The exhibition, which will run through 5 November, features 16 examples of the unique handwritten book tradition of Belarusian Tatars. «Arabic-script manuscripts, created by Tatars on Belarusian lands over centuries, form a highly valuable part of Belarus’ book culture. Only a small number of such handwritten monuments have survived worldwide, and the collection of the National Library of Belarus is one of the largest. The manuscript books of Belarusian Tatars are written in Arabic script in the Arabic, Belarusian, Polish, and Turki languages. The Muslim population of Belarus was the first among other religious groups to create an original alphabet based on Arabic script to record the sounds of the Belarusian language,» the library noted.
Among the items on display is the Quran, the sacred book of Muslims, featuring copies from the first quarter of the 19th to the early 20th centuries that preserve the names of their copyists and owners. The collection also includes explanatory commentaries on the Quran (Tafsirs dating from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries), as well as diverse miscellanies known as Kitabs (dating from the second half of the 19th to the early 20th centuries indicating their origin and copyists’ names). A dedicated section showcases specimens of the most common Tatar books: small prayer books known as Hamails, created in Slonim, Minsk, and other regions of Belarus between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Alongside the exhibition, a month-long internship will be held for specialists from the Department of Document Restoration and Conservation of the National Library of Belarus. The training is organized by the Oman National Museum and the National Records and Archives Authority of Oman. The specialists will master modern manual restoration methods for valuable, fragile documents from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries, study new bookbinding restoration technologies, and work with advanced conservation equipment. This experience will enable Belarusian experts to implement leading international practices in handling unique literary heritage.
The grand opening of the exhibition will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs of Oman, Dr. Mohammed bin Said Al Maamari. The event will feature a scholarly presentation dedicated to the historical context of the formation of Belarusian Tatar book culture, the specific features of the displayed manuscripts, and modern ways of popularizing this unique heritage.
The library emphasized that the exhibition marks an important milestone in the development of cultural cooperation between Belarus and Oman. As representatives of Muslim culture, Belarusian Tatars have for centuries seamlessly integrated into the Belarusian social, political, and daily way of life, sharing all hardships and triumphs with the local population while preserving their own traditions, religion, and distinct identity. Their literary heritage stands as living proof of this unique synthesis.
