Surah 97:0 - Manuscripts & Analysis

Downloading from cloud...

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Ms. or. fol. 4313 (Scan 1)

1 of 3codex_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.

Downloading from cloud...

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Ms. or. fol. 4313 (Scan 2)

2 of 3codex_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.

Downloading from cloud...

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Arabe 324 (c)

3 of 3codex_00024

DateAD 800 (8th Century AD)

Script StyleKufic C (Graphie C I a)

Current LocationBibliothèque nationale de France, Paris

Found LocationFustat (Old Cairo), Egypt

Quranic RangeQ 4:11-12, Q 4:89-92, Q 4:122-128, Q 5:2-23, Q 5:41-45, Q 34:12-35:36, Q 55:1-27, Q 68:51-72:16, Q 75:1-76:22, Q 77:11-41, Q 80:11-81:2, Q 95:5-96:19, Q 100:2-102:4, Q 105:1-107:7

Context & Details

Carbon dating of fragments from Arabe 324 (c) places its origin between 660-780 AD. The manuscript is part of a composite codex, where Arabe 324 (c) and Gotha Ms. orient. A 462 are original leaves, while other sections such as Arabe 324 (a) and (d) were added centuries later to replace damaged or missing pages.

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Ms. or. fol. 4313 (Scan 1)

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Ms. or. fol. 4313 (Scan 2)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Arabe 324 (c)

Navigation