Mushaf
Encyclopedia
A mus'haf is a codex
or collection of sheets (sahifah
, see below). The Qur’an
, which Muslim
s believe to have been revealed at various times and in various ways during the 23-year period at the end of Muhammad
's life, was collected into a codex under the third Caliph
, Uthman ibn Affan..
The Islamic term al-Qur’ān means 'the Recitation
', denoting its content. When referring to the physical bound volume, some use the term mushaf.
The Qur'an refers to itself as kitab
, not as mus'haf. Noting this, some scholars have argued that in the Qur'an does not present itself as a "book", which implies it is finished and complete, so much as a "scripture", something written or communicated, which gives it more dynamism and life. The Qur'an speaks of itself as having been a kitab even before it was put into writing.
This use has led to a misconception: Some believe the Mushaf of Fatimah to mean the "Qur'an of Fatimah", thus accusing the Shia of believing in a special Qur'an.
Al-Islam.org writes:
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
or collection of sheets (sahifah
Sahifah
Ṣaḥīfah or sahifa is the Arabic word for 'page'. In Persian, the word is pronounced sahifeh.*al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya*Sahifah Hammam ibn Munabbih...
, see below). The Qur’an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
, which Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s believe to have been revealed at various times and in various ways during the 23-year period at the end of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
's life, was collected into a codex under the third Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
, Uthman ibn Affan..
The Islamic term al-Qur’ān means 'the Recitation
Recitation
A recitation is a presentation made by a student to demonstrate knowledge of a subject or to provide instruction to others. In some academic institutions the term is used for a presentation by a teaching assistant or instructor, under the guidance of a senior faculty member, that supplements...
', denoting its content. When referring to the physical bound volume, some use the term mushaf.
The Qur'an refers to itself as kitab
Kitab
Kitab-Verlag is a publishing house in Klagenfurt, Austria. It primarily focuses on books about the history of the culture of the near east and on modern literature from Austria, Slovenia, and Italy...
, not as mus'haf. Noting this, some scholars have argued that in the Qur'an does not present itself as a "book", which implies it is finished and complete, so much as a "scripture", something written or communicated, which gives it more dynamism and life. The Qur'an speaks of itself as having been a kitab even before it was put into writing.
This use has led to a misconception: Some believe the Mushaf of Fatimah to mean the "Qur'an of Fatimah", thus accusing the Shia of believing in a special Qur'an.
See also
- Al-Jafr (book)Al-Jafr (book)Al-Jafr is a mystical Shia holy book compiled, according to Shia belief, by Ali and inherited by him from Muhammad. Al-Jafr is composed of two skin boxes in which were kept various books of the past Prophets and the books inherited from Muhammad, Ali and Fatimah to the Ahl al-Bayt, with each new...
- Al-JamiaAl-JamiaAl-Jamia is a sacred and secret Shia text, the words of which were dictated by Muhammad to Ali, who then wrote down these words...
- Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya
- Book of FatimahBook of FatimahThe Book of Fatimah, Mushaf of Fatimah or Fatimah's Mushaf is according to Shi'as tradition, a book written by Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad.-Shi'a view:...
- Digital Qur'anDigital Qur'anThe Digital Qur'an is the electronic version of the Qur'an, introduced as early as 1993. There is a strict code of conduct for handling the written Qur'an, which limits its accessibility, especially in situations such as traveling or everyday reading on the move. The invention of the Digital Qu'ran...