Prophet Muhammad-era manuscript discovered What may be the world’s oldest fragments of the Koran have been discovered at the University of Birmingham in England. Radiocarbon dating found the manuscript of the Muslim holy text to be at least 1,370 years old, making it among the earliest in existence ------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-Muhammad pagan cities prior to 630AD Major Jewish presence Christian presence SAUDI ARABIA Petra Tabuk Dumat Al-Jandal Al-Fuls Khaybar Wadi Al-Qura Medina 622: Muhammad leads Muslims to Medina AL-HIJAZ Mecca Qudayd Jedda Nakhla Taif Dhul- Khalasah RED SEA YEMEN Najran Sanaa EGYPT SUDAN 613-15: Some Muslims migrate to Aksum ERITREA ETHIOPIA AKSUMITE EMPIRE Aksum GULF OF ADEN 200km 125 miles ---------------------------------------------------------------- Tests show with more than 95% probability that parchment is from 645AD or earlier Period text written ----------------------------------------------------------------- 550 600 650 700 571 Muhammad is born in Mecca, a prosperous city ruled by the Quraysh clan. Quraysh nobility are prolific merchant traders that control Mecca’s Kaaba as a place of pilgrimage 610 According to Muslim tradition, the word of God is revealed to Prophet Muhammad by Archangel Gabriel. Initially verses are memorised – later written on sheep or goat skin, parchment or stone 610-15 Early Muslims in Mecca adopt Islam as complete way of life, based on belief in one god – Allah. The monotheist faith is seen as a threat among ruling Quraysh 613-22 Facing religious persecution, Muslims are sent to Christian Aksumite Empire – present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea – to spread word. Others, led by Prophet Muhammad, migrate to oasis town of Yathrib (Medina) 623-30 Fierce campaign of caravan raids, fights and battles between Quraysh traders and Muslims of Medina. Defeat of Quraysh at Battle of Badr in 624 is seen as a turning point for Muslims 630 Following failed peace deal with Quraysh, Prophet Muhammad leads an army to Mecca. Quraysh leaders surrender. Kaaba is cleared of idols and rededicated to Allah. It becomes unifying point among Muslims worldwide 632 Prophet Muhammad dies. Successor, caliph Abu Bakr (632-34), commissions collection of verses from Koran 634-44 Caliph Umaribn al-Khattab continues collection 644-56 Third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, orders that verses of Koran are assembled in one definitive book. Originally written in Hijazi script, copies are sent to Iraq, Yemen, Egypt and throughout Muslim world 688-744: Diacritical marks – including dots to indicate vowels – are devised by Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf and Abu’l-Aswad al-Du’ali 850 onwards: Diacriticals help non-Arabic converts to Islam differentiate between similar looking letters ----------------------------------------------------------------- Sources: University of Birmingham, Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, Metropolitan Museum of Art Picture: The Mingana Collection© GRAPHIC NEWS words 424