TURKEY: A 450-year-old handwritten copy of the Noble Qur’an has been uncovered at a masjid in Turkey.

The discovery was made at the historical Sultan Selim Mosque in the Karapınar district of Konya. It had been gifted to the Ottoman Sultan Selim II in the 1500s.

Professor Mustafa Aşkar from Ankara University Faculty of Theology said: "During the time Sultan Selim Han was a şehzade (the title given to Ottoman princes) in Konya.

“He brought many works and services to Karapınar. This is also a gift he sent, bequeathed to Karapınar. A very beautiful and exquisitely written mushaf (Quran), it consists of 30 juz, but we have 10 juz.

“On the inside cover 'Vakfu'l-merhum es-Sultan Selim Han, Medine-i Karapınar' (Bequeathed to the city of Karapınar by Sultan Selim Han) is written in Taliq script.

“This mushaf is written in Naskh script, and the beginnings and ends of the Surahs are written in Thuluth script (Thuluth meaning one-third, is called as such because one-third of each letter slopes) with 'surh' (red). Its calligraphist and the date of its inscription are unknown."

The Qur’an will go on display in the region next month.

Darul Ihsan Media Desk