Sharjah Islamic Museum is an ancient museum, 200 years old located in Al Gharb an old city district of Sharjah. This museum houses some of the exhibits, which are unique and rare Islamic exhibits. Visitors to this museum can see various artifacts bearing relevance to Islamic civilization. Ancient coins, textile clothing, ornamentation tools are showcased in this museum. Some of the archaeological digs excavated from various sites in Sharjah are also kept in this museum.
The 'Shamsi House' of Sharjah Islamic Museum is 200 years old. It has been declared a heritage house and is located in Al Mraiji, an old district in Sharjah city. It is a two storey house with a central courtyard. The ground floor has 16 rooms. During old times the ground floor and the upstair rooms were used for residential purpose. In times of war, the rooms up stairs were vacated, and the civilians were transformed there for safety.
The Holy Kaaba Hall in Sharjah Islamic Museum is a holy place for the followers of Islam. The broad screen inside this hall exhibits a documentary film about Prophet and the various rites performed in Hajj and Omra. There is a black piece of curtain from Kaaba, made of natural black satin silk. Tough white cotton lining and green satin supports the cloth. Holy verses on the Quran are painted on it. Silver and gold plated wires are used for some other verses.
The Islamic Mint Hall in Sharjah Islamic Museum exhibits a priceless collection of ancient dinars and
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dirhams. Silver, bronze and copper were use to mint these coins. The coins date back to the Omayyad and Abbaside eras. Visitors should not miss the China and Pottery Hall of Sharjah Islamic Museum. Beautiful and exquisite pieces of pottery can be seen here. Potteries belonging to different eras and different styles can be noticed. Arabesque hall in Sharjah Islamic Museum houses different types of wooden furniture. These furnitures are decorated with plant and animal sculpture, holy engravings or geometrical patterns.
Important Islamic and Arabian manuscripts are stored in The Manuscripts Hall of Sharjah Islamic Museum. The magnificent Archaeology Hall house spectacular exhibits that have been found in various historical sites like Muwailih, Yarmook, Maleiha and Buhais mountain. The first map of the globe by Al Shareed Al Idrisi has been preserved in the Science Hall of the Sharjah Islamic Museum. Different kinds of astronomic instruments used to determine the prayer timings and the path of the stars are carefully kept here.
Special and unique styles of Muslim metallic handicraft is also exhibited here. Arms and ammunitions, jewelry and metallic tools and pots form an invaluable part of the collection. The library of Sharjah Islamic Museum has various types of books like encyclopedias and books in history in Arabic and English language.
A tour through the exhibits preserved in the different halls of the Sharjah Islamic Museum is culturally an enriching experience for the visitors.
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