World's smallest Koran, world media echoes news in Albania

One of the copies of the holy book of the Koran, equal in size to those of a postage stamp, is located in Albania. The book is owned by the Prush family, who inherited this precious wealth from generation to generation.

The 45-year-old Albanian owns the sacred book, the size of a postage stamp.

The ritual is always the same. Mario Prushi carefully washes his hands and face before kissing and putting one of the smallest Korans in the world on his forehead.

For generations the book of the size of a postage stamp has been inherited into his family, surviving wars and the fanatic Communist regime that did not allow religions.

Experts say it is one of the smallest Korans in circulation, with the little book kept inside a silver box, blacked over the years.

“E have inherited from generation to generation with absolute commitment”, indicates 45-year-old Prushi for news agency “AFP”, from his home in Tirana.

Only one inch [2 cm] wide and one inch [1 cm] thin, the book almost disappears into its owner's palm and can be read with only a magnifying glass.

It is difficult to determine when this Koran dates, in the absence of scientific analysis, but according to researcher Elton Karaj, the 900-page book has started to circulate since the 19th century.

“This Koran has been printed in very small format, among the smallest in the world. At first glance I can say that its publication dates back to the late 19th century”, Karaj says.

The expert is referring to an outstanding and valuable work. We are lucky that this copy is in Albania”, he says.

The big history of Albania's Tiny Coranhttps://t.co/iHAMlOeEt Pic.twitter. com/ q r PKD1qixP

) AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 26, 2023