Rayan Jamshaid
24L-0699
BCS-2E
Assignment-02
Introduction to the Birmingham Quran Manuscript and the Sanaa
Quran:
In 2014, some scientists of the
University of Birmingham discovered that four folios containing some ancient
Quran manuscripts dated from the period of the Prophet’s companions. In fact, the
radiocarbon analysis in oxford university shows that there is a 95.4% chance
that the leaves(of leather) on which the Quranic verses are written can be
dated sometime between 568 and 645CE. This means that the animal from which the
skin was taken was living sometime between these dates. Another investigation
on the Sanaa Quran, which was earlier discovered in the city of Sanaa,
indicated that the old parchment had a 95% probability of belonging to the
period between 578 CE and 669 CE. We know that the Holy Prophet(PBUH) lived
between 570CE and 632 CE, which makes those discoveries quite interesting, by
showing that the Birmingham and Sanaa documents can be considered among the
oldest manuscripts in the world. This also shows that the Quran was being
compiled in written form during the life of Holy Prophet(PBUH).
Consisting of two parchment
leaves, the Quran manuscript contains parts of surah 18 to sura 20,
(al-Kahf, Maryam, Taha), which were written with ink in an early form of
Arabic script known as Hijazi.
The argument of non-muslim scholars:
The non-muslim scholars argue
that the Quran is not in its real form as it was compiled in the book form (and
was written first) in the era of Hazrat Usman(RA), or some say about a century
after the veil of Holy Prophet(PBUH).
The results of carbon dating of the manuscripts:
The tests carried out on the
parchment of the Birmingham folios yield the strong probability that the animal
from which it was taken was alive during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad
or shortly afterwards.
Paleography of the manuscripts: (history of
writing system)
The handwriting geometry suggests
that it may have been written in the Hejaz area in the west of the Arabian
Peninsula, which includes the sacred cities of Makkah and Madina.
The scripts used in the eras:
Hijazi script:
The earliest Quran manuscripts
were probably written in the 7th century. Its script represents a very early
Quran text written on a single large sheet of parchment and folded in half.
This primitive script is known as hijazi script, which is originated from the
Arabian Peninsula around Makkah and Madina. The hijazi script is characterized
by tall and sloping letters representing the consonants. Also, one can find few
dots and other markings indicating pronunciation or pauses.
Kufic script:
It probably dates from the 9th
century. The Kufic Quran is written on parchment and distinguished by lettering
with very short vertical and elongated horizontal strokes. The books were
written without any hamzahs, dots or vowel marks (tashkeel). This was the
traditional manner of writing at that time.
Ancient Arabic letters are a
different from the modern Arabic writing. There is slight difference of writing
style and silent alifs. Which was not used in the ancient Arabic because people
knew the context and meaning of the sentence.
Analysis of the Birmingham Quran:
Folio 1:
- Number of
lines: 24 -
Number of verses: 7
- Number of
words: 158 -
Number of Characters: ~678
- Difference in
words: 0% there is not even 1 word
difference
- Difference in
Characters without considering the “silent alif”: 0/ 678 = 0%
- Difference in
Characters by considering the “silent alif”: 13 /678 = 1.92
Folio 2:
- Number of
lines: 23 -
Number of verses: 9
- Number of
words: 164 -
Number of Characters: ~632
- Difference in
words: 0%
- Difference in
Characters without considering the “silent alif”: 0/ 632 = 0%
- Difference in
Characters by considering the “silent alif”: 8/632 = 1.26%
Folio 3:
- Difference in
Characters without considering the “silent alif”: 0/600 = 0%
- Difference in
Characters by considering the “silent alif”: 3/600 = 0.005 =0.5%
Folio4:
- Difference in
Characters without considering the “silent alif”: 0/633 = 0%
- Difference in
Characters by considering the “silent alif”: 9/633 = 0.014 =1.4%
Analysis of the Sanaa Quran:
Folio3:
-Difference in
characters without considering the “silent alif”: 0%
-Difference in
characters by considering the “silent alif”: 12/1289 = 0.93%
Folio4:
-Difference in
characters without considering the “silent alif”: 0%
-Difference in
characters by considering the “silent alif”: 2/1207=0.16%
Overall difference in the Quranic
manuscripts and the Copies of Quran in this era:
Overall
considering the silent alif, there is a difference of only 1.2%, however not
one word, character or line is different. This means that in reality the modern
Arabic has not also changed, it has just became a little more punctuated, with
more emphasis on zer, zabar etc. but the word structure and verse structure
also did not change, neither did their meanings.
The old parchments, corresponding
to chapter 19 and 20, show that the consonantal morphology of the Quran has
been safely preserved for those chapters, during the last 14 centuries.
Results of the analysis of
manuscripts:
Statistically speaking, this analysis proves that the complete Quran,
not only chapters 19 and 20, have been safely preserved during the last 14
centuries. The logical and rational answer that the scholars derive to the
question that how the Quran is preserved even after 14 centuries is that the
scripture has been responsibly preserved by Quranic scholars, by means of
memory and by means of writing.
My feelings and experience after reading the report:
I felt really surprised that the
validity of the Holy Quran is now proved by scientific analysis and rational
thinking. Every muslim should have complete belief on the Holy Quran, and Allah
Almighty himself says in the Quran:
“Indeed, we have revealed the
Reminder, and we are surely its guardian.”
Although after this scientific
analysis, the scholars claim that this miracle is due to the keen check that
was kept on the protection of Holy Quran by the muslims, but it is not the
case. Because the other holy books and the sacred books in other religions
could have been protected by the same methods because they are also loved and
protected by their believers, but indeed it is Allah Almighty who has protected
the Holy Quran from alterations, by making the muslims its protector.
This point has taught me that
muslims should have complete trust and belief on Allah Almighty, and the Holy
Quran, because right now non-mulsims may be still clinging to the rational
approach on the validity of Holy Quran, but muslims, especially me do not need
a logical answer to beliefs now. Allah has revealed the Holy Quran, that may be
proved scientifically in the future as it is right now, so we should not be
questioning its beliefs and orders. Also non-muslims are proving the validity
of Quran, muslims should make themselves able in the field of science, in order
to maintain their lost reputation and uphold Quran.
This report has allowed me to
become stead fast on the beliefs of Islam, and has given me the motivation to
pursue sciences, in order to be more able to counterargue the non-muslim
scholars, and also better understand Islam and the wonders as created by Allah
Almighty.
It is a wonder of Allah Almighty
that a piece of leather has withstood such long eras.
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