The handwritten Qur’an attributed to Imam Ali’s (A.S.) handwriting is the oldest Qur’an existing in the handwritten manuscripts of Astan Quds Razavi that will be published for the first time with contribution of center of publication and printing of holy Qur’an and Astan Quds Razavi under the supervision of Dr. Tayyar Altikulac.
Dr. Tayyar Altikulac is a top codicologist from Turkey that is famous among all codicologists of the world either Muslims or non-Muslims.
Noting that the Qur’ans attributed to the household of the Apostle of God (S.A.W) in the central library of Astan Quds Razavi are certainly among the oldest Qur’anic manuscripts, Dr. Tayyar Altikulac, former head of Turkey Faith Organization that is the supreme religious organization in Turkey said, “For two reasons I focused on this special manuscripts; one, because it is complete but only in 10 sheets and second, because it is assigned to Imam Ali (A.S.).
“I have so far inquired into eight Qur’ans from among the oldest Qur’ans of the world, six of which have been already published and two are about to be published”, said head of Turkey Center for Islamic Studies.
“Each of these Qur’ans lacks some pages but interestingly they do not show the slightest discrepancy on content and this is very important”, Dr. Tayyar Altikulac said.
Punting to the claims concerning the Qur’an of Imam Ali (A.S.) and its difference with other Qur’ans, he said, “According to what was found in the studies, the handwritten Qur’an attributed to Imam Ali’s (A.S.) handwriting has no discrepancy with other ancient Qur’ans and is in complete conformity with them; and this is very helpful that our Iranian brothers proceeded to publish this Qur’an.”
In relation with the precise date of inscription of the Qur’an, he also added, “Two time ranges should be examined for determining the exact date of inscription that will be revealed in the introduction of the printed version of the holy Qur’an.”
It is notable that Dr. Tayyar Altikulac, 78, is one of the famous and distinguished codicologists of the world and the current head of board of trustees of Islamic Sciences University of 29 MICE; he is spending his retirement period on studying the codicology of the oldest Qur’anic manuscripts of the world as well as their revival and publication including the holy book of Topkapi Istanbul Museum, Mashhad al-Husseini manuscript (Cairo edition), Sana holy book attributed to Imam Ali (A.S.), holy book of Germany Tubingen, holy book of Paris national library, etc., some published personally by him and some by the Research Center for Islamic History, Art, and Culture of Turkey (IRCICA) and this project is his first joint cooperation with Iran.
