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World’s oldest Quran found at
Birmingham University
Researchers at the UK’s University of Birmingham say they have found the world’s
oldest manuscript of the Quran.The fragments of the Muslim holy book are
believed to date back to nearly 1,400 years.
According to a radiocarbon analysis carried out by the University of Oxford, the
parchment on which the text is written dates back to the period between 568 CE
and 645 CE, close to the time of Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him and his
progeny.
The manuscripts were found in Birmingham University’s library, after remaining
there unrecognized for nearly a century.It was
decided to carry out a radiocarbon test only after a
PhD student looked more closely at the pages of the
Quran and concluded that they should be properly
examined.
The fragments consist of parts of chapters 18 to
20 of the Quran, written in an early form of Arabic
script known as Hijaz which is still clearly legible.The
pages of the world’s oldest Quran are expected to
be on public display at the Barber Institute of Fine
Arts, University of Birmingham, from October 2 until
October 25.
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