Bifolio of a Qur'an in Hijazi Script

This bifolio is from a Qur’an that can be dated prior to 115 AH/733 CE. According to Islamic tradition, the Qur'an's verses—first memorised by the earliest Muslims—were compiled into a written text within decades of the death of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) in 10 AH/632 CE . This bifolio is written in the Hijazi script, an early, angular form of Arabic calligraphy that slants slightly to the right and is characterized by its tall vertical strokes . It is written in brown ink on parchment (animal skin vellum) , the common writing material of the time. At this early stage, the text includes no vowel marks or dotting to distinguish letters , reflecting how early Muslims relied on memorisation and context to read the sacred text.