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Kairawan
Kairawan searches more than 270,000 Arabic and Islamic manuscripts from nine major collections.
About Kairawan
Kairawan is a search index for Arabic and Islamic manuscripts held in libraries around the world. Its homepage lists 241,229 manuscripts from nine collections, as of an index date of 2026-10-09. The directory description gives a figure of more than 270,000, which differs from the homepage count.
A single search covers manuscripts, works, and scholars across the nine collections. Each record links to the holding library's own viewer, where the manuscript can be examined page by page. The homepage also describes an automatic transcription feature that converts page images into editable Arabic text, but states that this is done where rights allow. The homepage describes searching as free. Pricing is listed as unknown.
Key features
- Searches manuscripts, works, and persons across nine collections at once
- Links each record to the holding library's own page viewer
- Converts manuscript page images into editable Arabic text, where rights allow
- Index lists 19,751 works, 35,755 persons, and 370 institutions
- Includes collections such as Hill Museum & Manuscript Library and Bodleian Library
Best for: Researchers and students looking for Arabic or Islamic manuscripts held across several libraries.
Good for
- Brings catalogues from nine collections into one search
- Each record links to the holding library's own viewer for viewing the manuscript
Watch out for
- Text transcription is limited to cases where rights allow
- The homepage describes the index as still growing, so coverage will change over time
Kairawan at a glance
- Website
- kairawan.org
- Category
- Research & Data › Academic Search
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Kairawan FAQ
Which collections are included in the index?
The homepage lists the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, the West African Arabic Manuscript Database, Princeton Geniza Lab, Fihrist, BnF Gallica, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Princeton University Library, Bodleian Library, the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Cambridge University Library, the Jarring Collection, and the Vatican Library. The homepage links to a full list of sources.
Can I view the actual manuscript pages?
Each record links to the holding library's own viewer, where the manuscript can be examined page by page.
Can a library add its collection to Kairawan?
The homepage invites libraries and archives that hold Arabic or Islamic manuscripts to get in touch about making their collections discoverable through the index.
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