One of world's oldest copies of the Koran goes on show at British Museum

One of the oldest known copies of the Koran went on show at the British Museum today ahead of a new exhibition.

**The Koran has been lent by the British Library for the Hajj: Journey To The Heart Of Islam exhibition [Credit: Mirror]**

The Koran, lent by the British Library, will be part of the exhibition, Hajj: Journey To The Heart Of Islam, the first major collection dedicated to the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Mecca is viewed as a spiritual centre as the place where Prophet Mohammed received the first revelations in the early 7th century.

The copy of the Koran is thought to date from the 8th century AD, according to the British Library.

The Koran states it is a sacred duty for Muslims who are able to make the journey to Mecca to do so at least once in their lives.

The collection will examine the significance of the Hajj as one of the Five Pillars of Islam, exploring its importance for Muslims and looking at how it has evolved.

A host of objects have been lent to the exhibition from public and private collections from the UK and around the world, including important historic pieces and new contemporary art works.

The objects will document the perilous journey associated with the pilgrimage, gifts offered to the sanctuary as acts of devotion and the souvenirs brought back from Hajj.

Some of the objects will include archaeological material, manuscripts, textiles, historic photographs and significant material from Saudi Arabia.

The exhibition will open to the public from Thursday January 26 and run until Sunday April 15.

Source: The Mirror [January 13, 2012]