Unknown - Quran - India (Bihar) - 1425

An illuminated manuscript folio from a Koran originating in the state of Bihar, India, circa 1425. It contains a wonderful illuminated medallion in the left margin which has retained a fantastic colour and detail after all these years. 11 lines of bihari script in black ink, diacritics in red and the word Allah picked out in gold. Multiple aya separate the verses of scripture. The script is from chapter 47 of the Qur'an, Muhammad, v1-4, which contrast the fate of disbelievers who hinder God's path (whose deeds are wasted) with believers who have faith (whose sins are forgiven and deeds prosper), explaining this difference as following falsehood versus truth, and then provides instructions for believers in battle: subdue enemies, bind them, and then release them graciously or by ransom until war ends, all as a test from Allah, assuring martyrs' deeds are never lost. The illuminated roundel in the margin guides that this is the start of a new chapter.


This prosperous state, lying south of Nepal close bordering the Ganges river, became Muslim in the 12th century originally under the Bengal Governors. The Muslim calligraphers developed a distinctive style of script called Bihari (after the State), characterised by wide, heavy and extended horizontal lines, and thin verticals. This folio is in good condition with little in the way of damp staining or smudging. The page is beautifully clear with little staining. All references to God are in gold and decorative 'aya' in gold mark the verses. The whole is framed simply in red and blue lines.

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