Detail View: Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia: Koran, No.4a

0024488

Or.Ms 175

University of Edinburgh

Qur'an

No.4a

Unknown

Author

Detail of page showing fragment of Qur'an text. Written in blackish brown ink on vellum, these fragments of the Qur'an have a variety of origins and chart the change from the angular Kufic to more cursive Naskhi variation of the Arabic alphabet. Although it is impossible to determine an exact date for the pieces, there is an indication that the oldest may have been mentioned in the Annals of the Mosque of Amr in Fustat, the first mosque in Africa, in 980CE. The smallest examples are 11 ½ inches by 8 ¾ inches and most contain colouring in the form of red or green spotting, which is apparent throughout. The oldest examples tend to have only five to six lines on a page, while newer fragments have more. All exhibiting significant damage and staining, with a much later hand having written notes in ink on at least one text, there are thirteen fragments in total. They have text on both sides and were first discovered in the late eighteenth century, during the time of Egyptian ruler Murad Bey. During the nineteenth century, the collection was sold at a Mr Burton's Sale in 1836, and then again on December 21st 1852, in an unnamed auction. The fragments were acquired by Edinburgh University as part of the David Laing Collection. Sources: Hukk, M (1925), A descriptive catalogue of the Arabic and Persian manuscripts in Edinburgh University Library, Hertford.

Centre for Research Collections/Main Library

Islamic

Archives

© The University of Edinburgh

https://archives.collections.ed.ac.uk/repositories/2/archival_objects/220877

Amr

Arabic

Egypt

Islam

Kufic

Mosque

Naskhi

Script

Qur'An

Cropped Tiff

117390080

Koran, No.4a

© The University of Edinburgh

2012:02:15 16:45:14