Al Maktaba Shamela |verified| May 2026
Al-Maktaba al-Shamila (The Comprehensive Library), often called Shamela, is the world’s most extensive free digital research environment for Islamic and Arabic studies. Launched in April 2005, it provides millions of users with access to a massive corpus of primary and secondary Arabic texts, transforming traditional scholarship into a high-speed digital experience. The Evolution of Shamela
The program was originally created by an Egyptian member of the Ahl al-Hadith forum, known as Nāfiʿ, under the name al-Mawsūʿa al-Shāmila (The Comprehensive Encyclopedia).
Early Versions: The first iteration contained approximately 969 books. By January 2006, Version 2 allowed users to import their own texts, effectively creating personal, searchable digital libraries.
Version 3 (2008): This version introduced official "stamps" for verified books and enhanced digital photocopying features.
Version 4 (2020): The latest major update expanded the official collection to approximately 7,000 books, though community efforts have pushed the total available library to over one million titles in various formats. Key Features for Researchers
Shamela is more than just a reading tool; it is a specialized database designed for rigorous academic work.
Advanced Search Engine: Users can search across thousands of volumes instantly for specific keywords, phrases, or authors.
Original Pagination: Many books in the official collection include metadata that corresponds to specific printed editions (publisher, year, location), allowing scholars to cite them accurately in academic papers.
Personalized Libraries: A defining feature is the ability to add, delete, and organize books. Users can import text files and .bok files to expand their database.
Integration and Mobility: The library is available for Windows, with mobile versions for Android and iOS, as well as a browsable online version at the Official Shamela Website. kitab-project.orghttps://kitab-project.org Al-Maktaba al-Shamila: a short history - KITAB Project
Al-Maktaba al-Shamela (Arabic: المكتبة الشاملة, meaning "The Comprehensive Library"), often simply called Shamela, is a prominent free digital library and research software dedicated to Islamic and Arabic primary and secondary sources. Launched in April 2005, it has become one of the most widely used tools for students, researchers, and Islamic scholars worldwide. Key Features and Functionality al maktaba shamela
Search Capabilities: The software is renowned for its advanced search engine, which allows for multi-phrase searching using boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), wildcard matching, and the ability to search across thousands of books simultaneously.
Book Management: Users can organize books into categories, create personal "favorites" lists, and even import their own texts into the library.
Digital Accuracy: Many entries are meticulously aligned with their physical printed editions, allowing researchers to cite specific page numbers accurately.
PDF Integration: The desktop version supports linking digital text to scanned PDF versions of the original books, facilitating easy verification of the text.
Hardware and Platform Support: Originally a Windows-based desktop application, it has expanded to include official mobile applications for Android and iOS, as well as a web-based version for direct reading. Content and Scope
The library primarily focuses on the "Islamic Sciences" and classical Arabic literature. Key subjects include: Tafsir (Quranic Exegesis) and Quranic sciences.
Hadith (Prophetic Traditions) and related sciences like transmitter identification.
Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) across various schools of thought.
Arabic Language: Including grammar, morphology, poetry, and history. History and Development
Origins: Created by an Egyptian developer known as Nafiʿ (or "Brother Nafiʿ"), the project began as a volunteer-driven initiative shared on religious forums. Compare up to 5 digital manuscripts Insert critical
Patronage: Since 2012, the project has received institutional support, including patronage from the Daʿwa Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which helped professionalize development and digitize thousands of new titles.
Evolution: The software has undergone several major version updates. Version 4, released in 2020, introduced a faster database system based on SQLite and an ElasticSearch engine to handle its massive and growing corpus.
For more information, you can visit the official Al-Maktaba al-Shamela website to browse books online or download the latest software.
4. Tahqeeq Mode (Manuscript Editing Workbench)
Shamela includes a complete environment for verifying and annotating texts:
- Compare up to 5 digital manuscripts
- Insert critical apparatus (footnotes, variant readings)
- Export to DOCX/PDF with edition metadata
- Useful for publishing a verified edition of a long classical work
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Al-Maktaba al-Shamela (The Comprehensive Library) is a free, digital research environment widely used by Islamic scholars and students to access and search thousands of Arabic primary and secondary texts kitab-project.org Core Features Vast Digital Corpus
: It serves as one of the largest sources of digitized Islamic texts, containing thousands of books across various sciences like Hadith, Tafsir, and Fiqh. Advanced Search Engine
: Users can search the entire library or specific categories for keywords and phrases. Recent versions (v4) utilize ElasticSearch for improved performance. Personal Library Customization : A key feature is the ability to import your own texts
, allowing users to build and search their personal collections alongside official books. Takhrij Function
: Specialized tools help researchers identify the original sources and chains of narration for Hadith. Linking to Scans : Official books can often be linked to scanned PDF pages
of the original printed editions to verify page numbers and formatting. Cross-Platform Availability Lughah (Arabic language)
: The software is available for Windows, and there are mobile versions for both In-App Tools
: Includes features for bookmarking, taking notes, and navigating via a table of contents. kitab-project.org Version Highlights
: Introduced the landmark feature of allowing users to import and delete books.
: Re-established page-number synchronization with printed editions and added the Takhrij function. : Completely overhauled the database system to for better stability and speed. kitab-project.org import your own PDF/text files into the library? Al-Maktaba al-Shamila: a short history - KITAB
Al-Maktaba al-Shamela (Arabic: المكتبة الشاملة, meaning "The Comprehensive Library") is a free digital library and software package widely used by students and scholars of Islamic sciences. Launched in April 2005, it provides a vast, searchable collection of thousands of Arabic-language books, including primary and secondary sources. Key Features
Searchability: Users can perform complex multi-phrase searches using AND, OR, and NOT operators, as well as wildcard matching across thousands of texts.
Book Collection: The official version contains approximately 17,000 digitized books (around 27.2 GB), while unofficial community versions can exceed 29,000 books.
Metadata & Linkage: Many texts are aligned with printed editions. The software links books to author biographies and connects hadith collections to their commentaries.
Offline Access: Books and the library software can be downloaded for entirely offline use on computers. Platforms & Access The library is accessible across multiple platforms:
What Exactly is Shamela?
At its core, Shamela is a free, downloadable software (available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS) that hosts over 12,000+ Islamic books in a single, searchable database. It covers virtually every classical discipline:
- Tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis) – from Tafsir al-Tabari to Ibn Kathir.
- Hadith – The Sihah Sittah (Bukhari, Muslim, etc.) plus countless Sunnah collections.
- Fiqh (Jurisprudence) – All four major schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali) and their key texts.
- Aqidah (Creed), Lughah (Arabic language), Tareekh (History), and Rijal (biographical evaluation).