Middle East

The hajj pilgrimage is a life-shaping experience for millions of Muslims around the world. It culminates with the arrival at the Holy Mosque in Mecca. These manuscripts from the collections of the National Library of Israel depict the Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina in colorful illustrations, an artistic expression of faith that continues to evolve…

The works of Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, served as core medical texts for some 500 years in Europe. His groundbreaking philosophical teachings also transcended borders…

One of the world’s greatest collections of manuscripts is now available to view in the online catalog of the National Library of Israel

Irreplaceable documentation of ancient nomadic culture to be saved and made freely available online

This story which originated in 7th century Arabia has traveled across the world over the ages

With Israelis ready to flock to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Katie Wachsberger spoke to the National Library about the cutting edge of culture in the UAE

A seventeenth century travelogue by a famous Sufi mystic describes a strange and surprising image of Ottoman Palestine

A look at the miraculous tales and sacred biographies of Muhammad, in honor of “Mawlid”

A mysterious 80 year old document which recently surfaced in our collections emphasizes the geopolitical significance of Bahrain. But what is it doing here?

A seventeenth-century Muslim intellectual’s staunch defense of smoking sheds light on the practice’s connection to modernity and the concept of recreation