JAM' AL-QUR'AN:
THE CODIFICATION OF THE QUR'AN TEXT
by John Gilchrist
CONTENTS
Introduction 3
Photocopy: As-Suyuti's "Al-Itqan Fii Ulum al-Qur'an"
Sources and References 11
Photocopy: Qur'an manuscripts in the early al-Ma'il script
1. THE INITIAL COLLECTION OF THE QUR'AN TEXT.
The Qur'an's Development During Muhammad's Lifetime 17
The First Collection of the Qur'an Under Abu Bakr 21
Perspectives on the Initial Collection of the Qur'an 27
The Missing Verses Found with Abu Khuzaimah 31
Photocopy: A contrast in early Qur'an styles in Kufic script
2. THE UTHMANIC RECENSION OF THE QUR'AN.
Did Abu Bakr's Codex have Official Status? 39
Uthman's Order to Burn the Other Codices 42
The Revision of Zaid's Codex of the Qur'an 51
The Qur'an Text as Standardised by Uthman 55
Photocopy: Early Qur'an manuscripts written in Kufic script
3. THE CODICES OF IBN MAS'UD AND UBAYY IBN KA'B.
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud: An Authority on the Qur'an Text 60
Ibn Mas'ud's Reaction to Uthman's Decree 62
The Variant Readings in Ibn Mas'ud's Codex 67
Ubayy ibn Ka'b: Master of the Qur'an Reciters 72
Photocopy: Pages in traditional Kufic script from early Qur'ans
4. THE MISSING PASSAGES OF THE QUR'AN.
The Mushaf: An Incomplete Record of the Qur'an Text 79
Al-Naskh wa Al-Mansukh: The Doctrine of Abrogation 82
The Missing Verse on the Insatiable Greed of Man 89
Umar and the Verses of Stoning for Adultery 91
Photocopy: Qur'an texts in contrasting Kufic and Mashq scripts
5. SAB'AT-I-AHRUF: THE SEVEN DIFFERENT READINGS.
The Sab'at-i-Ahruf in the Hadith Literature 101
The Period of Ikhtiyar: The "Choice" of Readings 107
Ibn Mujahid's Final Definition of the Seven Ahruf 113
Reflections on the Unification of the Qur'an Text 115
Photocopy: Different styles in Ninth Century Kufic Qur'an texts
6. THE COMPILATION OF THE QUR'AN IN PERSPECTIVE.
The Qur'an's Testimony to its own Compilation 123
A "Master Copy of the Qur'an" in the Masjid an-Nabi? 129
A review of the History of the Qur'an Text 134
Photocopy: Contrasting pages from the Samarqand Kufic Qur'an
7. THE EARLY SURVIVING QUR'AN MANUSCRIPTS.
The Initial Development of the Written Text 140
Kufic, Mashq, and the Other Early Qur'anic Scripts 143
A Study of the Topkapi and Samarqand Codices 146
Photocopy: Further pages from the Samarqand Kufic codex
The files of the above chapters can also be downloaded in Windows Write format: [Contents], [Intro], [References], [Chapter 1], [Chapter 2], [Chapter 3], [Chapter 4], [Chapter 5], [Chapter 6], [Chapter 7].
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The complete book can also be downloaded as a zip file.
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Full reference and information on availability of printed copies:
John Gilchrist
Jam' Al-Qur'an - The Codification of the Qur'an Text
A Comprehensive Study of the Original Collection of the Qur'an Text and the Early Surviving Qur'an Manuscripts
MERCSA, 1989
Publisher:
MERCSA
P.O. Box 342
Mondeor, 2110
Republic of South Africa
Reprinted in England by
T.M.F.M.T.
P.O. Box 986
Rowley Regis, Warley
West Midlands B65 9DU
UK
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Books by John Gilchrist
The Text of the Qur'an
*** For those readers who want to really know in depth the whole history of the Collection and Codification of the Quran should visit the following Website which contains in incredible detail most of the relevant SOURCES with REFERENCES ***
http://answering-islam.org/Gilchrist/Jam/index.html
Answering Islam Home Page
