The intent of this project is to collect and get the permissions from various Patriarchates, Libraries and Museums to create a portal at the Qatar Digital Library to display their manuscripts on the covenants of the Prophet and extracts from primary sources which are relevant to understanding the covenants. Translations of the various covenants will also be available in English along with the relevant passages of the primary sources. The Portal will include the covenants of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, relevant political documents of early Islam and will also make space for relevant Ottoman fermans.
These documents exist in various localities such as St. Catherine’s Monastery in Mount Sinai, the Matenadaran in Armenia, the Orthdox and Armenian Patriarchates in Jerusalem, the Monastery of St. George of Humayra in Syria, Mount Athos in Greece, the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Turkey. All of these will be made available to researchers for the first time in one location.
These documents shed light on the sira of the Prophet, are referenced in both Muslim and non-Muslim historical sources, and will help foster positive interfaith relations. HBKU will be the first university worldwide to undertake such a project which will bolster Qatar’s efforts as a leader in interfaith relations, and promoting tolerance and coexistence between members of different faiths.