Image Credit: Smithsonian Museum
A translated copy of the Quran owned by historic American President Thomas Jefferson has been taken to Dubai where it is being displayed as part of the US Pavilion in the Dubai Expo 2020.
"Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Quran left the U.S. for the first time from its home at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. It is on display in the USA Pavilion as an integral part of our theme," tweeted the US Pavilion official account.
The artefact consists of a translated two-volume copy of the Quran and a framed map of the holy city of Mecca. The translation is a second edition by George Sale. It was transported from the US under high security and in a specially-padded crate equipped to detect temperature changes and vibrations.
It is believed that Jefferson, who was US president for two terms from 1801-1809, acquired the copy of the Quran while he was a young man studying law. The two-volume set was printed in London and has never previously travelled outside the US since its arrival in then Colonial America.
The Smithsonian Museum records that the Quran was purchased two hundred and three by President James Madison, who approved the act of Congress purchasing Thomas Jefferson's private library.