CAIRO – Examining the recently discovered copy of Qur’an in Birmingham, an Emirati Muslim scholar has declared that the copy copy could have been commissioned by Syedna Abu Bakr Al Siddiq, the first Caliph after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“The radiocarbon analysis … dated the parchment – which contains parts of chapters 18 to 20 written in Hijazi script – to AD 568 and 645 with 95.4 per cent accuracy. And that dates the leaves close to the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),” Jamal bin Huwaireb, managing director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, told Khaleej Times on Friday, January 8.
“Though some scholars thought that the Quran copies written and gathered at the time of Abu Bakr were burnt and no longer existed, some others believed that was not the case. I believe this manuscript is the root of Islam and will be a revolution in studying Islam.”
Bin Huwaireb added that the radiocarbon analysis of the two leaves of the Holy Qur’an copy indicates that it could date back to the time of first Caliph Abu Bakr (may Allah be please with him).
His analysis matches that of Birmingham and Oxford scholars, who have said that this was an “exceptional breakthrough” that will throw the door wide open for scholars.
The Muslim scholar added that Caliph Abu Bakr has assigned the great companion Zaid bin Thabit – who was known for his brilliance, neat writing and sharp memory – to collect, examine and write the Holy Qur’an.
“Bin Thabit reportedly managed to master the Hebrew language in just two weeks, and hence he was assigned to collect and standardize the copies of the Qur’an by the third Caliph Othman bin Affan,” he said.
Last July, fragments of what is believed to be the world’s oldest Qur’an have been found in the University of Birmingham with experts saying the manuscripts date back to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) era some 1370 years ago.
The manuscripts of the Muslim holy text were found in the university’s library and are believed to date as far back as 1,370 years.
The announcement followed radiocarbon analysis which proved that they was written in the period between 568CE and 645CE, with 95.4% accuracy.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is believed to have lived between 570CE and 632CE, meaning the text found at the university was written during the Prophet’s life.
The manuscripts consist of parts of Suras [chapters] 18 to 20 of the holy book, written in an early form of Arabic script known as Hijaz.
The Qur’an is a revelation from God, the creator of the worlds, so He is the original author.
There is only one Qur’an which is in Arabic, with many of its translations in several languages.
There could be multiple translations by different authors in the same language such as English.
The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) through the archangel Gabriel who helped the Prophet memorize the Qur’an, as reported in several authentic Hadith narrations.