The Palermo Qur’an is the most significant Qura’nic manuscript from Sicily known to us. This manuscript was scribed in Palermo, Sicily in 372H (982-3 CE) during the rule of the Muslims over Sicily. Sicily was conquered by the Muslims at the hands of Abu ‘Abdullaah Asad bin Al Furaat Al Haraani Al Maghribi (d.213H) in 212H (Al-A’laam, 1/298).
The Manuscript of the Palermo Qur’an is held in the Nuruosmaniye
Kütüphanesi in Istanbul (Ms. 23) except for two queries in the Khalili Collection (QUR261) in London and two that are missing (Johns, 2018). The Qur’an manuscript is written in the Riwaayah of Warsh from Naafi’, supplying evidence to how early this Riwaayah spread in North Africa due to the influence of the Maalikiyyah. Some Orientalists have claimed that the Palermo Qur’an is a remnant of the Fatimid empire, who were Shee’ah. This argument is null as Francois Deroche and Jeremy Johns argued (Deroche, 1992; Johns, 2018). The manuscript itself bears testimony to the efforts of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah in spreading and preserving the ‘Aqeedah of the Salaf, especially during times of Fitnah.
After the Mihna that ensued during the reign of Al-Ma’mun and in its peak in the lifetime of Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal, the belief that the Qur’an is a creation of Allah spread among the people of innovation. Since that time, the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah did not cease to emphasize that the belief of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah is that the Qur’aan is the Speech of Allah, not created.
The vignette on the frontispiece of the Palermo Qur’an states:
لا اله الا الله محمد رسول الله القران كلام الله وليس بمخلوق
There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. The Qur’an is the Speech of Allaah, and it is not created.
Imaam al-Muzani said in his Sharh as Sunnah (pg. 78): “وَالْقُرْآن كَلَام الله عز وَجل وَمن لَدنه وَلَيْسَ بمخلوق” “The Qur’an is the Speech of Allaah عز وجل and from Him, and it is not created.”
Imaam al-Barbahaaree said in his Sharh as Sunnah (pg. 41): والقرآن كلام الله وتنزيله ونوره، ليس بمخلوق؛ لأن القرآن من الله، وما كان من الله فليس بمخلوق، وهكذا قال مالك بن أنس وأحمد بن حنبل والفقهاء قبلهما “The Qur’an is the Speech of Allah, His light and revelation, it is not created; because the Qur’an is from Allah and whatever is from Allah is not created. This is what Maalik bin Anas, Ahmad bin Hanbal, and the jurists before them have said.”
Imaam Ibn Abi Zayd Al-Qayrawani said in his Introduction to his Risaalah (pg. 57): وأنَّ القرآنَ كلامُ الله، ليس بمخلُوقٍ فيَبِيدُ “And the Qur’an is the Speech of Allah, not a creation and will eventually vanish”
Imaam Abu Ja’far at-Tahaawi said in his ‘Aqeedah: وَإِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ كَلَامُ اللَّهِ مِنْهُ بَدَا بِلَا كَيْفِيَّةٍ قَوْلًا وَأَنْزَلَهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَحْيًا وَصَدَّقَهُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ حَقًّا وَأَيْقَنُوا أَنَّهُ كَلَامُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى بِالْحَقِيقَةِ لَيْسَ بِمَخْلُوقٍ كَكَلَامِ الْبَرِيَّةِ فَمَنْ سَمِعَهُ فَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ كَلَامُ الْبَشَرِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَقَدْ ذَمَّهُ اللَّهُ وَعَابَهُ وَأَوْعَدَهُ “And the Qur’an is the Speech of Allaah, it originated from Him- without (knowledge of) how it was spoken and it was revealed to His Messenger as a revelation. The Muslims believed in that truthfully and firmly believed that it is the Speech of Allah in reality and not created like the speech of the creation. Whoever hears it and claims it is the speech of men has disbelieved and Allah has disparaged him and promised him punishment.”