Mosque Libraries: A Historical and Future Perspective

Abstract

This article examines mosque libraries as an early and significant form of knowledge institution in Islamic civilization, emphasizing their historical connection with education, reading, book preservation, and the circulation of knowledge within the religious and social space of the mosque. It traces the development of these libraries from the early Islamic periods and links them to learning circles and endowments, before presenting selected examples from Palestine, Egypt, the Hijaz, and the United Arab Emirates, including Al-Muhammadiya Library in Acre, Al-Aqsa Mosque Library, the Endowment Library, the Prophet’s Mosque Library, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Library. The article highlights the books, manuscripts, Qur’anic copies, audio collections, and digital resources held by such libraries, as well as the services they provide to researchers, readers, and students of knowledge. It also proposes a future-oriented vision for revitalizing mosque libraries through cataloging, digitization, internet connectivity, recorded sermons and lessons, exchange and gift programs, and organized reading spaces, restoring their role in supporting reading, culture, and community service.