Muscat: UNESCO has officially recognized the Omani manuscript ‘Al-Nuniya Al-Kubra’ by mariner Ahmad bin Majid as part of its Memory of the World Programme. This inclusion marks the second Omani manuscript to be featured in this esteemed international registry.
‘Al-Nuniya Al-Kubra’ is regarded as one of Oman’s most important texts in the fields of navigation and marine sciences. It contains crucial insights into ancient shipping routes and the movements of vessels. While previous scholars categorized the Earth into seven regions in the northern hemisphere, this manuscript broadened the understanding by identifying an additional seven regions in the southern hemisphere.
The manuscript is of significant cultural and historical importance, as it offers authentic portrayals of the communities encountered by the author and his crew during their journeys. It includes comprehensive descriptions of the marine environment, its inhabitants such as whales and snakes, coral reefs, and techniques for anchoring ships.
Ahmad bin Majid, born in Oman in 1421 and deceased in 1500, was a trailblazer in navigation, notably contributing to the invention of the magnetic needle (compass). His body of work includes over 40 texts, with "Al-Nuniya Al-Kubra" being preserved in its original form by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth. In 2021, UNESCO recognized Ahmad bin Majid in its initiative honoring significant historical figures.
The UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, initiated in 1992, seeks to safeguard and maintain documentary heritage from deterioration or loss due to social unrest, instability, looting, or environmental factors such as heat and humidity over time.
This programme encompasses a wide range of heritage forms, including manuscripts, libraries, national archives, audiovisual materials, films, and photographs. Oman achieved its first inclusion in 2017 with the manuscript "Ma'dan Al-Asrar fi 'Ilm Al-Bihar" by navigator Nasser bin Ali Al-Khudouri.
