Leiden’s oldest Koran fragments more than a century older than previously believed

The very oldest Koranic fragments owned by the Leiden University Libraries date back to the second half of the seventh century, between 30 and 70 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. This has been shown by newly conducted radiocarbon analyses. This finding agrees with official Islamic teachings.


The Koranic fragments, which are on papyrus and parchment, do not themselves bear a date. ‘On the basis of the elongated, slanted Arabic script known as Hijazi we did know that the fragments in Leiden must be old,’ says Dr Arnoud Vrolijk, curator of Oriental manuscripts in the Special Collections department of the Leiden University Libraries. The papyrus fragment had been cautiously dated to about 770–830 A.D., but the recently completed analysis has shown that it is older than that, dating from the period between 650 and 715. ‘Well over a century older than we thought,’ says Vrolijk. No one had ever ventured to estimate the age of the parchment fragments. ‘Now we can say that the oldest fragment on parchment probably dates from the period 650–700.’

Committed to writing during Uthman’s caliphate

‘What’s interesting,’ says Vrolijk, ‘is that according to official Islamic teaching the Koran was first committed to writing during the caliphate of Uthman, who ruled from 645 to 656. The results of the analysis are in very close agreement with that, or at least don’t contradict it.’ Many Western Islamic scholars are sceptical about such an early date for when the Koran was set down in writing. They believe that the canonical text of the Koran was only written down much later, in the ninth century or even later.’ Patricia Crone and Michael Cook, Arabists and historians at Princeton University who received an honorary doctorate from Leiden University in 2013 also joined in the discussion. They are among the sceptics.

Extra investment in the fragments

In the wake of the carbon-14 analysis the University Libraries decided to make an extra investment to improve the physical condition of the old parchment. In the libraries’ own restoration workshop Karin Scheper stabilised the material and reinforced the fragile edges with new parchment

Major research on the early history of the Koranic text

Under the coordination of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademi der Wissenschaften, two institutes – one German (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) and the other French (Agence Nationale de Recherche) – began the international Coranica project, aimed at research into the early history of the Koranic text. The research deals not only with the text, but also with the physical fragments. The researchers are including in their research fragments located in places like Berlin and Paris. Although more fragments are held elsewhere, Leiden University is also being featured in the research due to a number of fragments in its collections. Leiden University was happy to co-operate

http://www.news.leiden.edu/news-2014/oldest-koran-fragments.html

Allah says, "Verily, We have revealed the Remembrance, and We shall surely protect it" [Hijr; 9]

SUBHANALLAH!

This link provides more background information on the subject.

http://islam.about.com/od/quran/a/Compilation-Of-The-Quran.htm

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This finding agrees with official Islamic teachings.

which of the basic islamic teachings? lets know where this madness in the middle east sources from

Ok.

Ok

I love things like this. Ancient.

ok oooo

which religion is accepted by God now? wo! Religion is politics jare

science got no choice but to support the one responsible for even the existence of 'science'

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AlaMmaduNiileLala...!!

sorry....am jast practising

May Allah reward u abundantly. I have bookmark the link in order to comment later.

The religious text of Islam remain preserved compared to other religions. In it there is a sign for men of understanding.

no diety worth worshiping except Allah, he is our creator and sustainer, jumuat mubarak to ma muslim brothers and sisters!

Does this stop Sunni ISIS from killing Shia muslims in Iraq and Syria?

And since then the quran still remain one no new testament, no old, no versions am proud to be a Muslim

Don't believe it

Allahu Akbar

WHEN ISIS AND BOKO HARAM ARE STILL KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE
[size=28pt]NA HOW THIS ONE TAKE CONCERN ME?[/size]

vedaxcool: The religious text of Islam remain preserved compared to other religions. In it there is a sign for men of understanding.

No book has been able to correctly predict the future as much as the Bible.The Genesis(the beginning of the Bible tallies with scientific discoveries). Islam says God called the name of creatures to man,but Christianity said man named creatures.I think you know which sounds right .In another news ISLAMIC terrorist group ISIS matched Syrian soldiers to their execution,telling them to recite 'Allah Akbar'(Spelling not sure)

Will this stop them from bom*bing?