Uthman Quran
Uthman Quran in Khas-Imam Complex
In the heart of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the Khast Imam complex stands as one of the country's most significant religious and cultural centers. One of its oldest structures is the Muyi Muborak Madrasah, which translates to "Sacred Hair." Built in the 16th century, this historic madrasah earned its name because it houses a revered hair of the Prophet Muhammad.
A Sacred Manuscript
Today, the Muyi Muborak Madrasah is home to the library of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan. This library holds around 20,000 books, including nearly 3,000 manuscripts and various translations of the Quran in more than 30 languages. Among these treasures lies the most precious manuscript - the Uthman Quran, also known as the Quran of Osman, dating back to 644-648 AD.
According to Islamic tradition, the Quran existed orally for 23 years, with only fragments written down during the Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime. This led to differences in recitation. Caliph Omar encouraged his predecessor, Caliph Abu Bakr, to compile the Quran into a single manuscript. The task eventually fell to Zeid ibn Thabit, one of the Prophet’s scribes, who collected fragments recorded on bones, stones, leather, and palm leaves, as well as the memories of Muhammad’s companions. His work resulted in the first complete compilation of the Quran, known as “between two covers.”
Under the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, six copies of the Quran were made on deerskin in the Kufic script. Five copies were sent to key cities in the Islamic world, while Uthman retained one for himself. His successor, Caliph Ali, took this manuscript from Medina to Kufa. From there, Amir Temur (Tamerlane) brought it to Samarkand, where it was safeguarded in the Nodira Divanbegi Madrasah until it was seized by Russian authorities in 1869.
The Journey Through History
After being taken to St. Petersburg and kept in the imperial library, the manuscript was transferred to Ufa following the Russian Revolution, at the request of Russian Muslims. In 1924, it was returned to Turkestan and stored in the mosque of the Turkestan Islamic Society, then later in the Historical Museum of the Peoples of Uzbekistan.
Since 1989, the Uthman Quran has been preserved in the library of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan. It is recognized as the canonical text of the Quran in the Sunni branch of Islam. On August 28, 2000, UNESCO officially certified that the Quran held in Tashkent is the only original manuscript of its kind remaining in the world.
Modern Preservation Efforts
A few years ago, a faithful handwritten copy of the Uthman Quran was created by contemporary calligrapher Habibulloh Salih, an expert at the Tashkent Islamic University. This replica consists of 704 pages written on buckskin in Kufic script. The binding and cover, crafted to match the original precisely, were produced by Sunnatiloh Pulat.
Today, the Uthman Quran remains a profound symbol of Uzbekistan's Islamic heritage, drawing scholars, pilgrims, and tourists from around the world to the Khast Imam complex to witness this remarkable piece of history.