University unveils memorial plaque to first Russia-printed Quran

It was published by Gabdelgaziz Burnashev in Kazan in 1803.

The event on 20 May was visited by Rais (Governor) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Rector Lenar Safin, Chairman of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Russia Ravil Gaynutdin, and Chairman of the Spiritual Directorate of Tatarstan Kamil Samigullin.

The Asian Printing House of Imperial Kazan University was the first such Muslim establishment in Russia and the first Tatar publishing facility in the world. It was the largest Arabic alphabet publisher in pre-Soviet Russia and contributed immensely to Asian studies in the country.

“Since then, Kazanian prints of Quran widely spread in Russia and abroad. The holy scripture prints were sponsored by private individuals,” noted the Rais.

The printing business had been housed at former Governor Barataev’s house. It was later merged into the University’s Main Building. It’s there where the full text of Quran was first published in 1,500 copies in August 1803. Before that, Quran had only been printed in the two Russian capitals – Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.

The decision to open the memorial plaque was made on 24 November 2022.