Les origines du Coran à la lumière des plus anciens manuscrits, par François Déroche

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The lecture provides valuable insights into the material history of the Quran, drawing on decades of research. Déroche’s argumentation is solid, based on concrete evidence from manuscripts, including codicological and paleographic analysis. He carefully distinguishes between what is known from the manuscripts and what is inferred from later traditions, maintaining a critical stance. He also addresses potential counterarguments, such as the reliability of hadith, by emphasizing the primacy of manuscript evidence. The value lies in its detailed presentation of specific manuscripts and the methodological framework for studying them.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The lecture demonstrates high scientific rigor. Déroche cites specific manuscripts, such as the Sana’a palimpsest, and uses scientific dating methods like carbon-14. He references the work of other scholars, such as Théodore Nöldeke, and discusses the limitations of earlier research. The title accurately reflects the content, which is focused on the origins of the Quran as illuminated by the oldest manuscripts. The lecture is well-structured and the arguments are supported by visual examples. The sources cited are primarily the manuscripts themselves and the scholarly literature, which are appropriate for the topic.

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on the origins of the Quran as revealed through the study of the oldest manuscripts.

9/10

The lecture is delivered by a leading scholar in Quranic studies, François Déroche, professor at the Collège de France. He presents a rigorous historical-critical approach based on codicology and paleography, with references to specific manuscripts and scientific methods like carbon-14 dating. The content is well-structured and grounded in decades of research.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction and presentation of François Déroche by the host.
• 09:15Start of the lecture on the origins of the Quran.
• 15:00Discussion of manuscript deposits in Fustat, Damascus, Kairouan, Sana'a, and Mashhad.
• 25:00Introduction to codicology and paleography, and the characteristics of early Hijazi script.
• 35:00Examples of early calligraphic styles and the evolution of orthography.
• 45:00Discussion of textual variations and the role of oral transmission.
• 55:00Conclusion and implications for understanding the formation of the Quran.

• Collège Belgique - Leçons — Official page of the Collège Belgique, where the lecture was hosted.
• Playlist Collège Belgique 2026 — Playlist containing the lecture and other activities of the Collège Belgique.
• Part 2: La bibliothèque de l’Escorial, miroir du Maroc saadien — Second part of the lecture series by François Déroche.

• The Qur'an: A Historical-Critical Introduction — General scholarly consensus on the historical-critical approach to the Quran.

• Traditional Islamic accounts — Some traditional narratives claim the Quran was perfectly preserved without variation, which contrasts with the evidence of early manuscripts.