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“Codex Mashhad” is a radically unique case among early Qurʾānic manuscripts. It consists of two ancient Qurʾānic manuscripts numbered 18 and 4116 held at the Āstān-i Quds Library in Mashhad, Iran. Written in the early ḥijāzī script, the codex comprises 252 folios containing over 95% of the Qurʾānic text. This makes it the most substantial surviving manuscript leaves from a complete Qurʾān dating to the earliest period of Islam.

Drawing upon multiple scholarly methods, including paleographic scrutiny, orthographic examination, and radiocarbon dating, it has been credibly established that the main body of this codex was scribed in the first Islamic century. Its comprehensive representation of the Qurʾānic corpus thus makes Codex Mashhad a landmark primary source for understanding Islam’s foundational scripture.

Its comprehensive representation of the Qurʾānic corpus thus makes Codex Mashhad a landmark primary source for understanding Islam’s foundational scripture.

Codicology

Chronology

50–100 AH

Original Production of the Manuscript in Madīna or Kūfa

The overall textual features in Codex Mashhad indicate its likely transcription in Madīna, though its arrangement of sūras follows Ibn Masʿūd’s tradition in Kūfa. The orthographic and paleographic analysis, along with radiocarbon dating tests, indicate that this codex belongs to the second half of the first Islamic century.

100–300 AH

Probable Presence of the Codex in Kūfa

According to historical reports, many codices whose arrangement of sūras followed Ibn Masʿūd’s tradition were commonly circulating in Kūfa. Ibn Masʿūd’s students in Qur’ān, and their later generations, had a vibrant presence in Kūfa for at least two centuries.

300–400 AH

Rearrangement of Sūras in Iraq or Iran

As the official presentations of the Qur’ānic text came to follow the ʿUthmānic version throughout the Islamic world in subsequent centuries, the arrangement of sūras in Codex Mashhad was reconstructed to align with the canonical sequence.

400-500 AH

Presence of the Codex in Nīshāpūr

From the early Islamic centuries on, Nīshāpūr held political, cultural and academic prominence. Evidence for this includes Imām al-Riḍā’s passing through and the narration there of the silsilat al-ḏahab (سلسلة الذهب) tradition, indicating an abundance of hadith scholars in late 2nd/8th century Nīshāpūr. As different schools were established and scholars from various Islamic legal schools made their presence felt, the city significantly increased in scholarly and historical standing from the 3rd –5th centuries AH.

C. 490 AH

Ownership by al-Muqriʾ al-Sarawī

Evidence from the deed of endowment and other pages indicates that in the late 5th century AH, this codex was owned by one of the Qur’ānic reciters from Nīshāpūr named ʿAlī ibn Abi al-Qāsim al-Muqriʾ al-Sarawī, who ultimately endowed it to the Shrine of Imām al-Riḍā.

C. 490 AH

Recopying of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah by Wājih al-Shaḥḥāmī

A notation at the end of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah indicates that one of the Shāfiʿī jurists in Nīshāpūr, Wajīh ibn Ṭāhir al-Shaḥḥāmī (d. 541 AH), recopied the text of the sūra at the beginning of the codex.

C. 500–520 AH

Endowment of the Codex to the Shrine of Imām al-Riḍā

From the waqf deed at the beginning of MS 18, repeated at the end of Sūrat al-Kahf in the donor’s handwriting, it is understood that this work was endowed in two separate volumes to the Shrine of Imām al-Riḍā in the late 5th or early 6th century AH.

996–1006 AH

Siege of Mashhad by the Uzbeks and Concealment of Qur’ānic Codices

During the Safavid era, Khurāsān faced repeated raids by the Uzbek rulers of Marv. Mashhad was besieged and occupied at times. It is strongly believed custodians hid valuable objects within the shrine walls to prevent looting during such assaults.

C. 1250 AH

Restoration of the First Part of the Codex (MS 18)

The first part of Codex Mashhad has survived with its original binding from the time of endowment. However, due to damage on the edges of parchment leaves, this manuscript was repaired in the Qajar era by covering the edges with paper strips secured with a natural adhesive.

1348 SH

Discovery of Hidden Qurʾānic Leaves in the Mausoleum Walls (including MS 4116)

During reconstruction and development works around the Mausoleum of Imām al-Riḍā in 1348 SH, many valuable Islamic works, including abundant Qurʾānic leaves that had been concealed behind the walls in previous centuries, were discovered.

1390 SH

Repairs to the Second Part of the Codex (MS 4116)

The scattered pages recovered from the second part of Codex Mashhad were mended and rebound in 1390 SH by Ahmad Talebiyan in the Conservation Division of the Āstān-i Quds-i Rażavī Library.

1393–1395 SH

Discovery of Codex Mashhad’s Significance

During his studies on early Qurʾānic manuscripts in Iranian museums and libraries, Morteza Karimi-Nia first identified the first part of Codex Mashhad (MS 18) in 1393 SH as the sole ancient ḥijāzī-style Qurʾān in Iran. He later discovered the second part, MS 4116, in the same library. By linking the two manuscripts, he designated their collection as “Codex Mashhad.”

1395-1400 SH

Scrutiny of the Full Contents of MSs 18 and 4116

The Al al-Bayt Islamic Heritage Institute was entrusted with conducting a comprehensive examination of manuscripts 18 and 4116 and producing a facsimile edition of Codex Mashhad along with a detailed introduction. Transcription and analysis of all pages was finished by 1400 SH. During this period, findings on this significant historical work were presented in scholarly journals and conferences internationally.

1401-1402 SH

Publication of the Facsimile Edition

The process of releasing a high-quality facsimile of Codex Mashhad, including digitization of both manuscripts, image editing, graphic design, proper pagination, printing, binding, framing, and casing the codex and introduction, was carried out from Shahrivar 1400 SH to Shahrivar 1402 SH.

مصحف المشهد الرضوي

علی فاضلی
March 19, 2024
0

تعليق كتبه الدكتور غانم قدوري الحمد رئيس جامعة تكريت سابقا، وكاتب في علوم القرآن والتجويد، وباحث في دراسة المصاحف القديمة بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم مصحف المشهد الرضوي أَطْلَعَنِي الدكتور مرتضى كريمي على عمله في نشر (مصحف المشهد الرضوي) المحفوظ في مكتبة العتبة الرضوية في مشهد، وأهداني نسخة من المصحف، جزاه الله تعالى خيراً، ويأتي […]

On Codex Mashhad

علی فاضلی
March 2, 2024
0

François Déroche Collège de France, Paris In the growing field of research on the early handwritten transmission of the Qurʾānic text, the edition of Codex Mashhad by Dr. Morteza Karimi-Nia is without doubt a major achievement. The manuscripts which are dated to the second half of the first/seventh and early second/eighth centuries provide direct […]

Codex Mashhad Presented to Grand Ayatollah Sistani

علی فاضلی
February 3, 2024
0

His Eminence Appreciated the Research and Publication

On Codex Mashhad

علی فاضلی
January 18, 2024
0

Michael Cook (Princeton University)

On Codex Mashhad - Michael Cook (Princeton University)

Codex Mashhad Presented to Grand Ayatollah Sistani
His Eminence Appreciated the Research and Publication

Facsimile Edition

Facsimile reproduction, a modern technique for replicating ancient manuscripts, aims to produce an output maximally resembling the original. This facilitates comparative codicological investigation by interested scholars unable to access the primary source directly.

The facsimile edition of Codex Mashhad offers unprecedented codicological, textual and historical insights, illuminating this prized manuscript from word to word and verse to verse. High quality imaging, refined printing on matte paper, color design and management, and unique bookbinding, framing and finishing distinguish this landmark facsimile.

Facsimile Edition

Codicology

Codicology

Chronology

Chronology

Original Production of the Manuscript in Madīna or Kūfa

Probable Presence of the Codex in Kūfa

Rearrangement of Sūras in Iraq or Iran

Presence of the Codex in Nīshāpūr

Ownership by al-Muqriʾ al-Sarawī

Recopying of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah by Wājih al-Shaḥḥāmī

Endowment of the Codex to the Shrine of Imām al-Riḍā

Siege of Mashhad by the Uzbeks and Concealment of Qur’ānic Codices

Restoration of the First Part of the Codex (MS 18)

Discovery of Hidden Qurʾānic Leaves in the Mausoleum Walls (including MS 4116)

Repairs to the Second Part of the Codex (MS 4116)

Discovery of Codex Mashhad’s Significance

Scrutiny of the Full Contents of MSs 18 and 4116

Publication of the Facsimile Edition

مصحف المشهد الرضوي

On Codex Mashhad

Codex Mashhad Presented to Grand Ayatollah Sistani

On Codex Mashhad

On Codex Mashhad - Michael Cook (Princeton University)

Codex Mashhad Presented to Grand Ayatollah Sistani
His Eminence Appreciated the Research and Publication

Gallery

Gallery