Surah 40

Surah 40:0

Manuscripts (5)
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Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Ms. or. fol. 4313, in Ḥiǧāzī (close to type II) script, showing Surah 40:0 from Mid to Late 7th Century AD found in Fustat (Old Cairo), Egypt, currently housed at Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Berlin

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Ms. or. fol. 4313

1 of 5codex_00015
Variants & TyposThe manuscript exhibits several textual variations (rasm variants) from the standard Hafs reading. For example, in verse 5:78, the name 'David' (Dāwūd) is spelled with an unexpected 'waw' and 'alif' (دواد instead of داود). In verse 5:73, a variant is found in the spelling of a verb, using a 'ta' (ت) instead of the standard 'ya' (ي) in the prefix (لتمسن instead of ليمسن). Additionally, in verse 5:70, the phrase 'kullamā' is written as two separate words ('kull' and 'mā') instead of a single connected word. As is characteristic of early Ḥiǧāzī manuscripts, diacritical marks are used sparingly.
DateAD 680 (Mid to Late 7th Century AD)
Script StyleḤiǧāzī (close to type II)
Current LocationStaatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Berlin
Found LocationFustat (Old Cairo), Egypt
Quranic RangeQ 4:137-155, Q 4:172-5:87
Context & Details

This codex is one of the earliest surviving Quranic manuscripts, with combined radiocarbon dating of its parchment placing its production between 605 and 651 AD. The seven folios in Berlin were once part of a larger codex that is now split, with 33 additional folios currently held in the Egyptian National Library. The Berlin leaves were acquired in 1939 from the estate of Bernhard Moritz, the former director of the Khedivial Library.

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Moritz 1905, Tables 39-40, in Kūfī A.I script, showing Surah 40:0 from 8th Century AD found in Bahnasa (Oxyrynchos), Egypt, currently housed at Egyptian National Library and Archives, Cairo

Moritz 1905, Tables 39-40

2 of 5codex_00348
DateAD 800 (8th Century AD)
Script StyleKūfī A.I
Current LocationEgyptian National Library and Archives, Cairo
Found LocationBahnasa (Oxyrynchos), Egypt
Quranic RangeQ 28:26-32
Context & Details

This codex fragment was documented in Bernhard Moritz's 1905 'Arabic Palaeography' album and was reportedly discovered in the ancient Egyptian city of Bahnasa (Oxyrynchos). Scholars suggest it may originally belong to the same large codex as other early Quranic fragments currently held in the Vatican, Paris, and the Khalili Collections.

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Rampur Raza Library No. 1, in kūfī C.III script, showing Surah 40:0 from Early 8th to Mid 9th Century AD found in Unknown, currently housed at Rampur Raza Library, Rampur, India

Rampur Raza Library No. 1

3 of 5codex_00878
Variants & TyposThe manuscript uses red dots instead of standard diacritical marks. It also features notable spelling variants in its consonantal skeleton (rasm), such as writing the preposition 'ʿalā' (على) with a regular alif (علا) in Q 2:23, and spelling the contraction 'allā' (ألا) as two separate words 'an lā' (ان لا) in Q 20:118.
DateAD 850 (Early 8th to Mid 9th Century AD)
Script Stylekūfī C.III
Current LocationRampur Raza Library, Rampur, India
Found LocationUnknown
Quranic RangeQ 1:1-7, Q 2:21-40, Q 2:82-218, Q 2:221-279, Q 2:281- Q 3:51, Q 3:53-Q 17:7, Q 17:15-Q 42:51, Q 43:19-Q 50:38, Q 51:57- Q 65:6, Q 67- Q 74:41, Q 91:4- Q 106:0, Q 111- Q 114:5
Context & Details

This manuscript is a highly prized copy traditionally ascribed to the penmanship of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph. It features modern gold and colored borders on the paper margins.

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Istanbul, Topkapı Palace Museum, "Saray 50386" (Karatay 42), in kūfī, type F.I script, showing Surah 40:0 from Mid-8th to Late 9th Century AD found in Unknown provenance, currently housed at Topkapı Palace Museum (Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi), Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, Topkapı Palace Museum, "Saray 50386" (Karatay 42)

4 of 5codex_00054
DateAD 900 (Mid-8th to Late 9th Century AD)
Script Stylekūfī, type F.I
Current LocationTopkapı Palace Museum (Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi), Istanbul, Turkey
Found LocationUnknown provenance
Quranic RangeQ 2:12- Q 114
Context & Details

This near-complete Kufic Quran is bound in brown leather over wood with arabesque interlacing and iron rings. It bears the foundation seal of Sultan Osman III, and its first three leaves as well as sura headings are illuminated.

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Dublin, Chester Beatty Library, Is 1431, in Nasḫī script, showing Surah 40:0 from Early 11th Century AD found in Baghdad, currently housed at Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, Chester Beatty Library, Is 1431

5 of 5codex_00152
DateAD 1001 (Early 11th Century AD)
Script StyleNasḫī
Current LocationChester Beatty Library, Dublin, Ireland
Found LocationBaghdad
Quranic RangeQ 1-114
Context & Details

This complete Quran was produced in Baghdad by the renowned calligrapher ʿAlī b. Hilāl, also known as Ibn al-Bawwāb, around 1000-1001 AD. He is a significant figure in Islamic art, closely associated with the adoption of the round Naskh script to transcribe the Quran.

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"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me."
— John 5:39

"O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, would distress you"
— Quran: Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 101

"knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation."
— 2 Peter 1:20

"So if you are in doubt about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you."
— Quran: Surah Yunus, Verse 94