رسمُ القرآن پر لکھے گئے مقالات: ایک تحقیقی و تنقیدی مطالعہ

Rasm al-Qurʾān in Scholarly Discourse: A Critical and Analytical Study of Classical and Contemporary Research Articles

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive critical and analytical review of classical and contemporary scholarly writings on Rasm al-Qurʾān, the orthographic system of the Qurʾān established during the Prophetic and ʿUthmānic periods. Rasm al-Qurʾān occupies a foundational position in Qurʾānic studies as it represents not merely a method of writing, but an integral mechanism for the preservation of the Qurʾānic text, its authorized modes of recitation (qirāʾāt), and its uninterrupted transmission across generations. The research examines the historical formation of the ʿUthmānic script, scholarly debates regarding its tawqīfī (divinely sanctioned) or ijtihādī nature, and the unanimous consensus of the Muslim community on the obligation of adhering to it. By critically engaging with classical sources, modern academic articles, South Asian scholarship, and Western orientalist critiques, the study demonstrates that variations in Rasm do not indicate textual instability but rather reflect a deliberate and divinely guided accommodation of multiple canonical readings. The paper further explores the juristic, exegetical, and technological dimensions of Rasm al-Qurʾān, particularly in the context of modern printing, digital Mushaf production, and Qurʾānic standardization efforts. The findings affirm that Rasm al-Qurʾān remains a vital, authoritative, and indispensable discipline for safeguarding the unity, authenticity, and interpretive integrity of the Qurʾānic text in both classical and contemporary contexts.