The Development of Early Qur’anic Manuscripts: A Diachronic Perspective

Abstract

This study explores the diachronic development of early Qurʾānic manuscripts, situating them within their historical, material, and artistic contexts. Employing palaeographical, codicological, and comparative approaches, it examines the evolution of script forms and manuscript conventions across the formative centuries of Islam. By analyzing key codices such as the Ṣanʿāʾ 1, Codex Parisino-petropolitanus, the Birmingham Qurʾān, the Topkapi Manuscript, and the Samarkand Qurʾān, the research highlights shifts in writing styles, orthographic practices, and diacritical systems that shaped the Qurʾān’s early written tradition. The study also integrates scientific tools—including radiocarbon dating, high-resolution imaging, and digital encoding (TEI/XML, IIIF)—to contextualize these artefacts in their chronological and geographical frameworks. Findings suggest that early Qurʾānic manuscripts were not only transmitters of sacred text but also cultural products reflecting broader intellectual, political, and aesthetic transformations in the early Islamic world. The paper underscores the need for continued interdisciplinary investigation combining material science, digital methods, and classical manuscript studies to enrich our understanding of the Qurʾān’s textual and visual heritage.