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Codex B. L. Or. 2165




Date

Second half of the 1st century of hijra.The dating of B. L. Or. 2165 has an interesting history.[1] William Wright was perhaps the first scholar to publish this manuscript and he dated it to the 8th century CE.[2] This date was accepted by Josef von Karabacek who dated the manuscript to the early 8th century CE, i.e., the end of the 1st century of hijra or the beginning of the 2nd century.[3] On the other hand, based on a careful evaluation of the palaeographic considerations, Adolf Grohmann dated this manuscript to the 1st century of hijra.[4] Furthermore, Noseda places this manuscript in the 1st century of hijra.[5]For reasons which remain unelaborated, Martin Lings and Yasin Safadi dated B. L. Or. 2165 to the late 2nd century of hijra (i.e., 8th century CE).[6] However, a study by Dutton has shown that this manuscript is remarkably similar to the 1st century Qur'anic manuscript Arabe 328a in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, suggesting that it was written in the qira'at of Ibn ʿAmir.[7] This manuscript was recently studied by Intisar A. Rabb, who corrected Dutton's initial suggestion showing that it has the non–canonical Ḥimṣī reading.[8] Based on the similarity between Arabe 328a and B. L. Or. 2165, Dutton suggests re–dating this manuscript to the time just before the Umayyad Caliph Walid (r. 86–96 AH), i.e., within the period 30–85 AH with the latter end of this time scale being safer. The last part of first century hijra dating for this manuscript was also suggested by Rabb.[9] Thus, these studies confirm the earlier datings of Karabacek and Grohmann.

History Of The Manuscript

A note appears on a fly leaf at the end of the manuscript "Bt of the Rev. Greville J. Chester, 29 Apr. 1879". Reverend Greville J. Chester was one of the most active helpers in purchasing objects abroad for the British Museum and several other institutions. Almost every winter he would travel abroad, and Egypt was a favourite destination. Most likely this manuscript was purchased by Rev. Chester in Egypt.Another clue about the provenance of this manuscript comes from the history of Arabe 328 of which Arabe 328e is a part. Arabe 328 was acquired by Jean–Louis Asselin de Cherville (d. 1822), consular agent of France in Egypt. Subsequently in 1833 the whole collection was sold to the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris. The ultimate provenance of all these folios is the ʿAmr b. al–ʿĀṣ mosque, Fusṭāṭ. Thus it is highly likely that both B. L. Or. 2165 and Arabe 328e came from Egypt. However, the actual provenance of the manuscript could be Syria as gathered from the readings discussed above. As for the bifolio LNS 19 CAab, it was acquired by Dār al–Athar al–Islāmiyyah, Kuwait, in an auction conducted by Sotheby's in 1979.[10]

Size & Folios

Parchment area: 31.5 cm x 21.5 cm. Writing area: 28.8 cm x 20.0 cm.Total number of folios are 128 = 121 (B. L. Or. 2165, British Library, London)[11] + 6 (Arabe 328e, Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris)[12] + 1 (LNS 19 CAab (bifolio), Dār al–Athar al–Islāmiyyah, Kuwait).[13] These 128 folios contain about 57% of the total text of the Qur'an.A volume of the facsimile edition of B. L. Or. 2165 published by Déroche and Noseda only includes the first 61 folios of the total of 121.[14] In 2016, the British Library digitized the entire manuscript and it is now available online for public viewing.

Script & Ornamentation

Ḥijāzī.Manuscript on vellum. The muṣḥaf is not vocalised. The consonants are frequently differentiated by dashes. Six oval dots ranked in three pairs punctuate the verses. Every tenth verse is marked by a red hollow circle surrounded by dots.

Contents

The contents of the manuscript are tabulated below. The folio numbering is according to the one given by their respective collection.



Codex B. L. Or. 2165

Folios

Qur'anic Surah / Ayah

Image Publication

Comments

90r

5:7 – 5:17

 

Arabe 328e

90v

5:17 – 5:26

 

Arabe 328e

91r

5:26 – 5:40

 

Arabe 328e

91v

5:40 – 5:46

 

Arabe 328e

92r

5:46 – 5:54

 

Arabe 328e

92v

5:54 – 5:65

 

Arabe 328e

5:89 – 5:120 (bifolio)

 

LNS 19 CAab

5:120; 6:1 – 6:12 (bifolio)

Jenkins, 1983

LNS 19 CAab

93r

6:39 – 6:53

 

Arabe 328e

93v

6:53 – 6:67

 

Arabe 328e

94r

6:67 – 6:80

 

Arabe 328e

94v

6:80 – 6:92

 

Arabe 328e

95r

6:92 – 6:101

 

Arabe 328e

95v

6:101 – 6:113

 

Arabe 328e

1r

7:42 – 7:53

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

1v

7:53 – 7:65

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

2r

7:65 – 7:75

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

2v

7:75 – 7:88

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

3r

7:88 – 7:101

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

3v

7:101 – 7:124

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

4r

7:124 – 7:136

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

4v

7:136 – 7:146

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

5r

7:146 – 7:155

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

5v

7:155 – 7:161

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

6r

7:161 – 7:171

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

6v

7:171 – 7:185

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

7r

7:185 – 7:201

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

7v

7:201 – 7:206; 8:1 – 8:9

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

8r

8:9 – 8:24

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

8v

8:24 – 8:37

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

9r

8:37 – 8:47

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

9v

8:47 – 8:63

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

10r

8:63 – 8:74

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

10v

8:75; 9:1 – 9:9

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

11r

9:9 – 9:21

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

11v

9:21 – 9:30

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

12r

9:30 – 9:39

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

12v

9:39 – 9:40

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

13r

9:40 – 9:63

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

13v

9:63 – 9:73

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

14r

9:73 – 9:84

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

14v

9:84 – 9:95

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

15r

10:9 – 10:21

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

15v

10:21 – 10:29

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

16r

10:29 – 10:39

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

16v

10:39 – 10:53

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

17r

10:53 – 10:65

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

17v

10:65 – 10:77

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

18r

10:78 – 10:92

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

18v

10:92 – 10:107

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

19r

10:107 – 10:109; 11:1 – 11:8

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

19v

11:8 – 11:19

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

20r

11:19 – 11:31

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

20v

11:31 – 11:45

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

21r

11:45 – 11:56

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

21v

11:56 – 11:69

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

22r

11:69 – 11:85

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

22v

11:85 – 11:98

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

23r

11:98 – 11:114

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

23v

11:114 – 11:123; 12:1 – 12:8

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

24r

12:8 – 12:22

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

24v

12:23 – 12:34

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

25r

12:34 – 12:45

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

25v

12:45 – 12:59

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

26r

12:59 – 12:72

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

26v

12:72 – 12: 86

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

27r

12:86 – 12:100

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

27v

12:101 – 12:111; 13:1 – 13:2

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

28r

13:2 – 13:13

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

28v

13:13 – 13:21

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

29r

13:22 – 13:31

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

29v

13:31 – 13:43

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

30r

14:1 – 14:10

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

30v

14:10 – 14:22

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

31r

14:22 – 14:34

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

31v

14:34 – 14:49

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

32r

14:49 – 14:52; 15:1 – 15:19

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

32v

15:19 – 15:50

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

33r

15:50 – 15:84

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

33v

15:84 – 15:99; 16:1 – 16:7

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

34r

16:7 – 16:23

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

34v

16:23 – 16:35

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

35r

16:35 – 16:50

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

35v

16:50 – 16:65

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

36r

16:65 – 16:75

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

36v

16:75 – 16:85

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

37r

16:85 – 16:94

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

37v

16:94 – 16:106

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

38r

16:106 – 16:116

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

38v

16:116 – 16:128; 17:1

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

39r

17:1 – 17:12

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

39v

17:12 – 17:25

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

40r

17:25 – 17:40

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

40v

17:40 – 17:54

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

41r

17:55 – 17:66

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

41v

17:66 – 17:80

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

42r

17:80 – 17:95

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

42v

17:95 – 17:107

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

43r

17:107 – 17:111; 18:1 – 18:12

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

43v

18:13 – 18:20

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

44r

18:20 – 18:28

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

44v

18:28 – 18:36

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

45r

18:37 – 18:47

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

45v

18:48 – 18:56

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

46r

18:56 – 18:69

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

46v

18:69 – 18:82

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

47r

18:82 – 18:96

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

47v

18:96 – 18:110

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

48r

19:1 – 19:18

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

48v

19:18 – 19:37

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

49r

19:37 – 19:53

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

49v

19:53 – 19:67

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

50r

19:68 – 19:86

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

50v

19:86 – 19:98; 20:1 – 20:13

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

51r

20:13 – 20:40

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

51v

20:40 – 20:59

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

52r

20:60 – 20:73

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

52v

20:73 – 20:86

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

53r

20:87 – 20:100

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

53v

20:100 – 20:117

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

54r

20:117 – 20:130

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

54v

20:130 – 20:135; 21:1 – 21:5

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

55r

21:6 – 21:22

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

55v

21:22 – 21:35

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

56r

21:35 – 21:47

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

56v

21:47 – 21:65

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

57r

21:65 – 21:80

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

57v

21:80 – 21:94

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

58r

21:94 – 21:111

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

58v

21:111 – 21:112; 22:1 – 22:9

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

59r

22:9 – 22:19

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

59v

22:19 – 22:30

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

60r

22:30 – 22:39

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

60v

22:40 – 22:49

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

61r

22:49 – 22:60

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

61v

22:61 – 22:72

Déroche and Noseda, 2001; British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

62r

22:72 – 22:78; 23:1 – 23:2

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

62v

23:2 – 23:23

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

63r

23:23 – 23:35

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

63v

23:35 – 23:54

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

64r

23:55 – 23:72

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

64v

23:72 – 23:90

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

65r

23:90 – 23:108

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

65v

23:109 – 23:118; 24:1 – 24:4

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

66r

24:4 – 24:16

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

66v

24:16 – 24:25

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

67r

24:26 – 24:31

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

67v

24:31 – 24:36

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

68r

24:37 – 24:45

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

68v

24:45 – 24:54

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

69r

24:54 – 24:60

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

69v

24:60 – 24:64

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

70r

24:64; 25:1 – 25:10

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

70v

25:10 – 25:21

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

71r

25:21 – 25:36

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

71v

25:36 – 25:49

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

72r

25:49 – 25:62

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

72v

25:63 – 25:77

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

73r

26:1 – 26:21

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

73v

26:21 – 26:44

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

74r

26:44 – 26:67

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

74v

26:68 – 26:98

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

75r

26:99 – 26:127

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

75v

26:128 – 26:156

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

76r

26:156 – 26:182

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

76v

26:183 – 26:209

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

77r

26:210 – 26:227; 27:1 – 27:4

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

77v

27:4 – 27:16

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

78r

27:16 – 27:29

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

78v

27:29 – 27:42

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

79r

27:42 – 27:55

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

79v

27:55 – 27:67

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

80r

27:68 – 27:83

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

80v

27:84 – 27:93; 28:1 – 28:4

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

81r

28:4 – 28:13

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

81v

28:13 – 28:23

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

82r

28:23 – 28:31

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

82v

28:31 – 28:41

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

83r

28:42 – 28:50

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

83v

28:50 – 28:61

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

84r

28:61 – 28:72

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

84v

28:72 – 28:80

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

85r

28:80 – 28:88

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

85v

29:1 – 29:13

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

86r

29:13 – 29:24

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

86v

29:24 – 29:34

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

87r

29:34 – 29:45

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

87v

29:45 – 29:55

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

88r

29:55 – 29:68

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

88v

29:68 – 29:69; 30:1 – 30:11

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

89r

30:11 – 30:24

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

89v

30:24 – 30:33

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

90r

30:33 – 30:43

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

90v

30:43 – 30:53

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

91r

30:54 – 30:60; 31:1 – 31:6

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

91v

31:6 – 31:16

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

92r

31:16 – 31:25

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

92v

31:25 – 31:34

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

93r

31:34; 32:1 – 32:12

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

93v

32:12 – 32:23

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

94r

32:23 – 32:30; 33:1 – 33:5

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

94v

33:5 – 33:12

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

95r

33:13 – 33:20

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

95v

33:20 – 33:29

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

96r

33:29 – 33:36

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

96v

33:36 – 33:44

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

97r

33:44 – 33:52

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

97v

33:52 – 33:59

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

98r

33:59 – 33:71

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

98v

33:71 – 33:73; 34:1 – 34:7

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

99r

34:7 – 34:15

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

99v

34:15 – 34:24

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

100r

34:25 – 34:34

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

100v

34:34 – 34:43

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

101r

34:43 – 34:54

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

101v

35:1 – 35:10

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

102r

35:10 – 35:18

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

102v

35:18 – 35:31

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

103r

35:31 – 35:40

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

103v

35:40 – 35:45; 36:1 – 36:4

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

104r

36:4 – 36:21

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

104v

36:22 – 36:38

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

105r

36:39 – 36:53

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

105v

36:53 – 36:73

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

106r

36:73 – 36:83; 37:1 – 37:10

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

106v

37:11 – 37:39

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

107r

37:39 – 37:71

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

107v

37:71 – 37:102

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

108r

37:103 – 37:136

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

108v

37:136 – 37:169

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

109r

37:170 – 37:182; 38:1 – 38:9

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

109v

38:9 – 38:24

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

110r

38:24 – 38:36

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

110v

38:36 – 38:59

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

111r

38:59 – 38:81

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

111v

38:81 – 38:88; 39:1 – 39:6

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

112r

39:6 – 39:15

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

112v

39:15 – 39:23

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

113r

39:23 – 39:37

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

113v

39:37 – 39:47

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

114r

40:61 – 40:72

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

114v

40:72 – 40:85

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

115r

40:85; 41:1 – 41:12

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

115v

41:12 – 41:24

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

116r

41:24 – 41:37

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

116v

41:37 – 41:47

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

117r

41:47 – 41:54; 42:1 – 42:6

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

117v

42:6 – 42:15

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

118r

42:15 – 42:23

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

118v

42:23 – 42:36

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

119r

42:36 – 42:48

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

119v

42:48 – 42:53; 43:1 – 43:10

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

120r

43:10 – 43:24

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

120v

43:24 – 43:39

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

121r

43:39 – 43:57

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

121v

43:57 – 43:71

British Library

B. L. Or. 2165

Location

British Library, London (United Kingdom); Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris (France); Dār al–Athar al–Islāmiyyah, Kuwait (Kuwait).

References & Notes

[1] The dating of MS. Or. 2165 has also taken some interesting twists on the internet as well – on a website no less prestigious than that of the British Library. In early 2005, the Sir John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures Of The British Library: Sacred Texts stated MS. Or. 2165 was a "Qur'an in Ma'il script, probably Mecca or Medina, late 7th century." However, later in the same year the date was unexpectedly changed to the 8th century.

[2] W. Wright, Facsimiles Of Manuscripts And Inscriptions (Oriental Series), 1875–1883, The Palæographical Society, William Clowes and Sons, Ltd.: London, Plate LIX.

[3] J. von Karabacek, "Julius Euting's Sinaïtische Inschriften", Vienna Oriental Journal (Wiener Zeitschrift Für Die Kunde Des Morgenlandes), 1891, Volume 5, p. 324; idem., "Arabic Palaeography", Vienna Oriental Journal (Wiener Zeitschrift Für Die Kunde Des Morgenlandes), 1906, Volume 20, p. 137. For a similar dating of bifolio LNS 19 CAab that is part of this codex, see B. Gruendler, The Development Of The Arabic Scripts: From The Nabatean Era To The First Islamic Century According To Dated Texts, 1993, Harvard Semitic Series No. 43, Scholars Press: Atlanta (GA), p. 135.

[4] A. Grohmann, "Zum Problem Der Datierung Der Ältesten Koran–Handschriften" in H. Franke (Ed.), Akten Des Vierundzwanzigsten Internationalen Orientalisten–Kongresses München, 28. August Bis 4. September 1957, 1959, Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft e.V.: Weisbaden, p. 272.

[5] S. Noja Noseda, "Note Esterne In Margin Al 1° Volume Dei ‘Materiali Per Un'edizione Critica Del Corano’", Rendiconti: Classe Di Lettere E Scienze Morali E Storiche, 2000, Vol. 134, Fasc. 1, pp. 19–25.

[6] M. Lings & Y. H. Safadi, The Qur'an: Catalogue Of An Exhibition Of Qur'anic Manuscripts At The British Library 3 April – 15 August 1976, 1976, Published for the British Library by the World of Islam Publishing Company, p. 20. Official British Library publications also record an 8th century date. For instance, see C. F. Baker (Ed.), Subject Guide To The Arabic Manuscripts In The British Library, 2001, The British Library: London, p. 1.

[7] Y. Dutton, "Some Notes On The British Library's 'Oldest Qur'an Manuscript' (Or. 2165)", Journal Of Qur'anic Studies, 2004, Volume 6, No. 1, pp. 43–71.

[8] I. A. Rabb, "A Non–Canonical Reading Of The Qur'ān: Recognition & Authenticity (The Ḥimṣī Reading)" Journal Of Qur'anic Studies, 2006, Volume 8, No. 2, pp. 84–126.

[9] ibid., p. 108.

[10] Oriental Manuscripts And Miniatures: The Property Of The Hagop Kevorkian Fund, 23rd April 1979, 1979, Sotheby's: London, Lot 13.

[11] Y. Dutton, "Some Notes On The British Library's 'Oldest Qur'an Manuscript' (Or. 2165)", Journal Of Qur'anic Studies, 2004, op. cit., p. 44.

[12] F. Déroche, Catalogue Des Manuscrits Arabes: Deuxième Partie: Manuscrits Musulmans – Tome I, 1: Les Manuscrits Du Coran: Aux Origines De La Calligraphie Coranique, 1983, Bibliothèque Nationale: Paris, p. 62.

[13] M. Jenkins (Ed.), The Al–Sabah Collection: Islamic Art In The Kuwait National Museum, 1983, Sotheby, p. 18.

[14] F. Déroche and S. N. Noseda (Eds.), Sources de la transmission manuscrite du texte coranique. I. Les manuscrits de style hijazi. Volume 2. Tome I. Le manuscrit Or. 2165 (f. 1 à 61) de la British Library, 2001, Fondazione Ferni Noja Noseda, Leda, and British Library: London.

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