QURAN MAINTAINS ITS ORIGINALITY

QURAN MAINTAINS ITS ORIGINALITY World's Oldest Quran Found FRAGMENTS of the world's oldest Quran, dating back almost to the time of the Prophet Muhammad, have been found bound within the pages of another copy of the Islamic holy book in the library of the University of Birmingham. The two pages from the Islamic holy book manuscript are thought to be between 1,448 and 1,371 years old, making it the earliest copy of the Quran in existence. Written in ink in the early Arabic script of Hijazi, on parchment made from animal skin, it is thought the pages were added to the younger manuscript due to confusion over where they belonged. Researchers say the script used in the two books is similar, meaning the older pages could have been thought to belong to the younger seventh century Quran. The animal skin parchment was dated, using radiocarbon dating at the University of Oxford, to between 568 AD and 645 AD with around 95.4 per cent accuracy. The Prophet Muhammad is thought to have lived between 570 AD and 632 AD. The two ancient pages, which contain parts of the Surahs, or chapters, 18 to 20, may have been written by someone who actually knew the Prophet Muhammad. Experts say the text contained on the pages is remarkably similar to modern copies of the Quran and suggests many parts of the holy book have not changed since the time of the Prophet Muhammad. The discovery is thought to be particularly significant as in the early years of Islam, the Quran was thought to have been memorised and passed down orally rather than written. Professor David Thomas, an expert on Christianity and Islam at the University of Birmingham, said: 'If it is what we now think it is, this is very important indeed. Islam is associated, of course, with the Prophet Muhammad, and he lived in the late sixth and early seventh century. Now this manuscript could well have been written just after he died.' Speaking to the BBC, he added: 'The person who actually wrote it could well have known the Prophet Muhammad. He would have seen him probably, he would may be have heard him preach. He may have known him personally.'