​A collection of some historical copies of Quran

PILARIT • QUR'AN HISTORY

Qur'an Manuscripts Through History

Explore a chronological collection of Qur'an manuscripts, parchment leaves, calligraphic works, tafseer and translations from the earliest examples to the modern period.

c. 565 1960

01

c. 565–645

Birmingham Qur'an Manuscript

Manuscript shows Surah Taha; it is held in Birmingham collections.

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02

650

Manuscript of Caliph Uthman R.A.

This manuscript, held in the Religious Administration of Muslims in Tashkent, has been carbon-dated to be between 595 and 855 A.D. with a likelihood of 95%.

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03

c. 750

Qur'an in Kufic Script

An early Qur'an written in Kufic script.

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04

800

Rare Historic Kufic Manuscript

Parchment of a very rare and historic manuscript; preserved in 1925 to prevent any damage; Kufic script.

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05

850

Orphaned Qur'an Leaf — Surah Yusuf

Orphaned leaf from a Qur'an (chapter Yusuf). In Kufic hand. Purchased by McGill University in 1938 for the amount of 100 dollars.

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06

875

Parchment from the Abbasid Era

A parchment from the era of the Abbasids.

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07

1000

Vocalized Kufic Qur'an Leaf

13 lines per sheet, vocalized and rubricated; in Kufic hand. An orphaned leaf, part of the Qur'an. Calligraphy text on both sides. Damaged on the side and in the middle, laid down on yellow paper.

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08

1200

Kufic Qur'an Parchment

A parchment from the Qur'an; written in Kufic script; 6 lines per sheet, vocalized and rubricated.

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09

1203

Naskh Manuscript by 'Abd al-Wahhab

Executed in Naskh hands, fully vocalized. Main text in black, surah headings in red, verse markers in red. Tarwis on alif, lam. Contains the marginal words hizb, nisf, rub', sajdah. Calligraphed by the hand of 'Abd al-Wahhab.

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10

1250

Manuscript by Abbasid Calligrapher Ibn Muqlah

A manuscript attributed to Abbasid calligrapher Ibn Muqlah.

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11

1400

Micrography-Naskh Qur'an Leaf

A leaf from a Qur'an including several chapters: Surah al-Munafiqun, Surah al-Taghabun, Surah al-Mulk, Surah al-Tahrim, Surah al-Haqqah, Surah al-Qalam, Surah al-Nuh, Surah al-Ma'arij and Surah al-Saff. In micrography-Naskh hand. Illuminated chapter headings, gold verse markers and marginal decoration.

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12

1400

Maghribi Qur'an Fragment

3 lines per sheet, vocalized, with separating marks. In Maghribi script. Contains some verses from Surah al-Tawbah [68–69]. Includes polychrome medallions, verse markers, illuminated marginal decoration and gold ornament.

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13

c. 1450

Illuminated Verses from Surah Al-Burooj

Some verses from Surah Burooj. Contains illuminated round polychrome double medallions, a golden and blue illuminated headpiece, gold floral verse markers and illuminated marginal decoration.

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14

1500

Thuluth Qur'anic Manuscript

Written in Thuluth in black ink; pointed and vocalized. Textblock border ruled in gold, red and blue. Marginal text partition markers in blue and gold. Readings in red. The word "Allah" in gold outlined in red. Chapter titles in gold. Gold roundels mark verse endings.

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15

c. 1600

Tafseer Jalalayn

A portion of Tafseer Jalalayn, including Surah An-Naba and other sections.

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16

1600

Naskh Qur'an Leaves with Illumination

Some verses from Surah Anfal and Surah Aaraf. Elegant Naskh handwritten script on parchment, with gold and polychrome roundel verse markers, an illuminated chapter heading panel and decorative gold and green framing.

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17

1600

Indian Qur'an Manuscript

Written in India; gold line divider. Incomplete copy: from al-Kawthar (108) to the end (114) is missing. The first two folios are fragmentary with clean marginal repairs. Much of the marginal decoration is lost.

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18

1650

Naskh Qur'an Leaf

Unbound leaf containing verses of the Qur'an from the third word of 3:80 to the end of 3:91. Written in Naskh.

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19

1650

Juz' 27 Manuscript

Juzz 27, containing the first word of 51:31 to the final word of 57:29. Written in very large letters.

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20

1680

Complete Qur'an Manuscript

Clear line dividers; 15 lines per page; gold sprinkled pages; complete copy of the Qur'an.

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21

1700

Illuminated Surah Al-Sajdah Manuscript

Surah Al-Sajdah [XXXII: 4–22]. Contains an illuminated round polychrome medallion with the word sajda, gold floral verse markers, illuminated marginal decoration and protective sheet.

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22

1700

Qur'an Manuscript — Iran or Turkey

Likely copied in Iran or Turkey; 256 leaves.

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23

1700

Complete Naskh Qur'an

Beautiful calligraphy and decoration; 304 leaves; written in Naskh; complete copy.

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24

1700

Surah Taha Manuscript Leaf

A leaf showing some verses from Surah Taha; from the McGill University collection.

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25

1770

Ottoman-Era Surahs

Surah Yasin, Surah Waqiah and some other Surahs from Ottoman times.

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26

1776

Illuminated Naskh Qur'an Manuscript

18 long lines. Written in Naskh in black ink; pointed and vocalized. Polychrome and gold illuminated frontispiece, marginal verse markers, gold and black textblock border, readings in red and chapter titles in gold.

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27

1795

Ottoman Qur'an Copy

A copy from Ottoman times. Written in a superb Naskh. Title and frontispiece fully illuminated in gold, red, pink, blue and yellow. Floral borders, gold medallions, gold framing and illuminated surah headings.

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28

1800

Qur'an Manuscript on European Paper

13 lines per page on laid European paper. Copied by two Naskh-based hands, the second very cursive and strongly tilted to the right. Rule-borders, surah headings and round dots in red. The final surah is followed by a comment in Ottoman Turkish.

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29

1817

Ottoman Copy of the Qur'an

Ottoman copy of the Qur'an; 307 leaves.

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30

1822

Illuminated Naskh Qur'an by Husayn ibn 'Ali al-Amisi

13 lines per page on thick non-European laid paper. Fully vocalized Naskh hand with the word Allah in gold and recitation marks in red ink. Text enclosed in a golden frame and blue rule-borders. Surah headings in white on a gold background with illuminated headpieces. Executed by Husayn ibn 'Ali al-Amisi, Imam of the Abu al-Fath Sultan Muhammad Khan Mosque. Waqf note dated 1822.

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31

1888

Tarjuman Al Quran Ba Lataif Bayaan

By Syed Mohd Sideq Hussain Khan. Partial.

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32

1960

Farsi Translation of the Qur'an

Translation in Farsi by Shah Waliulah and Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Usmani.

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The dates and descriptions above follow the supplied source material. Use the attached Read and Download links to explore each resource.