Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization: A Window into the Past

Sitting along the Al-Majarrah Waterfront, the museum carries its own rich history. Originally opened as the Islamic Museum in 1996 in Sharjah’s Heritage Area, it underwent a significant transformation in 2008 when it relocated to the iconic Souq Al Majarrah. Once a bustling marketplace, the souq is now home to over 5,000 artifacts from across the Islamic world. Inside, each room invites discovery – from handwritten Qurans to astronomical instruments, delicate ceramics, and centuries-old medical tools.

The Abu Bakr Gallery of Islamic Faith introduces visitors to sacred texts, a model of Kaaba, and fragments of the Kiswah, the cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca. Surrounding them, architectural models of mosques from North Africa, Persia, and Central Asia showcase how different regions approached sacred design with intricate domes, towering minarets, and elaborate geometric patterns.

One gallery over, things take a turn for the scientific. The Ibn Al-Haytham Gallery of Science and Technology highlights an era when scholars were mapping the stars, perfecting surgical techniques, and laying the foundations for modern mathematics. Al-Khwarizmi’s work led to algebra, Ibn Sina’s medical texts remained essential reading for centuries, and Al-Zahrawi’s surgical instruments – some elegant, others slightly terrifying – show the level of detail that early physicians achieved.  

The museum’s Islamic Art Galleries present a different kind of expertise, one that transformed everyday objects into masterpieces. Persian calligraphy, Ottoman tilework, and Mughal ornamentation adorn everything from palace decorations to simple household items. The level of craftsmanship is staggering – whether in the deep blues of Iznik ceramics or the precise, interwoven patterns of handwoven textiles.

Nearby, the Islamic coins display tells another side of history, where gold dinars and silver dirhams moved through Cordoba, Samarkand, and Baghdad, funding trade, scholarship, and monumental architecture. Compared to modern currency, these coins feel like small works of art, crafted with care rather than mass-produced for convenience.

Beyond the displays, the museum encourages visitors to explore history firsthand. Drop-in workshops introduce traditional crafts, while the Al Majarrah Temporary Exhibition Gallery rotates exhibits throughout the year. A library, cafe, and event spaces add to the experience, making it a place for learning and conversation.

Sharjah has spent decades positioning itself as the UAE’s cultural capital. The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is one of the finest examples of that vision. It’s a place where the past is detailed, immersive, and, in some ways, still ahead of its time – a must-see!