Codex Mashhad is an old codex of the QurþÃÂn, now mostly preserved in two manuscripts, MSS 18 and 4116, in the ÃÂstÃÂn-i Quds Library, Mashhad, Iran. The first manuscript in 122 folios and the second in 129 folios together constitute more than 90% of the text of the QurþÃÂn. The current codex is in two separate volumes, MSS 18 and 4116. The former contains the first half of the QurþÃÂn, from the beginning to the end of the 18th sà «ra, al-Kahf, while the latter comprises the second half, from the middle of the 20th sà «ra, ṬÃÂhÃÂ, to the end of the QurþÃÂn. In their present form, both parts of Codex Mashhad have been repaired, partially completed with pieces from later Kufic QurþÃÂns and sometimes in a present-day nashkë hand.
Codex Mashhad has almost all the elements and features of the oldest known QurþÃÂnic codices. The dual volumes of the main body, written in ḥijÃÂzë or mÃÂþil script, are the only ḥijÃÂzë manuscripts in vertical format in Iran. Like all ancient ḥijÃÂzë codices, Codex Mashhad contains variant readings, regional differences of QurþÃÂnic codices, orthographic peculiarities, and copyistsâ errors, partly corrected by later hands. The script and orthography of the Codex show instances of archaic and not-yet-completely-recognized rules, manifested in various spelling peculiarities. Illumination and ornamentation are not found even in sà «ra-headbands; rather, some crude sà «ra dividers have been added later and are found only on adjoining sections.
The script in this manuscript is similar to Codex M a VI 165 at Tübingen (Germany), Codex Arabe 331 at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and Kodex Wetzstein II 1913 at Staatsbibliothek (Berlin).
Codex Mashhad was written on parchment in a large format (approximately 50ÃÂ35 cm), in Medina or Kufa. It likely remained in Kufa for several decades before being transferred to the region of Khurasan, where it was held by scholars and reciters of QurþÃÂn in Nishapur. A few centuries later, the then-owner drafted an endowment deed at the beginning of the manuscript, dedicating it to the shrine of ImÃÂm ÿAlë al-Riá¸ÂÃÂ. According to the deed, at that time the codex comprised two separate volumes bound as one.
For nine centuries since, the two parts â numbered 18 and 4116 â have been preserved in the ÃÂstÃÂn-i Quds Library in Mashhad. Through intensive scholarly study in recent decades, Codex MashhadâÂÂs exceptional status has become evident among other early QurþÃÂnic manuscripts held there.
Codex Mashhad consists of two QurþÃÂnic manuscripts, numbered 18 and 4116, housed in the ÃÂstÃÂn-i Quds-i Raà ¼avë Library of Mashhad, Iran. It represents one of the most important primary sources for studying the historical development of the QurþÃÂnic text from the early Islamic period. With over 252 pages discovered so far, it contains over 90% of the QurþÃÂnic text, Few other early ḥijÃÂzë-style manuscripts exhibit the combination of features found in this codex. Based on textual, orthographic and variant analyses, as well as its sà «ras sequence, the main body is believed to be copied in a very early period, i.e. within the first Islamic century.
While its textual transmission adheres to the official ÿUthmÃÂnic standard of the QurþÃÂn, the remarkable feature of this codex was its initial preservation of Ibn MasÃ¿à «dâÂÂs distinctive sà «ras progression â a rare survivor showcasing an alternative early organizational structure. At some point in later centuries, the sequence was rearranged to conform to the ÿUthmÃÂnic norm.
MS 18 contains the first half of the QurþÃÂn, from the beginning to the end of Sà «rat al-Kahf, dated after 719 CE. Manuscript 4116 holds the second half, from the middle of Sà «rat TÃÂhàto the end. For ease of reference across the unified codex, pages of manuscript 18 are denoted with an âÂÂAâ preceding the page number, while manuscript 4116 pages are designated with prefix âÂÂBâÂÂ. Hence, âÂÂA12aâ indicates page 12a of MS 18, and âÂÂB12bâ is page 12b of MS 4116.
The pages of Codex Mashhad are oriented vertically and are relatively large. The dimensions of MS 18 are approximately 5.34 ÃÂ 2.46 cm; those of MS 4116 around 30 ÃÂ 40 cm. Due to damage around the edges of the parchment leaves, the remaining writing space on the pages varies between 29 ÃÂ 40 cm and 27 ÃÂ 39 cm. The number of lines per page is typically 22 or 23, though sometimes as few as 20 or as many as 25.
This vertical layout, line count, and relatively large size distinguish Codex Mashhad from other ancient manuscripts housed in the ÃÂstÃÂn-i Quds Library collection. It also contrasts with manuscripts of the ḥijÃÂzë or inclined script preserved in overseas libraries and museums.
The proportions render Codex Mashhad comparable to other folios such as à ÂE 71 (41.2 à36 cm) at the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Istanbul, Is1404 (47 à38 cm) at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, DAM 01-29.1 (42 à30 cm) at the DÃÂr al-Makhà «á¹ÂÃÂt in á¹¢anÿÃÂþ, and Marcel3 (41 x 37 cm) at the National Library of Russia in St. Petersburg.
Both parts of Codex Mashhad have undergone repairs, with some pages supplemented using fragments from late Kufic Qurans, or recopied in naskh script or entirely modern handwriting. Excluding these later additions, the main corpus exhibits features François Déroche identifies as ḥijÃÂzë type BIa. Its script is very similar to those found in MS Ma VI 165 at Tübingen University, MS Witzestein II 1913 at the Prussian State Library, and MS Arabe 331 at the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Codex Mashhad was endowed to the Shrine of ImÃÂm al-Riá¸Âàin the late 5th century AH (11th AD). It has been housed within the sanctuary ever since. Its donor was ÿAlë ibn Abë l-QÃÂsim al-Muqrë al-Sarawë, as documented by a deed of endowment found on the first folio (A1a) of MS 18. The deed, signed by al-Muqrë al-Sarawë as owner of the codex at that time, states:<blockquote>This muṣḥaf, which is in handwriting of Amër al-Muþminën ÿAlë b. Abë ṬÃÂlib, peace be upon him, is endowed upon the Shrine of the noble Imam, the blessed martyr, Abu al-Ḥasan ÿAlë b. Mà «sàal-Riá¸ÂÃÂ, may GodâÂÂs mercy be upon him, who is buried in á¹¬à «s. This endowment is made by the owner, ÿAlë b. Abi al-QÃÂsim al-Muqriþ al-Sarawë, seeking closeness to the Almighty God and His satisfaction. May God fulfill his wishes.</blockquote>
The orthographic rules in Codex Mashhad tend towards archaic or defective script, indicating its palaeographic antiquity. The most salient feature is the omission of alif as the sign of long vowel /ÃÂ/, with numerous examples throughout the text.
Like all early manuscripts, Codex Mashhad simultaneously contains multiple qirÃÂþÃÂt (reading variants), with no sole reading observed regularly. However, the seven reading variants attributed to the Seven Readers, which have been prevalent since the 4th century AH (10th AD), are only rarely evident in the QurþÃÂnic manuscripts of the first two Islamic centuries. In the earliest manuscripts, variations either indicate distinctions between regional traditions (Mecca, Medina, Kufa, Basra, Damascus), or differences in lettering and dotting not necessarily adhering to a specific renowned reader yet traceable to the readings of one of the ProphetâÂÂs Companions or Followers.
The original arrangement of sà «ras in Codex Mashhad diverges from the UthmÃÂnic order, following instead the sequence attributed to Ibn MasÃ¿à «d. This provides insight into early QurþÃÂnic organization and transmission.
The manuscript exhibits titles for the sà «ras that do not fully align with traditional Islamic nomenclature, suggesting regional naming conventions or later additions.
Paleography revealed orthographic peculiarities in this codex could not have been common in the mid-second century AH or later, with some spelling variants only attested in the first century.
For radiocarbon dating, samples were taken on January 21, 2020 from manuscripts 18 and 4116 and sent to various laboratories for analysis. A total of eight tests were performed at the University of Arizona laboratory (and again in Georgia), the ETH Zürich laboratory in Switzerland, and the ORAU Oxford laboratory â an unprecedented number of tests for any QurþÃÂnic manuscript.
The overall findings from the above tests indicated that the folios of Codex Mashhad likely date to the late first century AH and early second century AH, with a margin of two standard deviations (2ÃÂ). From the results of paleographic and orthographic study, it is concluded that it belongs to the late first century AH.
The facsimile edition of Codex Mashhad was published in 2022âÂÂ2023, providing high-quality reproductions of the original manuscripts along with extensive annotations and scholarly insights. The publication aims to facilitate wider access to this document.
The publication and detailed study of Codex Mashhad have been met with acclaim from Quranic studies scholars worldwide. Many experts in the field have praised the meticulous research and the importance of this manuscript for understanding the early history of the Quran's transmission.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani received a presentation on the Codex Mashhad on December 5, 2023.ÃÂ According to reports, he praised the efforts to preserve and study such manuscripts, particularly those attributed to the Shia Imams, and expressed hope that this work would continue.ÃÂ
Michael Cook, a scholar of Islamic history at Princeton University, commended the work done on Codex Mashhad, stating that it "is a key exhibit in the little-known history of the relationship between the standard text and those it replaced".
Similarly, François Déroche, a French expert in Islamic codicology, highlighted the importance of Codex Mashhad, noting that "Dr Karimi-NiaâÂÂs edition enriches our knowledge of the transmission of the text of the QurþÃÂn and, more generally, of its history. In addition, the state of the manuscript, with more than 95% of the text, is a new argument for demonstrating that the text of the QurþÃÂn was well constituted at a very early date."
Nicolai Sinai, a German professor of Islamic Studies at Oxford University, called the publication of Codex Mashhad "a pioneering feat of multi-pronged manuscript scholarship." He further added that a "user of this exquisitely produced edition will feel like being given unfettered first-hand access to an ancient QurâÂÂanic manuscript while gazing through a sophisticated pair of digital glasses supplementing the scribal artifact by various layers of supplementary information and scholarly analysis."
Eléonore Cellard (fellow in Arabic palaeography and codicology at the Collège de France) noted on her X account that Karimi-Nia's "work is one of the most brilliant contributions to the study of Qur'an manuscripts in recent years," elaborating on the unique features found in Codex Mashhad.