Unknown - Qur'an - Ottoman C12th - 1180

This is an extremely rare and ancient manuscript page from a late C12th Ottoman Quran of the Seljuk dynastic era (AD750-1258). It is stained by climate and time, with some of the verse markings spilling through the page. 14 ll of script, possibly very early Muhaqqaq with its shallow sublinear curves and horizontally extended mid-line curvature and leftward sweeping impetus.

The manuscript contains Chapter 2 (Surah Al-Baqarah), v.97-106 which primarily address the People of the Scripture (specifically the Jews of the time) and their rejection of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, as well as the theological concept of abrogation of divine verses. These verses explain the role of Gabriel (fibril); critiques the behaviour of a group among the People of the Scripture who repeatedly broke their covenants with Allah; clarifies that Solomon was not a disbeliever; rather, the devils were, mentioning the angels Harut and Marut in Babylon, who taught magic as a trial, explicitly warning people not to disbelieve by practicing it; and addresses the concept of abrogation (naskh), responding to doubts raised by the Jews about why previous injunctions were changed or forgotten. Allah asserts His power and authority to abrogate a verse and replace it with one better or similar, as He knows what is best for humanity at different times.

It is in remarkable condition for its age.

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