Quran only book saved from ... burning of Univ. library

[eppur_se_muova]

Copy of Quran only book saved from Union’s 1865 burning of UA

By Taylor Holland Special to The Tuscaloosa News
Published: Friday, September 10, 2010 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 11:58 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | A copy of the Quran dating from 1853, its spine missing, its pages browning and its front cover almost detached, sits today in a library at the University of Alabama.

While Islam’s holy book now appears safe from a Florida pastor’s plan for a bonfire, the Quran at UA had its own dramatic rescue from the flames. It was the only book saved from burning of the university library at the hands of Union troops in 1865.
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The order to burn the University of Alabama had been given long before federal troops arrived in Tuscaloosa on April 3, 1865. They believed that the university, along with a
local textile factory and hat factory, provided materials to the Confederate army.
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Deloffre begged Johnston to spare the library, one of the finest of its time. Johnston responded by sending a courier to headquarters, asking if the library could remain unscathed, but he was instructed by his general to burn the Rotunda as planned.

According to Center, what happened next has become part of University of Alabama lore. Legend has it that before Union troops set the building on fire, either Johnston, one of his aides, Deloffre or someone else went into the Rotunda to save one book — a copy of “The Koran: Commonly Called The Alcoran Of Mohammed.”
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more: http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20100910/NEWS/100909583/1007




An interesting counterpoint to recent events ... and perhaps a reminder that some are capable of behaving as civilized men even in the face of most uncivilized acts.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

1. one of the coolest stories about the University

seen the copy...amazing piece of history and a statement about the man that saved it...

sP

[jwirr]

2. So interesting. It would be interesting to know the early history of Islam

in the USA. Who had the Koran back then? Why was it in the library? Who had the brains to place it on the shelves? Makes me wonder about a lot of things. Our MN rep took his oath of office on the Koran that belonged to Thomas Jefferson - what was the story behind that book and it's owner?