It was on November 6, 1996, that the Islamic Museum in the Heritage District was first opened to the public. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, oversaw the transformation of the museum into the Souq Al Majarrah (opened as a souq in 1987). On June 6, 2008, after moving the reinterpreted and re-displayed items from the old museum to the new, state-of-the-art Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, it reopened to the public under its new name.
The museum is a major attraction for both locals and visitors. It is the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates and stands out due to its prime position on the Al-Majarrah Waterfront in the center of Sharjah.
The museum showcases the magnificent Islamic Civilization from the first century AH (about 7 AD) to the fourteenth century AH (around 20 AD) via thousands of one-of-a-kind objects. The museum showcases the research and creativity of Muslim academics from all periods of Islamic history.
The museum’s collection of Islamic arts and culture includes about five thousand individual works from all across the Islamic world, organized chronologically in six separate halls. Learn about Islamic history, art, culture, science, and discovery while on vacation.
Top 7 Different Sections of the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilizations
There are seven large exhibition halls at the museum, and the permanent collection is laid up as follows:
- The Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic Faith
- The Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery of Science and Technology
- Islamic Art Gallery 1
- Islamic Art Gallery 2
- Islamic Art Galleries 3-4
- Islamic Coins Display
- The Al Majarrah Temporary Exhibition Gallery
1. The Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic Faith
Islamic teachings and the Holy Qur’an are the focus of this exhibition space. Detailed explanations of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages and the five pillars of Islam are provided.
Rare historical Quran manuscripts, miniature figures, and photographs of mosques and their architecture from across the Islamic world and Europe can all be found in this exhibition space, as can replicas of the Ka’aba’s honorable clothing, the “Kiswah,” and model figures of the Ka’aba’s pillars and domes.
2. The Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery of Science and Technology
The most important scientific contributions made by prominent Muslim academics may be found here, along with examples of their work. Some of the most important discoveries, inventions, and theories developed by Muslim scholars across all disciplines are presented here through state-of-the-art three-dimensional models, audiovisuals, and comprehensive information panels.
3. Islamic Art Gallery 1
Artifacts from the 1st to the 7th centuries AH (7th to the 13th centuries AD) are on exhibit in this museum. These include ceramics, metalwork, woodcarvings, books, and textiles.
A unique cultural blend of ancient Hellenistic and Persian cultures, along with the spiritual values of the rising Islamic power, emerged during this early period as Islamic civilization and culture spread from the majestic Arabian Peninsula all the way to the Atlantic in the West and across the borders of China in the East.
Over time, a new aesthetic developed that combined elements of Arab-Islamic design with geometric and floral ornamentation.
4. Islamic Art Gallery 2
The Islamic art on display here dates from the 7th to the 13th centuries AH (the 12th to the 19th century AD).
They range from artifacts left behind by the Mongol invasion of the eastern Islamic world in the 13th century to a handpicked collection of items depicting the Mediterranean-based Ottoman, Iranian-based Safavid, and South Asian-based Mughal civilizations, the three main in-competition empires that overpowered the Islamic world at the time.
During this time, artistic, cultural, and religious exchange among diverse cultures expanded dramatically while international trade and economic prosperity reached new heights.
5. Islamic Art Galleries 3-4
The Islamic arts, crafts, and weaponry on display here date from the 13th to the 14th centuries AH (the 19th and 20th centuries AD).
During that time, European ideas and goods began to flood the market. Western competitors supplied cheaper and mass-produced items, making it difficult for local marketplaces and artists to compete. The completed appearance and quality of locally made arts and crafts began to alter as merchants adapted to the preferences of foreign visitors.
Both locals and visitors continued to be interested in traditional weaponry, which was no longer employed in battle but was instead displayed in parades, worn as parts of men’s formal attire, presented as presents to officials, or purchased as souvenirs.
6. Islamic Coins Display
The museum’s atrium outside the Al Majarrah Gallery features displays of its renowned early Islamic currency collections. The fascinating displays tell the tale of how and why these coins came into being.
7. The Al Majarrah Temporary Exhibition Gallery
The museum rotates two annual world-class temporary exhibits through this gallery.
