Mushaf Al-Umayyad: A Historical Perspective on Early Quran Manuscripts by François De Troy, translated by Dr. Hossam Sabry

The divine preservation of the Quranic text as revealed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, is indeed a well-established fact among every Muslim. However, the historical research conducted by the author of this book does not stop at this known fact, but takes us on an exciting journey through the history of early Quranic manuscripts, which date back to the Umayyad era, and possibly even earlier. It studies writing methods, the diacritical marks, and the varying shapes of letters according to regions and scribes' customs. It also examines from the earliest manuscripts the types of materials used, such as inks, dyes, papers, and similar items, and the evolution of writing arts from generation to generation. This provides clear evidence of the role of manuscripts in confirming the authenticity of what is in our Islamic heritage of narrations. The author makes comparisons between many early Quranic manuscripts and the significant changes they underwent over short periods of time, such as the style used in producing, outlining, and decorating the pages, as well as the script used in writing the Quranic text, in addition to the materials on which the text was written, whether parchment, paper, or others. Moreover, he dedicates analysis to some of the most important early manuscripts, such as the Parisian Mushaf, which he discusses in a separate chapter, confirming—through various methods of historical analysis, examination of its pages, and the script style used—that it dates back to the Umayyad era and is among the oldest Quranic manuscripts.