As per the noble approval of His Excellency the UQU President and His Excellency the Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, the Institute of Manuscripts and the Revival of Islamic Heritage started a scientific project to study Early Qur'an Manuscripts (via data on Hijazi calligraphy and archaeological evidence). A new team was formed including a distinguished selection of scholars and specialists in different fields from four Saudi and Arab universities. The team is led by Prof. Adnan ibn Muhammad Al-Sharif Al-Harithi, an academic staff member at UQU.

The project involves the study of five Qur'an Manuscripts available in international libraries using a new technical and scientific way in the study of the Qur'an. This is to provide a specialized and comprehensive vision and reach more accurate results and a deeper understanding of the early Qur'an writing system. The project also endeavors to provide a new mechanism for studying Qur'an manuscripts complied during the era of Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), as these manuscripts were studied technically (calligraphy), compared to early Arabic inscriptions and a research was carried out on the papyrus leaves used, linking the results to other modern scientific data conducted on a collection of these early Qur'an manuscripts.

This study has precisely defined the history of these Qur'anic manuscripts which were compiled in the first half of the first Hijri century based on a set of standards, as well as linguistic, Qura'nic and technical studies. The study also listed many features of the early Qur'an manuscripts that were influenced by the Nabataean writing system or what we might call the early Arabic calligraphy (Hijazi script). This is in addition to adopting an innovative procedure relying on archaeological techniques to study the early Qur'an manuscripts preserved in the regional and international libraries.

One of the main aims of this project was to gather objective knowledge paving the way for a well-grounded scientific discussion with the researchers in the West about their skepticism on the reliability of the Qur'an, its authenticity, and early manuscripts of this holy book. This project serves as a base to launch other studies concerned with the study of early Qur’an manuscripts.

The most important fruits of this study include two scientific works:

Firstly, scientific work in two sections: a text which contains about 500 pages, and an appendix of 450 pages including photos and illustrations.

Secondly, a scientific essay written in English entitled: Early Manuscripts of the Quran (Through Data of Hijazi Calligraphy and Archaeological Evidence).

The essay was published in a specialized scientific journal: The Journal of the General Union of Arab Archaeologists, Article 4, Volume 5, Issue 1, Winter and Spring 2020, Page 1–28. Click here

Praise be to Allah, the essay has been viewed and downloaded more than (14100) times until the preparation of this report.

The Dean of the Institute, Dr. Saeed bin Ali Al-Ghamdi, praised the support and guidance the institute receives from the UQU President, His Excellency Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafail, and the UQU Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, Prof. Abdul-Wahhab bin Abdullah Al-Resini, confirming that the institute will continue serving the Islamic heritage in such a manner which achieves the university mission emanating from its location and status. He also extended his thanks to the project team headed by Prof. Adnan bin Muhammad Al-Harthi.