Rare Books & Archival Collections Reference Guide

RBD MS Persian 0028

The Islamic manuscripts at McGill are in Arabic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and a few other languages:

• the Arabic manuscripts collection includes 280 codices covering the traditional Islamic disciplines (Qur'ans and Qur'anic exegesis, Islamic Law, Philosophy, Theology (Kalam), Natural History, Medicine, Mathematics, etc.) and a collection of over 200 pieces of Arabic calligraphy. Full list available here: Arabic Manuscripts, Blacker-Wood Rare Collection ; Arabic Manuscripts, Rare Books & Special Collections ; Arabic Manuscripts, Islamic Studies Collection ; Arabic Manuscripts, Osler Library.
• the Persian manuscripts collection is made of 334 codices embracing all aspects of the Islamic culture (Qur'anic exegesis, Islamic Law, Philosophy, Theology (Kalam), History, Literature and Sciences) as well as 81 fragments many containing miniature paintings: Persian Manuscripts, Blacker-Wood Rare Collection ; Persian Manuscripts, Rare Books & Special Collections ; Persian Manuscripts, Islamic Studies Collection ; Persian Manuscripts, Osler Library.
• the Turkish manuscripts collection includes 35 codices covering a wide variety of disciplines such as Sufism, Ethics, Islamic Law, Poetry, Medicine, etc.
• A few Malay, Urdu and Hindustani manuscripts complete the McGill collection.

Islamic manuscripts are preserved in the Rare Books and Special Collections library located on the 4th floor of the McLennan building.

Rare Books and Special Collections
rarebooks.library@mcgill.ca
514-398-4711