Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
11th-13th centuries,Al-Fatihah (The Opening), the first chapter of the Qur'an. Early naskh script on vellum, 11th-13th centuries, Iraq or Syria.
- Ornamental pages such as this one decorate the start and/or end of Qur'ans from at least the 9th century onward. Also known as "carpet pages," they provide an ornamental and structural break in the manuscript. Rectangular panels filled with geometric motifs and provided with a finial or leaf-like medallion on the side trace their origins back to Roman inscription panels (tabulae ansatae), which were bound together by a handle (ansa). In this way, the pattern provides a visual reminiscence of plaques (or folios) bound together into a whole (or codex), and evoke the concept of the Qur'an as written on tablets. As the Qur'an states (85:21-22): "This is the Glorious Qur'an inscribed on a Preserved Tablet (fi lawh mahfuz).
- The chapter's title appears in the top gold-painted rectangular panel and specifies that this chapter opens the Book (Fatihat al-Kitab) and comprises seven verses (ayat). A finial jets out into the left margin from the topmost rectangular panel, recalling the "handle" (ansa) or finial provided as a decorative motif on the folio's verso. The rectangular panel below the text is filled with a braided pattern, while its marginal finial is now missing. Instead, a hole has been pierced through the vellum.
- The script itself is executed in an early cursive script (naskh), fully vocalized in black ink. Verse markers consist of eight-petalled rosettes filled with gold paint and with red circles dotting their perimeters. This folio has been published in Selim 1979, 147 (upper).
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
9th-10th centuries, Qur'anic verses 57-69 of the 28th chapter of the Qur'an entitled Surat al-Qasas (The Stories), written in Kufi script related to the D.Va style , on parchment during the 9th-10th cents.
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 23 (w) x 15 (h) cm
- The text is executed in Kufi script in dark brown ink at fourteen lines per page. Diacritics appear as red dots and green branch-like decorations have been added between the lines of text. The verses on the fragment's recto are well preserved since they are included on the hair side of the parchment; however, verses on the flesh side (verso) have worn off substantially.
- The text's Kufi script appears related to the D.Va style typical of horizontal Qur'ans produced on parchment during the 9th-10th centuries (Déroche 1992, 100-101, cat. no. 47).
- There is a water stain in the upper part of the fragment, and a now faded impression of a tughra seal impression is included in the upper left corner of the fragment's verso.
- This calligraphic fragment includes verses 57-69 of the 28th chapter of the Qur'an entitled Surat al-Qasas (The Stories). It describes the story of Moses and Pharaoh, as well as the Prophet Muhammad's revelations. Verses 61-69 in particular describe God's mercy for those believers who have faith, do good, and repent from their sins.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
c. 1550-1600, Ottoman, Safavid Style Arabic Quranic Page.
- Although only one illuminated folio remains, it originally would have created a double-page illuminated du'a. This layout is typical of Safavid Persian Qur'ans from the second half of the 16th century (see James 1992b: 178-9, cat. no. 43), as well as Ottoman Turkish Qur'ans from the same period. For instance, a similar prayer appears immediately at the end of an Ottoman Turkish Qur'an dated 980/1573, now held in the Keir Collection in London, England (VII.49; Robinson 1976, 294). Due to similarities in script (in which three lines of text in gold alternate with a line in white ink), composition, and illumination, the prayer fragment here probably dates from the second half of the 16th century as well.
- Dimensions of Written Surface: Recto: 9.5 (w) x 19 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: Verso: 9.5 (w) x 19 (h) cm.
- Immediately below the last verse of the Qur'an appears a prayer in five lines praising God, the Prophet Muhammad, and all Prophets (or messengers, al-mursilin) of Islam. The continuation of this terminal du'a (or formulaic prayer) continues in illuminated bands on the folio's verso (see 1-85-154.74 V and James 1992b: 178-9, cat. no. 43). The prayer is beautifully calligraphed in large Ottoman naskh in alternating gold and blue ink.
- This fragment contains on the top line the last two verses (ayat) of the last chapter (surah) of the Qur'an, entitled Surat al-Nas (Chapter of Mankind). This particular chapter extols seeking refuge in the Lord from Satan, who, like the spirits (al-jinn), whispers evil things in the hearts of people (116:5-6). The verses at the top of the folio are separated by two ayah markers shaped like gold disks with five blue dots on their peripheries.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
11th-13th centuries, Early naskh; Surah al Baqarah.
- Below an illuminated rectangular panel, this folio includes part of the last verse of the Qur'an's first chapter entitled al-Fatihah (The Opening), which appears on another folio in the collections of the Library of Congress (see 1-85-154.78b V). Below the last line of al-Fatihah appears the title, executed in gold and outlined in black, of the Qur'an's second chapter entitled al-Baqarah (The Cow). As the heading states, this chapter consists of 287 verses. After the chapter heading follow an initial bismillah, the mysterious letters alif and mim (a-m), and the first verse: "This is the Book; without a doubt, in it is guidance for those who fear God." Part of the chapter's verse begins on this folio and continues on the fragment's verso (see 1-85-154.78a V).
- Executed in early naskh script on vellum, this fragmentary Qur'an dates probably from the 11th-13th century and may have been produced in Iraq or Syria (Lings and Safadi :44-45, no. 55). It foreshadows the development of cursive script under the Mamluks, who ruled in Egypt and Syria during the 14th and 15th centuries (see Freer Gallery 32.2 and 48.9). The decorative panels with braided motifs executed in gold paint include finials jetting out into the left margin. These finials resemble a "handle" (ansa), such as the one provided as a decorative motif on the Qur'an's introductory ornamental page (1-85-154.78b R).
- The text is fully vocalized in black ink. Verse markers consist of eight-petalled rosettes filled with gold paint and with red circles dotting their perimeters. This particular folio suffers from worm holes and ink stains on the left vertical border.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
14th century, Mamluk era Qur'an, made in Cairo, 14th or 15th centuries.
- Dimensions of Written Surface: Recto: 16 (w) x 16.5 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: Verso: 17 (w) x 23 (h) cm.
- The left margin of the folio includes a decorative anse to mark off the page as the beginning of a surah. It contains a decorative gold leaf and bulb motif on a blue group, a design whose palette and composition echoes the chapter's heading in the top and bottom rectangular panels.
- The script in the main text frame is naskh, a cursive style preferred in Qur'ans made in Cairo during the 14th and 15th centuries. This particular naskh contains more angular strokes used for the letters qaf (q) and 'ayn (glottal stop), and the loops of the 'ayns are filled in with black ink. The main text, executed in six lines and provided with ayah markers in the shape of six-petalled gold flowers, is outlined in cloud cartouches and set on a background decorated with medium brown interlacing scrolls containing now worn yellow and blue leaves. Below the scrollwork appear a number of parallel vertical striations, creating a delicate striped pattern as the text's backdrop. Both the scrollwork and striations can be found in a number of Mamluk Qur'ans made in Egypt during the first half of the 14th century (see Lings 2004, pl. 117; Lings and Safadi 1976: 52-53; and James 1988, cat. no. 5). Some Qur'ans of the period also place the text in cloud cartouches on a ground hatched in red (James 1992b: 58-61, cat. no. 13).
- The title of the chapter, executed on a blue and gold background in the top and bottom rectangular panels, gives the name of the surah and the total number of verses (286), words, and letters. The interest in counting the total number ayahs, words, and letters in various chapters and throughout the Qur'an not only provides an indexing apparatus for the Holy Book, but also may serve various practices concerned with letter mysticism or the esoteric sciences of letters ('ilm al-huruf).
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
19th century, Qur'anic verses written in the Naskh script by Persian calligrapher Muhammad Riza Tabataba'I in 19th Cent. Iran.
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 11.7 (w) x 10.8 (h) cm
- Perish the hands of the Father of Flames, perish he. / No profit to him from all his wealth and all his gains. / Burned soon will he be in a fire of blazing flame. / His wife will carry the crackling wood as fuel, / A twisted rope of palm leaf fiber around her own neck.
- The surah is brought to an end by the artist's signature in the lower left corner. The calligrapher's name, Muhammad Riza Tabataba('i), strongly suggests that he was a Shi'i Persian calligrapher who traced his lineage back to Tabataba, the great-great grandson of 'Ali. Although he has not dated his work, calligraphic sheets pasted onto cardboard panels similar to this one were executed in Persian naskh script during the first half of the 19th century in Iran (see 1-86-154.136). Such panels were intended as wall decoration in private homes or as calligraphic exercises.
- This calligraphic panel includes the bismillah at the top, followed by the Qur'an's 111th surah entitled al-Masad (The Plaited Rope), also known as al-Lahab (The Flame). This chapter contains five verses, all of which are included on the panel. This very early Meccan surah stresses that cruelty ultimately ruins itself, while angry men and their wives perish in their own rage:
- This particular calligraphic sheet includes cloud bands painted in a light brown wash and decorated with black vines and red flowers. Pasted onto a cardboard, it was later provided with green and pink paper margins.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
9th-10th centuries, Qur'anic verses in Kufi script similar to style D prevalent in Qur'ans produced during the 9th-10th centuries.
- Although the text on this verso has worn off due to having been executed on the flesh side of the parchment, certain elements are still visible. For example, red dots indicate vocalization and there are traces of green dots. There are no diacritical marks.
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 14 (w) x 7 (h) cm
- It was not fitting for the people of Medina / And the Bedouin Arabs of the area / To refuse to follow God's Messenger, / Nor to prefer their own lives to his, / Because nothing could they suffer or do / But was reckoned to their credit as a deed of righteousness. (9:120)
- Nor should the believers all go forth together. / If a contingent from every expedition remained behind, / They could devote themselves to studies in religion, / And admonish the people when they return to them. / That thus they may learn to guard themselves against evil. (9:122)
- Surat al-Tawbah describes broken treaties with pagans and the fighting against infidelity. If a community marches out, part of its members should remain behind in order to continue the teaching of religious matters. Those who believe should associate with the righteous and truthful, actively doing their duty:
- The text is executed in a Kufi script similar to style D prevalent in Qur'ans produced during the 9th-10th centuries. With 7 lines per page in black ink, it follows the horizontal format of early Qur'ans. On the 6th line of the recto there appears a verse marker separating verse 120 from verse 121. A similar marker appears at the end of the 5th line on the verso. The ayah markers consist of three gold circles arranged in a triangle and outlined in black ink. This marker is similar to verse marker 2.2.3D of Déroche's verse marker classication (Déroche 1992, 22).
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
Mahmud Ibrahim, c. 1720-30, Ottoman Turkish Levaha in Arabic, 18th-century written by calligrapher Mahmud Ibrahim.
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 21.6 (w) x 16 (h) cm
- The process of mirror writing and mirror image-making flourished in the Ottoman empire during the 18th and 19th centuries, in particular in mystical quarters associated with the Bektashi order. The Bektashis created calligraphic panels and paintings representative of their tenets, among which the belief in the divinity of 'Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, comes to the fore (De Jong 1989: 7-9). As suggested by this panel, God and 'Ali are indissociable, as one reflects a divine presence in concrete, almost replicated, form. It is quite probable that this panel was hung on a wall in a Bektashi dervish's living quarters, mosque, or dervish lodge (tekkeh).
- This 18th-century Ottoman levha, or calligraphic panel, depicts the Shi'i phrase 'Ali is the vicegerent of God in obverse and reverse, creating an exact mirror image. The calligrapher has used the central vertical fold in the thick cream-colored paper to help trace the exact calligraphic duplication (Selim 1979, 162) prior to mounting it onto a cardboard and pasting rectangular pink frames along its borders.
- This calligraphic specimen includes the artist's holograph seal, a square impression overlapping the central vertical crease. It bears the name of Mahmud Ibrahim, whose work appears in another levha in the Library of Congress (1-85-154.93) bearing the date 1134/1721-2 in the left margin and 1141/1728 in the seal impression. Due to the similarity between the two panels and to the fact that they are by the same artist, we can hypothesize that the calligraphic panel here must date from c. 1720-30.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
9th-10th centuries, Qur'anic fragments written in Kufi script (D.Vb) on parchment, typical of the 9-10th centuries.
- And on the day that the unbelievers will be placed before the Fire, / It will be said to them: "You received your good things / In the life of the world, / And you took pleasure in them. / But today you will be given a penalty of humiliation. (46:20)
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 12 (w) x 7 (h) cm
- Mention Hud, one of 'Ad's brethen. / Behold, he warned his people of the winding sand-tracts (ahqaf). / But there have been warners before and after him. / Worship none other than God. / Truly I fear for you the penalty of a Mighty Day. (46:21).
- Surat al-Ahqaf is the seventh and last chapter of a series of surahs beginning with the mysterious abbreviated letters ha-mim (h-m). It discusses Creation, its purpose, and its vindication. Those who do not believe in God and His Creation will suffer torment on the Day of Judgment. The title of this surah comes from the long and winding crooked tracts of sandhills characteristic of the country of the 'Ad people, adjoining Hadramawt and Yemen:
- The text on the recto is executed on the flesh side of the parchment. As a result, the brown ink has worn off substantially. This Qur'an was executed at 7 lines per page in a Kufi script similar to style D.Vb typical of the 9-10th centuries (Déroche 1992: 115, cat. no. 61). This script is particular because the horizontal shafts of the letters have been extended on the vertical. Red dots indicate vocalization. Neither diacritical marks nor verse markers are marked.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
18th-19th centuries, Dimensions of Written Surface: 9.7 (w) x 16.3 (h) cm
- Shi'i blessings in Arabic directed to Husayn, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson through his son-in-law 'Ali, written in Indian thuluth from Deccan India.
- The text is executed in an Indian variant of thuluth script in black ink on a red ground. Words are fully vocalized also with black diacritical marks in order to ensure proper pronunciation. The text panel is provided with several brown and cream-colored borders and is pasted to a larger sheet of brown paper backed by cardboard.
- This calligraphic fragment provides repeated Shi'i blessings (al-salam 'alayka) in Arabic directed to Husayn, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson through his son-in-law 'Ali. He is addressed by his many names and epithets, such as the "servant of God" ('abd Allah), "son of the Prophet" (ibn rasul), "goodness of God" (khayrat Allah), "son of the Leader of the Faithful" (ibn amir al-mu'minin), and "son of Fatimah, the radiant" (ibn Fatimah al-zahra').
- This calligraphic panel probably was made in India during the 18th or 19th century, after the revival of the naskh tradition at the hands of Mirza Ahmad Nayrizi (d. 1739) in Iran (Safwat 1996: 212-3). The red background also suggests that the piece may have been executed in the Deccan, as manuscripts and calligraphies produced there oftentimes have a red-toned background.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
12th century, Qur'anic verses 61-77 of the 25th chapter of the Qur'an entitled Surat al-Furqan (The Criterion), written in the Kufi script, New Style, during 12th cent.
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 12 (w) x 16.7 (h) cm
- The chapter heading of Surat al-Shu'ara' appears at the top of the recto's left folio. It is executed in gold ink and specifies that the surah contains 227 verses. In the left margin, a gold finial outlined in light blue protrudes as an extension of the chapter title. Verse markers in the main text consist of three concentric circles painted in gold with a central dot in black ink, while marginal scalloped medallions painted in gold mark off every tenth verse. Diacritics in the text appear as red dots, while the duplication of consonants (tashdid) are executed in light blue ink.
- The text is executed in Kufi script on a beige sheet of paper rather than on parchment. The script is related to New Style I typical of Qur'ans produced on paper during the 12th century (Déroche 1992, 181, cat. no. 98).
- This calligraphic fragment includes verses 61-77 of the 25th chapter of the Qur'an entitled Surat al-Furqan (The Criterion) and the chapter heading and first 24 verses of the 26th chapter of the Qur'an entitled Surat al-Shu'ara' (The Poets). Surat al-Furqan develops a contrast between Light and Darkness as a symbolic differentiation between knowledge and ignorance, whereas Surat al-Shu'ara' describes the conflict between disbelief and truth, particularly through the story of Moses' confrontation with Pharaoh (26:1-69).
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
18th century (?), New Year's (Nowruz) or 'Id (feast day) blessing in Persian, written in Nasta'liq script with Arabic invocation to the prophet of Islam, from India.
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 22.1 (w) x 8 (h) cm
- haqq-i ta'ala in 'id-ra bi-dhat 'ali (ya) / Navab Sahib dama iqbaluhu mubarak va humayun gardanad
- It appears that this calligraphic panel was executed to celebrate the New Year and to wish a princely patron unending prosperity. This practice of offering good wishes in written form during New Year's celebrations is attested to in a number of other calligraphic specimens in the Library of Congress (see 1-04-713.19.3, 1-04-713.19.48, and 1-84-154.51).
- On this 'id, may God the Exalted bring to the high essence of our Majesty, / Navab Sahib, everlasting, blessed, and good fortune.
- This calligraphic panel executed in nasta'liq script on a beige paper sprinkled with gold flecks is provided with a (water damaged) frame and is pasted to a brown piece of paper strengthened with cardboard. Between the two lines of calligraphy, which offer a prayer to a ruler on the occasion of 'id, appears another small fragment cut out and pasted in the center left. It reads: "In the name of Muhammad and Muhammad's family [prayers upon them] (bi-haqq-i Muhammad wa Al-i Muhammad, slm.). The two main lines of calligraphy read:
- This poem wishes a ruler (described as a "high essence," or dhat 'ali) everlasting happiness and good fortune on the occasion of 'id. This festival may be New Year (noruz), that is, the Spring equinox (March 21st) marking the beginning of the solar calendar as celebrated in Iran and parts of India. An Indian provenance is supported by the fact that the title "Navab Sahib" was used, for example, by rulers of the Junagadh province in northern India from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
18th-19th centuries, Wise saying (hikmah) on the virtues of helping the poor (al-fuqara') in Arabic, in Naskh acript attributed to Persian calligraphers Mirza Ahmad Nayrizi (d. 1152/1739).
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 11.8 (w) x 16.7 (h) cm
- For a comparative piece signed by Vassal-i Shirazi and dated 1258/1842 held in the collections of the Library of Congress, see 1-04-713.15.6.
- The fragment is neither dated nor signed. However, text panels such as this one, providing various Arabic-language prayers or proverbs in naskh script, were made by the famous naskh-revival Persian calligraphers Mirza Ahmad Nayrizi (d. 1152/1739) and Vassal-i Shirazi (d. 1262/1846) and their followers. For these reasons, it is possible that this calligraphic fragment was made in Iran in the 18th or 19th century.
- The proverb begins on the penultimate line, continues on the last line of the text panel, and runs sequentially from the first line down. Several words are lost, replaced, and misspelled, suggesting that the piece was cut out (or salvaged) and pasted to this folio.
- The text is executed in black naskh script on a biege paper and is framed by cloud bands on a gold background. The text panel is provided with two ornamental frames: The first is green with gold interlacing vines, while the second is white and decorated with pink and purple flower and leaf motifs. The text panel is then pasted to a larger sheet of salmon-orange colored paper decorated with flower motifs painted in gold and backed by a cardboard for strengthening.
- This calligraphic fragment includes a proverb (hikmah) on the virtues of helping the poor (al-fuqara') and endurance in hardship. These qualities increase faith in the heart of the believer (fi qalb al-mu'min).
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
ca. 1250-1350, Qur'anic verses 60-63 and 142-144 of the 6th chapter of the Qur'an entitled al-An'am (The Cattle), written in the Maghribi script during the 13th-14th Cent.
- A number of Qur'ans similar to this fragment were produced on the Iberian peninsula ca. 1250-1500. They were made for the Nasrids ruling from Granada, Spain (1232-1492) and the Marinids, who reigned from their capital in Fez, Morrocco (1248-1340).
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 9.2 (w) x 12 (h) cm
- In the lower left corner of the right side appears a catchword written diagonally in blue ink. This word presents the continuation of the ayah and is intended to help properly foliate the manuscript. Other folio numbers and accession numbers appear written a posteriori in the upper left corner of the right side of the bi-folio.
- Surat al-An'am is a Meccan surah containing 165 verses. It discusses the failures of Christianity and Judaism, as well as the nature and unity of God.
- The oxidized copper contained in the green dots -- which are here used for demarcating the hamzat al-wasl (long initial "a") -- has now eaten through the paper. Blue ink is used for the duplication of a consonant (tashdid) and the silence marks (sukun). Verse markers, three of which are visible on this bi-folio, consist of three interlacing gold circles forming a tripartite knot decorated with colored centers.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
14th century, The main text is in Naskh script, also has thuluth script in recto section, Qur'an from Mamluk era Cairo. 14-15th centuries.
- All or parts of these five verses appear on decorative carpet pages intended to begin the Qur'an or to separate various parts (sing. juz', pl. ajza') of the Holy Book. They remind the reader of the sacred character of the Qur'an, while providing an artistic, visual break from the text per se. For a similar use of these verses on a carpet page dividing a juz', see 1-87-154.151 R.
- And that is indeed a mighty urging if you but knew, / That this is indeed a Glorious Qur'an / In a Well-Guarded Book, / Which none shall touch but those who are clean: / A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
- In the top and bottom blue rectangular registers decorated with interlacing gold vine motifs appears the title of the surah in now oxidized white ink. This particular heading specifies that the Fatihah was revealed in Medina and includes seven verses, [29] words, and 120 letters. The number of words (29), which would have appeared in the lower right corner of the folio, unfortunately is now missing. The interest in counting the total number ayahs (verses), words, and letters in various chapters and throughout the Qur'an not only provides an indexical apparatus for the Holy Book, but also may serve various practices concerned with letter mysticism or the esoteric sciences of letters ('ilm al-huruf).
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
13th century, Qur'anic verses from the 13th century written in the Thuluth script probably from the Jazirah region or (Upper Mesopotamia) (Iraq, Syria, Arabia).
- Dimensions of Sheet: Recto: a 16.6 (w) x 15.3 (h) cm, b 16.9 (w) x 15.4 (h) cm, c 12.5 (w) x 19.3 (h) cm. Dimensions of Written Surface: Recto: a 11.6 (w) x 15.3 (h) cm, b 11.6 (w) x 15.4 (h) cm, c 11.6 (w) x 19.3 (h) cm
- Dimensions of Sheet: Verso: a 16.6 (w) x 15.3 (h) cm, b 16.9 (w) x 15.4 (h) cm, c 12.5 (w) x 19.3 (h) cm
- Dimensions of Written Surface: Verso: a 11.6 (w) x 15.3 (h) cm, b 11.6 (w) x 15.4 (h) cm
- God constructed Heaven: / He raised its canopy and he gave it order and perfection. / He gives night darkness and brings out its splendor with light. (79:27-29)
- Script: thuluth
- Surat al-Naba' is a Meccan surah containing 40 verses that discuss God's mercy and the Day of Judgment:
- Surat al-Nazi'at is a Meccan surah containing 46 verses which discuss the Day of Judgment and God's omnipotence. Verses 18-26 contain the parable of Moses and Pharaoh.
- The first fragment contains verses 18-26 of the 79th chapter of the Qur'an entitled al-Nazi'at on its recto. Its verso contains verses 27-34 of Surat al-Nazi'at.
- The second fragment contains verses 18-24 of the 78th chapter of the Qur'an entitled al-Naba' (The Great News). The text continues with verses 27-35 on the fragment's verso.
- These fragments belong to a series of three folios cut out from the same manuscript now in the Library of Congress: these provide a number of verses from chapters 78 and 79 of the Qur'an.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
18th-19th centuries, Qur'anic Chapters 1 and 114 written in fine shikastah (literally, "broken") script during the 18th-19th centuries in Iran.
- Below the Fatihah appears one of the shortest chapters of the Qur'an entitled Surat al-Nas (Mankind). It praises God as the Lord of Mankind (Malak al-Nas) and as the Protector from Satan (literally, the "Whisperer"):
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 9.2 (w) x 14.5 (h) cm
- In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. / Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds; / The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful; / Master of the Day of Judgment (yawm al-din). / You do we worship, and Your aid do we seek. / Show us the straight way, / The way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.
- Say, I seek refuge with the Lord and Cherisher of Mankind, / the King of Mankind, / The God of Mankind, / From the mischief of the Whisperer (al-waswas) who withdraws / And who whispers in the hearts of mankind among the spirits and men.
- These two short surahs from the Qur'an appear together here probably because they are short, easily memorized, and recited aloud. It is quite unusual, however, to find Qur'anic verses executed in shikastah, a very fluid script invented in Persia (Iran) by the 18th-century calligrapher Darvish 'Abd al-Majid al-Taliqani (Tavoosi 1987: 34-35). During the 18th and 19th centuries, Qur'ans were written in naskh or nasta'liq, as these scripts were more legible than shikastah. For this reason, this particular fragment stands out as scarce proof that some Qur'anic ayahs were executed in shikastah in Iran during the 18th-19th centuries.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
1142/1729-30, Arabic blessings to a ruler on the occasion of 'id, written in Arabic by Persian calligrapher Muhammad 'Ali in the Naskh script.
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 14.9 (w) x 22 (h) cm
- In the lower left corner, the calligrapher (Muhammad) 'Ali has signed his work and dated it 1142/1729-30. It appears that the original calligrapher's name, which included the name 'Ali, was erased purposefully. It is possible, therefore, that the date constitutes a later corrective as well.
- Nevertheless, text panels such as this one, providing various Arabic-language prayers in naskh script, were made by the famous naskh-revival Persian calligraphers Mirza Ahmad Nayrizi (d. 1152/1739) and his followers. For this reason, it is seems most likely that this piece was executed by a Persian calligrapher active during the 18th century.
- This calligraphic fragment provides Arabic blessings to a ruler on the occasion of 'id. A number of the patron's epithets and titles are included in the text, which is executed in black naskh script on a beige paper. The words are fully vocalized in black and are framed by cloud bands on a gold background. The text panel is framed by a border decorated with red, blue, and green flower and vine motifs and is pasted to a larger salmon-orange colored piece of paper backed by cardboard.
- Script: naskh
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
15th century, Qur'anic verses in the Masahif style of Arabic calligraphic writing.
- In the upper left corner of the folio appears a section (hizb) marker, consisting of gold and blue concentric circles, blue finials on its perimeter, and the word hizb written in its center (see Selim 1979, 155). The ayah marker that appears in the center of the uppermost line consists of a flower with petals, outlined in dark brown ink, provided with a red center, and filled in with gold leaf. Various diacritical marks, such as the prolonged initial "a" sound (alif maddah) and the glottal stop (al-hamzah), are marked in red ink and seem to have been added at a later date to facilitate the pronunciation and recitation of the Qur'an.
- Recto: Dimensions of Written Surface: 10.7 (w) x 14.8 (h) cm. Verso: Dimensions of Written Surface: 10.2 (w) x 15 (h) cm.
- The layout of five lines per page is typical of 15th-century Qur'ans made in Mamluk Egypt (1250-1517). This folio's layout and script resemble closely another Mamluk fragment in the Library of Congress (see 1-86-154.137b R and V).
- The recto of this fragment contains verses 33-34 of Chapter 9 of the Qur'an entitled al-Tawbah (The Repentance), which is continued sequentially with verses 34-36 on the fragment's verso (see 1-86-154.137a V). Surat al-Tawbah is also known as Surat al-Bara'ah (The Immunity), the from surah's opening word, since it is the only surah to which the introductory bismillah is not affixed (see 1-86-154.137b V). These few verses (9:33-34) speak about how men must fight against pagan enemies and uphold their faith.
Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Annotatsiya:
1258/1842, An Arabic poem written in black Naskh script by 19th century Iranian calligrapher and Naskh-revivalist: Vassal-i Shirazi (d. 1262/1846).
- Dimensions of Written Surface: 10.3 (w) x 17.8 (h) cm
- On the final line, the calligrapher Vassal states that he has written the work (hararahu) on a Monday night during the months of the year (fi laylat al-ithnayn min shuhur sanah) 1258/1842. The calligrapher can be identified as the famous naskh-revivalist Vassal-i Shirazi (d. 1262/1846), the greatest Iranian calligrapher of the 19th century (see the numerous fragments by him published in Tavoosi 1987, 40 et seq). He seems to have executed this piece only four years before his death in 1262/1846.
- This fragment includes a poem in Arabic written in black naskh script on a beige paper. The words are fully vocalized in black and framed by cloud bands on a gold background. The text panel is framed in blue and pasted to a larger sheet of green paper backed by cardboard.
- Script: naskh
