An Arabic Papyrus From The John Rylands Library, 65 AH / 684-685 CE

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First Composed: 21st June 2007

Last Modified: 18th July 2007

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Assalamu ʿalaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu:

(a)

(b)

Figure: (a) Picture of the papyrus and (b) the content of the papyrus.

Date

65 AH / 684-685 CE.

Margoliouth wrongly dated this fragment to 175 AH (or 165). Diem corrected the date to 65 AH.

Size

15 cm x 8 cm.

Contents

The translation of the document is:

1. [] [] [claims that]
2. [that her adversary] usurped [her right]
3. [so whence comes] to you this letter of mine, then if [she establishes]
4. [proof then] extract for her [her right] and do not
5. [] in that right, and [write]
6. [to me with this ruling]. And peace be [upon him who follows]
7. [the guidance. And] written by Abān bin [ in]
8. [ye]ar five [and] sixty.

Comments

This papyrus deals with a dispute and its possible resolution. It is also the earliest papyrus to mention the phrase "peace be upon him who follows the guidance"; part of the phrase constructed as lacuna. In its content, it is similar to the Qurra papyrus such as this from 91 AH.

Location

The John Rylands Library, Manchester (UK).

References

[1] D. S. Margoliouth (Ed.), Catalogue Of Arabic Papyri In The John Rylands Library Manchester, 1933, Manchester University Press: Manchester & The Librarian, The John Rylands Library: Manchester, Plate 30, XV 39.

[2] W. Diem, "Der Gouverneur An Den Pagarchen Ein Verkannter Papyrus Vom Jahre 65 Hiğra", Der Islam, 1983, Volume 60, pp. 104-111.

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