Wednesday 14 / May / 2025
A handwritten copy of the Holy Qur’an, about 500 years old and inherited by a citizen from his ancestors in North Al Batinah Governorate, is still there.
Eighty years old Khalfan bin Mohammad Al Hosni is the proud owner known for his passion for collecting traditional artefacts since he was 30 years old.
He has spent decades to collect ancient ceramics, traditional weapons, marine and agriculture related products, old utensils used for storing grains, dates and food.
“I own a Quranic manuscript dating back 500 years ago and I inherited it from my father’s grandfather who had handwritten it. It is still in good condition.”
“I also own a dagger made of leather, which dates back to 500 years ago. It belonged to my father’s grandfather and is also in good condition,” he said.
Al Hosni has a special corner for these collectibles, and their number ranges to more than 1000 different archaeological pieces, dating back hundreds of years. The corner includes everything that Omanis owned and used in ancient times, such as silverware, sapphires, pottery, weapons, old utensils, manuscripts and agricultural products, swords and daggers.
The number of weapons ranges from 20 to 25, including a rifle called Al Rumi, which was used in wars more than 1,400 years ago. “I have about four of them. I also have a rifle called Al Sammah which was used during the wars to expel the Portuguese from the coasts of the Sultanate about 4,000 years ago. I also have weapons and rifles that were used in the World War I,” Hosni added.
Hosni has around 10 manuscripts that date back olden times that have been documented to preserve history and events in that period. While some manuscripts tell about religious occasions, others mentions about the floods in the Sultanate.”
There is also a wooden board that his grandfather and then his father had used. “ I learnt writing Arabic alphabets and read the Holy Qur’an on it. My brothers and sisters have also used theboard,” he said.
Visitors from various governorates flock to see this heritage collectibles but currently due to the pandemic, he does not receive many visitors.
While officials from The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism have visited his place, Oman TV and other officials from the Sultanate have also visited to see this heritage treasure.
“My ambition is to build a museum of my own that includes everything that I have collected over the years. I hope that it will become a tourist, cultural and heritage centre for the wilayat of Al Khabourah in particular and for North Al Batinah Governorate in general.”
Al Hosni also appealed to the private sector, members of the Shura Council in the wilayat of Khaboura, His Excellency the Wali and members of the Municipal Council to support him to construct a building where he can showcase all the artefacts that he has collected over the years.
“After meeting some young Omanis who are engineers, architects and designers, it was found that the cost to establish a museum would be approximately OMR 100,000. We have submitted a request to the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage,” said Hosni.
“ I have worked hard since I was 30 years old. I have visited all the wilayats and the governorates of Oman to collect these heritage collectibles. I bought most of them from their owners so that they do not disappear or get neglected. I wanted to preserve Oman’s national heritage,” he added.
“Many people wanted to buy the 500 year old copy of the Holy Qur’an and the Omani dagger, but I will never give them at any cost. Even if one nail is taken from my collections, I come to know as I love them as my own children.
“I will continue to collect and after my death I have told my sons to preserve the way they would preserve my name,” Hosni proudly said.
