757-Year-Old Manuscript Returns to Konya

A handover ceremony was held in Konya to mark the return of the 757-year-old manuscript titled Kitab Şerhu’l-Esma, which had been smuggled abroad in 2000 from the Yusuf Ağa Manuscript Library.

Speaking at the event held at Konya Metropolitan Municipality’s Taş Bina Culture and Art Center, Konya Governor İbrahim Akın thanked Nizam Bin Muhammad Salih Yaqubi, Chairman of the Sharia Supervisory Board of the International Investment Bank of the Kingdom of Bahrain, who purchased the manuscript—later confirmed to have been stolen from Konya—and returned it upon realizing its origin.

Governor Akın recalled that Kitab Şerhu’l-Esma, written by Ibn Burrican in 1268, had been missing for many years and said, “At last, this precious work—an heirloom of our ancestors—is being returned to its rightful place, to our land, to Konya, to the Karatay Yusuf Ağa Manuscript Library. We are deeply pleased that this meaningful handover is being recorded not merely as an inventory entry, but as a sign of conscience, scholarly responsibility, and national awareness.”

Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay stated that it was a significant day in honor of Konya’s thousands of years of scholarly and spiritual heritage, and said, “As you know, in the year 2000, a theft took place at our treasured Yusuf Ağa Manuscript Library, resulting in the loss of priceless manuscripts with centuries of history. This heartbreaking incident was not only a great loss for Konya but also for the cultural heritage of all humanity. Since that day, thanks to the determined efforts of our state institutions, the diplomatic initiatives led by our Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and international cooperation, some of these valuable lost works have been located abroad and returned to our country.”

Following the speeches, Kitab Şerhu’l-Esma was officially received by Bekir Şahin, Regional Director of Konya Manuscripts Institution.