The Price of a Mushaf

The Qur’an was still rare in Java. After returning from Makkah (1847) with a mushaf (written copy of the Qur’an), KH. Ibrahim copied the Qur’an after tahajud (the late-night prayer), using a pen made of sodo aren (sugar-palm frond rib) and bak ink. The first mushaf took a year to complete; one commissioned by a santri was finished in six months in exchange for two cows — which were sold to build the pondok (boarding lodgings), a place for wudhu (ablution), and to repair the mosque. Patrons from Banyuwangi and Kedu gave as much as Rp 50 (a cow cost ±Rp 10). He is said to have copied 11 mushaf in his lifetime. A codicological study (Nun 7(1), 2021) found European paper bearing a Heelsum, Netherlands watermark, a mixed Uthmani–imla’i rasm (orthography), and the qiraat (reading) of ’Ashim in the riwayat (transmission) of Hafs.