World

‘World’s oldest’ Quran found at Birmingham University

Researchers at the UK’s University of Birmingham say they have found the world’s oldest manuscript of the Quran.

The fragments of the Muslim holy book are believed to date back to nearly 1,400 years. According to a radiocarbon analysis carried out by the University of Oxford, the parchment on which the text is written dates back to the period between 568CE and 645CE, close to the time of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

Some experts believe it was quite possible that the person who had written the pages of holy book would have been alive at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

“The person who actually wrote it could well have known the Prophet Muhammad. He would have seen him probably, he would maybe have heard him preach. He may have known him personally – and that really is quite a thought to conjure with,” David Thomas, the Birmingham University’s professor of Christianity and Islam was quoted as saying by the British media.
The manuscripts were found in Birmingham University’s library, after remaining there unrecognized for nearly a century.

It was decided to carry out a radiocarbon test only after a PhD student looked more closely at the pages of the Quran and concluded that they should be properly examined.

“Finding out we had one of the oldest fragments of the Quran in the whole world has been fantastically exciting.” Said Birmingham University’s director of special collections.

The fragments consist of parts of chapters 18 to 20 of the Quran, written in an early form of Arabic script known as Hijaz which is still clearly legible.

The manuscripts are part of the Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts, which are held in the Cadbury Research Library at the University of Birmingham.

The pages of the world’s oldest Quran are expected to be on public display at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham, from October 2 until October 25.

Related Articles

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker