Unknown - Qur'an - Persian Safaivid - 1580

A single illuminated manuscript folio page from a 16th Century Safaivid Persian Koran. The scripture contains the final verses of Surah al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection or The 'Rising for' Judgement) and the Surah of chapter 76 Al-Insan (Humans).

These verses describe the agonies of death and pose a fundamental question about human accountability. The passage details the final moments of a dying person and transitions into a rebuke of the disbeliever who thought they would escape judgment, and challenge the disbeliever's assumption of death, implying that human life has a purpose and is not without consequence or accountability. It provides a rational argument for the possibility of resurrection by reminding man of his humble origins, concluding with a rhetorical question: "Is not that [God] able to bring the dead back to life?"

The page has a three illuminated marginals marking the final 15 verses of the chapter (30, 35 and 40), all in fair condition. the Surah of chapter 76 is written in golf thuluth script and is bookended in celestial blue arabesque patterns. The scripture is in black nastaliq, marked with simple but vibrant gold aya verse markings and the occasional diacritical marking in red. The scripture has a sold gold surround frame with smaller black and then blue liners outside this. Overall the folio is in fair condition for its age and has been strengthened with archival paper around the margins of the Sura..

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