Rare Kufic Quran manuscript found in Karbala, Iraq

A Quran manuscript written in Kufic script has been discovered by a research center in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq.

A Quran manuscript written in Kufic script has been discovered by a research center in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq.

The manuscript copy, which dates back to 912 AD, was found by the Imam Hussein Center for Research on Ahlulbayt Heritage affiliated to the Imam Hussein Holy Shrine, according to the holy shrine’s official website.

Mushtaq Muzaffar, director of the center, said the copy is among the oldest Quran manuscripts in the world.

Kufic is the oldest calligraphic form of the various Arabic scripts and consists of a modified form of the old Nabataean script. It developed around the end of the 7th century in Kufa, Iraq, from which it takes its name.

The rare copy will be added to the manuscripts treasury of the center.