| Birmingham Quran manuscript | |
|---|---|
| Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham | |
 folio 1 verso (right) and folio 2 recto | |
| Date | Between c. 568 and 645 |
| Language(s) | Arabic |
| Scribe(s) | Unknown |
| Material | |
| Format | vertical |
| Script | Hijazi |
| Contents | Parts of Surahs 19 to 20 |
| Accession | 1572a |
| Quran |
|---|
The Birmingham Quran manuscript comprises two leaves of parchment from an early Quranic manuscript or muṣḥaf. In 2015, the manuscript, which is held by the University of Birmingham,[1] was radiocarbon dated to between 568 and 645 AD (in the Islamic calendar, between 56 before Hijrah and 24 after Hijrah).[2][3] It is part of the Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern manuscripts, held by the university's Cadbury Research Library.[2]
The manuscript is written in ink on parchment, using an Arabic Hejazi script and is still clearly legible.[3] The leaves preserve parts of Surahs 19 (Maryam) to 20 (Taha).[4] It was on display at the University of Birmingham in 2015 and then at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery until 5 August 2016.[5] The Cadbury Research Library has carried out multispectral analysis of the manuscript and XRF analysis of the inks.[6]
- ^ "Virtual Manuscript Room". University of Birmingham. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ a b "Birmingham Qur'an manuscript dated among the oldest in the world". University of Birmingham. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ a b "'Oldest' Koran fragments found in Birmingham University". BBC. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ "Tests show UK Quran manuscript is among world's oldest". CNN. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ Authi, Jasbir (22 July 2015). "Worldwide media frenzy as 'oldest Koran' found lying forgotten at University of Birmingham". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "FAQs - University of Birmingham".