Museum in southern Thailand is a treasure trove of Malay heritage

At the Muzium al-Quran Melayu Raya in Narathiwat, Thailand, visitors can explore manuscripts, historical Qurans, and ancient artefacts from a bygone Malay-era and beyond. Photo: Bernama

Visitors exploring the thousands of manuscripts, historic copies of the Quran, and 1,000-year-old ancient artefacts at the Muzium al-Quran Melayu Raya in Narathiwat, southern Thailand, are instantly transported to a bygone era of Malay history.

The most captivating exhibit is a handwritten copy of the Quran belonging to a renowned Nusantara scholar Tok Kenali, whose real name was Muhammad Yusof Ahmad. This Quran was completed in 1286 Hijrah. Another major highlight is a Quran, written in 1134 Hijrah, adorned with lettering written in gold ink at the start of each chapter, which has earned the reputation of being the most beautiful Quran in the Islamic world.