I have just read an interesting article in the Toronto Star newspaper about two ancient fragments of the Qu’ran recently uncovered by the University of Birmingham in the UK. My focus was attracted towards the words used by scholars who were captivated by the sudden discovery.
It seems that the pieces of manuscript, written in ink on goatskin, have been carbon-dated by Oxford University as “close to the time of the Prophet Mohammad”, who is believed to have lived between 570 and 632 AD. “ The manuscript could well have been written just after he died,” said David Thomas, a professor of Christian and Islamic studies at the University of Birmingham. Although, at the same time, it was stated that the goatskin was from the time of the Prophet’s life.
Muslim tradition says that the declarations of the Qu’ran were received between 610 and 632 AD, but were not written down immediately. Nevertheless, the relationship to the Christian Commandments should not be dismissed.
The manuscript is to be displayed to the public in October and, already, there is some global hysteria developing. Mohammed Ali, the administer of the Birmingham Mosque described his emotion as, “There were tears in my eyes,” he said, recalling his thrill at seeing something from the time of the Prophet. “It is very much unique. This is something from his life”.
I can’t help wondering how long it will be before these fragments will be demanded by the huge Muslim community in Birmingham (20% of the population) housed in a gold-framed glass case, becoming part of a future ceremony stating that they could be of the Prophet himself.
