Watch: Copies of ancient Quran on sale for Dh13,000 at Sharjah book fair – News
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A copy of the Topkapi Quran dating to the 2nd century of the Islamic Hijri calendar, or the early to mid-8th century of the Gregorian calendar, arrived in the United Arab Emirates at the 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF).
The Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, houses this manuscript, traditionally attributed to the third caliphate Uthman Ibn Affan (656 AD), said Taha Zahid Ozdemir, who works for the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA). , Turkey.
speaking to Khaleej TimesOzdemir added, “We are exhibiting one of the oldest Qurans, the original copy from the Topkapi Palace Museum. Since this is the copy of the original, it is of high quality.”
Revealing the sponsor here, he adds: “This Quran is sponsored by none other than His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.”
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“Some of these unique copies of the Quran are in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, one in Uzbekistan, one in Cairo and one in the Museum of London.”
The story goes that Mehmed Ali Pasha, governor of Egypt, sent this manuscript to the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II as a gift in the 19th century (CE).
Comparable illuminations are also said to be seen at the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, and other Umayyad structures.
“If someone wants to buy it, we will sell it too. It costs about 13,000 dirhams. We took two of these to the UAE for the Sharjah Book Fair. One of these limited editions of the Quran has already been sold. “Many museums and libraries are interested in purchasing it.”
An analysis of the Topkapı Mushaf (refers to a written copy of the Quran) reveals that it was written using an evolved Kufic script.
Shedding light on the manuscript, calligraphy and Quranic writings, Ozdemir continued: “The letterforms do not align with the style of writing found in the early Mushafs attributed to Caliph Uthman, which were inscribed on vellum (skin or membrane). of animal) during his time. . It appears that the method introduced by Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali, which may have been created after the passing of Caliph Uthman, was meticulously followed in adding vocal markings to the Topkapi Palace copy. Individual dots of red ink were placed above, next to or below the letters.”
“Very few of the originals were created and these were distributed in different regions so that people knew the Quran. If we do not manage to sell the second copy, we will take it back to our center in Istanbul. We also sell it online, although it is part of our limited edition.”
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