This page was created by Yonglong Ren.  The last update was by Yagnaseni Datta.

OLD Art in an Early Global World at WAM: A WAM/College of the Holy Cross Collaboration

Why was this page made, and how was it used?

Yonglong (Ethan) Ren, Class of 2026, College of the Holy Cross

The creation of this page should be understood in two contexts:

1. Standardization of the Text: Under the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan (r. 644–656), there was an effort to compile and standardize the Quranic text to prevent variations in recitation and ensure consistency across the rapidly expanding Islamic empire. This effort likely continued into the 800s as the Islamic empire grew, producing more manuscripts to meet the needs of the Muslim community.

2. Cultural and Religious Significance: The Quran holds the utmost importance in Islam, serving as the literal word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Producing manuscripts of the Quran was not only a religious duty but also a way to preserve and disseminate Islamic teachings. As Islam became the dominant religion in new regions, there was a greater demand for manuscripts of the Qur'an for use in religious education and practice.

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