Several pages from a very old Quran manuscript, believed to be the oldest existing manuscript in the world, have been discovered at the University of Birmingham in the UK. According to Reuters, the age of this Quran manuscript, based on radiocarbon dating tests from the University of Oxford, has a 95% probability of being written between 568 and 645 AD, estimated to be at least 1370 years old. This manuscript includes parts of Surahs 18 to 20, written in Hijazi script, one of the oldest forms of Arabic writing and Quranic text. The pages of this Quran had remained unknown in the library of the University of Birmingham for about a century. This manuscript, written on parchment, was kept in the library along with a collection of other books and documents related to the Middle East, without being recognized as one of the oldest copies of the Quran in the world. According to the director of special collections at the University of Birmingham, 'Researchers never dreamed that this found manuscript would have such an age.' Susan Wraight stated, 'The discovery that we have one of the oldest copies of the Quran in the whole world is very exciting.' On the other hand, David Thomas, a professor at the University of Birmingham, mentioned that determining which Quranic manuscripts in the world are older is a very difficult task. He said, 'Considering that radiocarbon dating provides a time frame for age, there are other manuscripts that were written within the time frame of this Quran.'
Discovery of the 'Oldest' Quran in the World in Birmingham
A very old Quran manuscript, potentially the oldest in the world, was discovered at the University of Birmingham, dating back to between 568 and 645 AD. This significant find includes parts of Surahs 18 to 20 and was previously unknown for about a century. The discovery is exciting for scholars and raises questions about the dating of other Quranic manuscripts.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A manuscript of the Quran, believed to be the oldest in the world, was discovered at the University of Birmingham. Radiocarbon dating suggests it was written between 568 and 645 AD, making it at least 1370 years old.
- The manuscript includes parts of Surahs 18 to 20 and is written in Hijazi script.
- It had remained unrecognized in the library for about a century.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Quran is the central religious text of Islam, and its manuscripts are crucial for understanding the early history of the religion. Discoveries like this can provide insights into the development of Islamic thought and practice.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%