![]() ![]() This first stage of the handwritten tradition, known as hijâzî by reference to the region where Mekka and Medina are located, exhibits a mixture of awkwardness and awareness of contemporary book techniques. A look at some of the Qur’anic copies that were said to be written by the caliph ‘Uthmân show the difficulty for later Muslims to admit to the ungainly appearance of the earliest manuscripts. In the seventh century, an Arabic handwritten tradition was invented in order to maintain and pass on the revelations that came down to Muhammad. Astâr al-awwâlîn: The Qur’anic Handwritten Tradition and its Beginningsįrançois Déroche, Collège de France, Paris ![]() As our nation’s capital welcomes a landmark exhibition of Qur’anic manuscript, I would like take this opportunity to reverse the usual order of a public lecture and begin with the question period. Those who have followed the news in recent years of incidents, both national and international, in which Muslims have reacted strongly against any perceived denigration of their sacred text are often bewildered by the vehemence of the reaction “Why,” they ask, “does it matter so much?” Finally, with a growing awareness that American religious diversity has deep historical roots, some have begun to ask about the history of the Qur’an in America and are eager to know more about the various stages of that story. People who are familiar with Jewish and Christian scriptures often wonder about any connections that the Qur’an might have with these earlier holy books. Jane McAuliffe, Library of Congress, Washington, DCĪfter years of writing and lecturing about the Qur’an, I have discovered that American audiences-at least those not raised in Muslim homes-regularly ask the same set of questions. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |