Thread by @ShAmmarKhatib1

The San'a' palimpsest is a manuscript where the original writing (termed the lower text) was erased and written over (the upper text)
Only the lower text seems to differ from the standard text we know today (ʿUthmanic codex).

1. This concept of readings differing from the standard text existed many centuries ago. Many of these readings are well documented and well known in the Islamic tradition.
My point here is that we don't need San'a' palimpsest to prove this concept.

You can refer to Abu Ubaid's book Fada'il al-Qur'an or Kitab Al-Masahif by Ibn Abi Dauwd...
So those who keep "wowing" every time they read something about the San'a' palimpsest are not aware of the fact that Muslim scholars documented these readings which differ from the

standard text we know today. They act it's like they discovered something revolutionary!

2. Why do we have readings that are different from the standard text?
One must keep in mind that there was no standard text before the time of Uthman.
Muslims used to recite the Qur'an according to the way they were taught.
There was no standard text they had to adhere to...

However, when ʿUthman compiled the codex, the readers of the Qur'an had to adhere to the standard text.
According to many early scholars, it was not necessary for 'Uthman to include every single reading. Thus, so many valid readings were left out and eventually became extinct.

So, the existence of the San'a' Palimpsest supports this famous conventional narrative established by early Muslim scholars regarding the how the Qur'an was read before and after the time of Uthman.

Examples of authentic readings (sahih isnad) that differ from the standard text:
1. The famous reading if Ibn Mas'ud and Abu Ad-Darda':
Standard text:
وما خلق الذكر والأنثى
Reading:
والذكر والأنثى

2. The reading of Omar of the verse:
Standard text:
(فاسعوا) إلى ذكر الله
Reading:
(فامضوا) إلى ذكر الله

How many readings from the sahabah that differ from the 'Uthmanic codex are confirmed?

In a comprehensive study of the primary sources undertaken by Muhammad Abdul-Rahman at-Tasan, the author notes a total of 592 instances where a companion’s reading of a verse has been narrated

Of these narrations, 52 are identical to the ʿUthmanic codex, while the remaining 540 are variant readings which differ from the ʿUthmanic codex, thus termed shadh.

However, of those 540 instances, only 177 are found with a chain of transmission (isnad), and of those with a chain, only 20 are classified as authentic by hadith standards.

Thus, the actual quantity of variants traceable to the companions is significantly smaller than may initially be supposed.

Some are trying to prove that the SP text holds more weight than the standard agreed upon text and it is the "real" Qur'an!
I find it funny when people ignore the standard agreed upon text which is supported by tones of Qur'anic manuscripts, and then suddenly they become

believers in the San'a' palimpsest!
Apparently, they didn't know that the Islamic tradition testifies to the concept of pre-Uthmanic text.
This is what some people fail to understand.

They think that Muslim scholars were not aware of this although it is the Muslim scholars who documented these many readings that differ from later standardized text!

Are there multiple versions of the Qur'an?

No. The Qurʾān was inherently a multiform recitation, with multiple diverse, equally valid alternate readings.
Many readings are mainly linguistic diversity in the pronunciation of some words.

Some readings don't have any impact on the meaning, while others may enrich or expand the meaning.
So there is one unified text, but some words of the Qur'an were read in different ways under the license of the 7 ahruf.

Why did 'Uthman unite the Muslims on one standard text and why did he leave out some valid readings?

During the time of 'Uthman, the Islamic territory expanded and many new Muslims were not aware of the other valid readings. This sparked disputes and disagreements between people

As a result, there was an urgent need to make official copies of the Qur'an and make people adhere to it.

The project of 'Uthman was based on the project of Abu Bakr.
One of the main differences between the two projects is that Abu Baker's main objective was to collect the Qur'an in one Mushaf.

Abu Bakr didn't ask the Muslims to read the Qur'an according to whatever the suhuf included.
However, 'Uthman's main objective was to make the Muslim adhere to the 'Uthmanic text...

Since the time of the Prophet PBUH, the Sahabah were taught to read the Qur'an according to whatever was most convenient and easiest for them.
The multiple readings were a simply a concession (rukhsa) and therefore it wasn’t an mandatory for Muslims to learn and transmit them all

The Prophet said that this Qur'an was revealed in 7 different ahruf, so recite whichever one is easy for you.
He also said that each one of the 7 ahruf is sufficient.