the mosaic dome, which leaves you amazed each time you look at it. This dome depicts the zodiac sign and gives out intricate details that keep you wanting to look at it repeatedly. The various zodiac signs and the associated astrological symbols have been embedded in the dome. Also, the central golden dome at the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is one of the places you'd want to look at.

3. Islamic coins: Coins from the early Islamic ages have been displayed, which attracts many people. It mainly attracts coin collectors worldwide. These people come in to look at the intricate design and the traditional craftsmanship involved in making the coins. These coins include Ummayads, Abbasid dinars, and dirhams, which have been kept for display.

4. The copper and silver-inlaid Neo-Mamluk table or stand: This table or stand was presented to Al Nasir Muhammad Qalawun in the early 1400s. A replica of this stand is kept in the gallery for tourist display. The original remains in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo. The table kept in the museum in Sharjah is an exquisite replica of the original one you can see, which was made in the 19th century.

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Travel tips for tourists visiting Sharjah

Worried about when and how to go? Then you might want to read these 5 tips to improve your chances of going to Sharjah at the right time:

1. Clothing: Appearance is one of the factors you need to be careful about while visiting Sharjah. While having a good time in Sharjah, you must remember that any provocative dress will not be tolerated. This not only applies to women but also to men who would wear shorts while walking around or jogging.

2. Shopping objects: The things you shop for here are sure to be of low cost and high quality at the same time. So don't worry about having a hole in your pocket. You'll find a product you'd like at a much more reasonable rate, all at a reasonable price. While bargaining will also increase your chances of getting things at a cost as low as 30 percent off of the original price.

3. Litter: Littering around will cost you a heavy fine, so you don't want to dirty the streets. Sharjah, a clean city, has always had strict rules regarding littering. Public sanitary and other dustbin boxes are kept at various places so you can dispose of the waste properly.

4. Alcohol: For those who like partying and clubbing, this place is not really for you. Even though you might find some small clubs in the city, finding a liquor shop here in Sharjah will be challenging for religious reasons. There are hardly any hookah parlours as well. You probably need to make up your mind regarding alcohol while visiting Sharjah.

5. Food: While you'll find almost all types of international delicacies in Sharjah, you'd also want to discover some of the famous regional foods, ranging from the famous falafel to kebabs. They use all sorts of meat except pork, which goes against the Muslim culture. You'd also want to try the shawarma, which has gained high popularity worldwide for its exquisite taste and is being eaten as a snack in almost all of the regions in Sharjah.

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Conclusion

The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization stands as a beacon of cultural heritage, celebrating the timeless contributions of Islamic civilization to the world. Through its captivating exhibits and engaging programmes, the museum fosters an appreciation for the richness and diversity of Islamic art, science, and faith. Visiting this remarkable museum is an absolute must for those seeking to immerse themselves in the profound history and beauty of Islamic heritage.