20. Specimens in Kufic Pertaining to the 2^nd to 4^th Centuries

The codex numbered 11 at the Astaneh-ye Quds-e Radawi is’ one such specimen. It consists of 133 folios of deerskin ⁷² and dates back to the earlier part of the 3^rd/9^th century. Another such codex, which is apparently complete, is the one endowed by Shah ‘Abbas and bears the number 42 of the library of al ‘Imam al-Rida’s shrine. Its writing is attributed to the Infallible Imams (A). There is also a codex numbered 31, in the shrine’s library. It comprises 545 octavo folios containing apparently the entire Qur’an and was written in the 2^nd/8^th or 3^rd/9^th century. Yet another codex written on parchment exists in the museum at Qumm and dates back to the 2^nd/8^th century. Then there is the Qur’an bearing number 38 in al-‘Imam al-Rida’s shrine which belongs to the 3^rd/9^th century. There is also the codex at the National Library of Tunis which was written at Qayrawan in the 3^rd/9^th century. ⁷³