28th April 2025 at 5:30 PM.
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This lecture explores the history of Morocco’s oldest preserved Qur’anic manuscript—a rare, single-volume codex written in Kufic script and dating back to the 2nd AH / 8th century CE. Likely of Eastern origin and sometimes attributed to Caliph ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan, the manuscript travelled westward over the centuries before finding its place in the Royal Library. Remarkably intact until the late 20th century, it later suffered extensive fragmentation, leading to the disappearance of numerous folios—many of which have since surfaced on the art market. Using archival photographs and direct examination, Dr Cellard retraces the manuscript’s journey and highlights the challenges of preserving ancient Islamic heritage.