Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim

Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim (The History of the Noble Quran), also published under the title Tarikh al-Quran wa-Ghara'ib Rasmih wa-Hukmih (The History of the Quran, the Peculiarities of its Orthography, and its Legal Status), is a specialized treatise on Quranic history and Uthmanic orthography by the Meccan calligrapher and scholar Muhammad Tahir al-Kurdi (1321–1400 AH / 1903–1980 CE) Ahsan al-Manahi fi Ithbat…+1.

Composition and Purpose

Al-Kurdi conceived the book while transcribing his handwritten copy of the Quran, known as Mushaf Makka Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim+1. Upon reaching approximately the fifth juz' of the transcription, he encountered numerous orthographic variations and divergences from conventional Arabic spelling rules that prompted him to compile a dedicated work examining Uthmanic spelling (al-rasm al-'Uthmani) systematically Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim+1. The author completed the drafting of the work at the beginning of Jumada al-Thaniyya 1365 AH Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim.

Scope and Structure

The work is organized into six major parts (abwab) and a conclusion (khatima), with each part subdivided into several chapters (fusul), accompanied by comparative tables and explanatory footnotes Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim+1. The book examines:

• The linguistic and technical definitions of the Quran Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim+1.
• The history of the Quran's compilation, recording, verification, and the ordering of its verses and chapters Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim.
• The development of vocalization, diacritics, and dotting (al-naqt wa-l-tashkil), as well as division into parts (ajza') and portions (ahzab) Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim+1.
• The orthographic peculiarities of Quranic script, whether the script is divinely ordained (tawqifi) or conventional, and the legal ruling on adhering to it Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim.
• A comparative analysis between standard Arabic orthographical rules and Uthmanic spelling conventions, including specific tables illustrating irregular letter elisions and additions Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim+1.

The author explicitly excluded discussions on abrogation (al-nasikh wa-l-mansukh), variant readings (qira'at), and the biographies of Quran reciters (al-qurra'), stating that each constituted an independent discipline requiring separate works Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim.

Publication History

The first edition of the book was printed in 1365 AH (1946 CE) at Matba'at al-Fath in Jeddah, published under the commitment of Mustafa Muhammad Yaghmur in Mecca Tarikh al-Quran al-Karim+1. A second edition was reviewed by the Egyptian scholar and inspector of Quranic prints Sheikh Ali Muhammad al-Dabba' and published in 1372 AH by Matba'at Mustafa al-Babi al-Halabi in Cairo Mukhtasar al-Tabyin li-Hi…. It was also issued by Maktabat al-Ma'arif Rasm al-Mushaf wa Dabtuhu…+1.