THE FORTY-SIX FOLIOS OF THE TASHKENT UTHMAN MUSHAF: PROVENANCE, IDENTIFICATION, AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

The Tashkent Uthman Muṣḥaf is an ancient Qur’anic manuscript displayed as the principal exhibit in the Qur’an Hall of the Center of Islamic Civilization, established in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it became widely known as the “Samarkand Qur’an” or the “Uthman Muṣḥaf.” In contemporary scholarship, however, the designations “Tashkent Muṣḥaf” and “Tashkent Uthman Muṣḥaf” are more commonly used. Accordingly, the latter term is adopted throughout this article. This exceptional manuscript is regarded as one of the most valuable cultural treasures not only of Uzbekistan but also of the entire Islamic world.