No. 100179553

Unknown - Qur'an - Mughal India - 1750
No. 100179553

Unknown - Qur'an - Mughal India - 1750
A bi-folio manuscript leaf from a Qur'an originating in Mughal India dating C1750, sprinkled with gold and which contains the final verses of Chapter 16, An-Nahl (The Bees) covering themes of divine revelation, the signs of God in nature, the human life cycle, and the rejection of God's blessings by associating partners with Him. Specifically:
Verses 64-65: cover the purpose of revelation and signs in nature, stating that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad to clarify matters about which people differ, and as a source of guidance and mercy for believers and pointing to the sign of God's power in bringing dead earth back to life with rain, a clear indicator for those who listen and reflect on the possibility of resurrection.
Verses 66-67: cover everyday miracles in provision, highlighting the miracle of pure, palatable milk produced by cattle an the utility derived from the fruits of date-palms and grapes, which can be a source of wholesome sustenance as well as intoxicants, leaving the choice to human reason.
Verses 68-69 focus on the bee, which is divinely inspired to build homes and feed from various fruits to produce honey, a liquid of varying colors that contains healing for people. This is presented as a sign for those who reflect.
Verses 70-71: discuss the human life cycle: creation, death, and the process of aging, where some reach a feeble stage of life and lose knowledge they once possessed, showing God's power and knowledge over human limitations, aND address the uneven distribution of wealth and provisions among people as a test from God. It challenges those who are more favored with wealth but unwilling to share it equally with their dependents (such as bondspeople), asking if they are denying God's favors by not acknowledging the true source of all blessings. The verse uses this as a parable to argue against associating powerless idols with the all-powerful Creator.
Two illuminated marginals mark the 65 and 70th verses of the chapter. The scripture is is plain Muhaqqaq, a popular script for copying the Qur'an. Simple gold round aya mark the verses. The whole is framed with both a thin and a thick gold linear column, and a blue outer frame line. Outside of this is an arabesque page edging in gold.
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