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'Oldest' Qur'an fragments found at Birmingham University 'Oldest' Qur'an fragments found at Birmingham University
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An Islamic manuscript held by the University of Birmingham has been identified as one of the world’s oldest fragments of the Qu’ran. An Islamic manuscript held by the University of Birmingham has been identified as one of the world’s oldest fragments of the Qur’an.
Radiocarbon analysis has dated the now “globally significant” parchment bearing the text to a period between AD568 and 645 with 95.4% accuracy. Radiocarbon analysis has dated the “globally significant” parchment bearing the text to a period between AD568 and 645 with 95.4% accuracy. The results of the test, conducted at the University of Oxford, strongly suggest the manuscript was written less than 20 years after the death of the prophet Muhammad.
The results of the test, conducted at the University of Oxford, strongly suggest the manuscript was written less than 20 years after the death of the Prophet Mohammed. David Thomas, professor of Christianity and Islam at the University of Birmingham, said: “The radiocarbon dating of the Birmingham Qur’an folios has yielded a startling result and reveals one of the most surprising secrets of the university’s collections. They could well take us back to within a few years of the actual founding of Islam.”
Professor David Thomas, professor of Christianity and Islam at the University of Birmingham, said: “The radiocarbon dating of the Birmingham Qu’ran folios has yielded a startling result and reveals one of the most surprising secrets of the university’s collections. Experts believe the pieces of parchment may have been taken from an animal that was alive during the lifetime of the prophet or shortly afterwards.
“They could well take us back to within a few years of the actual founding of Islam.” Thomas added: “This means that the parts of the Qur’an that are written on this parchment can, with a degree of confidence, be dated to less than two decades after Muhammad’s death.
Experts believe the pieces of parchment may have been taken from an animal which was alive during the lifetime of the Prophet Mohammed or shortly afterwards. “These portions must have been in a form that is very close to the form of the Qur’an read today, supporting the view that the text has undergone little or no alteration and that it can be dated to a point very close to the time it was believed to be revealed.”
Thomas added: “This means that the parts of the Qu’ran that are written on this parchment can, with a degree of confidence, be dated to less than two decades after Mohammed’s death. According to Muslim tradition, the prophet Muhammad received the revelations that form the scripture of Islam between AD610 and 632, the year of his death.
“These portions must have been in a form that is very close to the form of the Qu’ran read today, supporting the view that the text has undergone little or no alteration and that it can be dated to a point very close to the time it was believed to be revealed.” The manuscript, part of the university’s Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts, consists of two parchment leaves and is believed to contain parts of Suras (chapters) 18 to 20.Written with ink in an early form of Arabic script known as Hijazi, the text has previously been “misbound” with parts of a similar manuscript dated to the late seventh century.
According to Muslim tradition, the Prophet Mohammed received the revelations that form the scripture of Islam between the years AD610 and 632, the year of his death. Susan Worrall, the director of special collections at the University of Birmingham’s Cadbury Research Library, said: “The radiocarbon dating has delivered an exciting result, which contributes significantly to our understanding of the earliest written copies of the Qur’an. We are thrilled that such an important historical document is here in Birmingham, the most culturally diverse city in the UK.”
The manuscript, part of the university’s Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts, consists of two parchment leaves and is believed to contain parts of Suras (chapters) 18 to 20. Dr Muhammad Isa Waley, lead curator for Persian and Turkish manuscripts at the British Library, said: “We know now that these two folios, in a beautiful and surprisingly legible Hijazi hand, almost certainly date from the time of the first three caliphs. According to the classic accounts, it was under the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, that the Qur’anic text was compiled and edited in the order of Suras familiar today.”
Written with ink in an early form of Arabic script known as Hijazi, the text has previously been “misbound” with parts of a similar manuscript dated to the late seventh century.
Susan Worrall, director of special collections at the University of Birmingham’s Cadbury Research Library, said: “The radiocarbon dating has delivered an exciting result, which contributes significantly to our understanding of the earliest written copies of the Koran.
“We are thrilled that such an important historical document is here in Birmingham, the most culturally diverse city in the UK.”
Dr Muhammad Isa Waley, lead curator for Persian and Turkish manuscripts at the British Library, said: “We know now that these two folios, in a beautiful and surprisingly legible Hijazi hand, almost certainly date from the time of the first three caliphs.
“According to the classic accounts, it was under the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, that the Koranic text was compiled and edited in the order of Suras familiar today.”
The manuscript will go on public display at the university’s Barber Institute of Fine Arts in October.The manuscript will go on public display at the university’s Barber Institute of Fine Arts in October.