the Manuscript Studies of the Quran Attributed to Imam Reza (AS) in the Astan Quds Razavi Library

Qur’anic manuscripts are among the most treasured written artifacts of the Islamic world, having always held a place of great reverence within the traditions of recitation and calligraphy, where they drew the dedicated attention of scholars and artists alike. One of the most distinguished examples is the Qur’an manuscript registered under numbers 1586 and 1/1586 in the Library of Astan Quds Razavi, which is traditionally attributed to Imam ʿAlī ibn Mūsā al-Riḍā (peace be upon him). However, due to repeated restorations, the rearrangement of folios, and alterations resulting from later rebindings, the manuscript’s original structure has been significantly modified, rendering the precise identification of its codicological features a challenging task. This applied research, employing a descriptive–analytical approach, undertakes a meticulous examination of the structure and codicological evidence of the aforementioned Qur’an. It seeks to address the central question of whether this manuscript was penned by the blessed hand of Imam al-Riḍā (peace be upon him) himself, or whether it was produced during his lifetime. The findings indicate that the manuscript was written in the late second century AH. Based on the codicological evidence, a definitive attribution of the calligraphy directly to Imam al-Riḍā (peace be upon him) cannot be conclusively established. Nevertheless, the contemporaneity of the manuscript’s production with the Imam’s lifetime, along with numerous traditions concerning his distinguished role in Qur’anic exegesis and scholarship, render such an attribution plausible within the broader historical context of Qur’ans ascribed to the infallible Imams (peace be upon them). Consequently, it may be concluded that the transmission of numerous Qur’anic sayings and teachings from Imam al-Riḍā (peace be upon him) contributed to the formation of this traditional attribution.